Airpods Not Connecting To Mac? [Easiest Fixes 2024]

It was a wonder to the world when Apple introduced Airpods in 2016. It still surprises us with its excellent sound quality and unique design. Latest Airpods offer noise cancellation to enhance your listening experience.

From the very beginning, Airpods became my favorite headset for its awesome features and ultra-fast connectivity.

But recently, I faced a connectivity issue while trying to connect my Airpods with my Mac. If you are also in the same boat as me, don’t worry; I have found some working solutions to this problem.

Without further discussion, let’s dive into the article to resolve Airpods not connecting to the Mac problem.

Why won’t My AirPods Connect to my Mac?

There could be plenty of reasons your Airpods are not connecting to Macbook, including an outdated Mac OS, damaged Airpods, dusty Airpods charging case, incorrect Bluetooth settings, or incompatible software version.

Before starting with the primary fixes, I suggest you ensure your Mac is updated to the latest version. Additionally, you should check for the software requirements to ensure that your Airpods are compatible with your Mac.

Here are the software requirements to connect your Airpods with Mac:

Quick reminder: Update your Mac to the latest version before trying any fixes.

Also, check out our separate post on Can You Wear AirPods in The Shower.

How to Fix Airpods not Connecting to Mac?

If you fill all the software requirements and your Mac is updated to the newest version, you still can not connect your Airpods with your Mac device. I recommend you go through the most straightforward fixes below to resolve your issue.

Here are the steps to fix Airpods not connecting to Mac:

1. Reboot your Mac

The connection issue can happen for your Mac’s software glitches. A simple restart can resolve these annoying glitches.

Here are the methods to restart your Mac:

• Find the Apple icon on the top left corner of your Mac screen and Click it.
• Select Restart from the drop-down menu.
• Click Restart from the confirmation alert and wait until it restarts.

The restarting process can take up to a few minutes. After successfully restarting your device, check if your Airpods connect with your Mac. If the problem persists, you can go for the subsequent fixes.

Check out our latest how to Fix AirPods Not Working with Oculus Quest 2.

2. Clean the AirPods and AirPods charging case

Though the recent version of Airpods has dust and water resistance, it can still be affected by dirt or dust. Dust can lead you to face numerous hardware problems and even affect the functionality of the Airpods.

To clean your AirPods and AirPods charging case, you should use a soft and clean piece of cloth. Softly clean your Airpods and ensure you are not leaving any dust inside the case. A little amount of dust can stop your Airpods from taking charge.

3. Enable Bluetooth on the Mac

To connect wirelessly with other peripherals devices, Mac uses Bluetooth connectivity. You must enable Bluetooth to connect Bluetooth devices with your Mac.

Here are the steps to enable Bluetooth on Mac:

• Click on the Apple icon from the top left corner of your Mac.
• Go to System Preferences.
• Select Bluetooth.
• Click Turn on Bluetooth.

After successfully turning on your Bluetooth, Mac will show Bluetooth: On.

Also, check out our separate post on AirPods not working on Netflix.

4. Set your AirPods into Bluetooth pairing mode

You can manually set your Airpods into Bluetooth pairing mode if your iPhone is not logged into your iCloud account.

Here are the methods to set your AirPods into Bluetooth pairing mode:

• Place your Airpods into the charging case.
• Keep the lid of your Airpods charging case open.
• Find the setup button on the back of your case.
• Press and hold the button.
• Wait for the status light to flash white.

Once you see the status light flashing white, it indicates that your Airpods are now in Bluetooth pairing mode.

Check our separate post on how you Can AirPods Connect To Oculus Quest 2.

5. Make sure the Airpods charging case is fully charged

Sometimes, people face this issue while their Airpods charging case is not fully charged. If your Airpods case doesn’t have enough charge, it will not be able to charge your Airpods.

To charge your Airpods charging case, connect your lightning cable with the case. You can see the charging indicator to ensure your case is charging correctly. It can take a few hours to charge fully, so wait until your Airpods charging case charges completely.

6. Try connecting Airpods manually

When your Airpods are not connecting with your Mac automatically, thankfully, there is an option to connect them manually.

Here are the steps to connect Airpods manually with Mac:

• Ensure your Mac Bluetooth is turned on.
• Set your Airpods in Bluetooth pairing mode.
• Open System Preferences on your Mac.
• Select Bluetooth.
• Find your Airpods from your list of devices and double-click on it.

This process will connect your Airpods with your Mac without any difficulty.

7. Forget your AirPods as a Bluetooth device on Mac

Are you facing the connectivity issue after updating your Airpods or Mac? If the answer is yes, it’s probably the new software preventing connecting with other devices. The simple solution is to forget your AirPods as a Bluetooth device on Mac.

Here is the process to forget your AirPods as a Bluetooth device on Mac:

• Click on the Apple icon.
• Go to System Preferences.
• Open Bluetooth.
• Tap on your Airpods from the Bluetooth device list.
• Click on the X button.
• Select Remove from the confirmation alert screen.

After successful removal, now connect your Airpods with your Mac. You should wait a few minutes before connecting again.

But before that, you check out how Fix Airpods Not Working on Tiktok.

8. Ensure your devices use the same Apple ID

Apple maintains an excellent ecosystem for all its products. Using the same Apple ID on all devices helps recognize and connect faster. If you use a different Apple ID for your devices, it will not be able to connect automatically.

You can quickly check which Apple ID you use on your Mac by following the steps below.

Here are the steps to check your Apple ID on your Mac:

• Navigate to System Preferences by clicking on the Apple icon.
• Go to the Apple ID from System Preferences.
• Select Overview from the sidebar.

If you see a sign-in option on the bottom button that indicates you are not signed in on your Mac, sign in with your Apple ID. If it shows Sign out, ensure you are using the same ID on your Mac.

9. Reset the AirPods

Resetting your Airpods can fix any minor software issue and resolve your Airpods battery draining issue. This process does the same as resetting does to the iPhone. You will get a clean version of Airpods like the new one.

Here are the methods to reset the Airpods:

• Find the setup button on the back of your Airpods charging case.
• Press and hold the setup button.
• Wait until the status light flashes amber and then flashes white.

You have successfully reset your Airpods. Now connect your Airpods with your Mac like you connect them for the first time.

10. Check if your AirPods are fully charged

Airpods are dependent on battery power to function appropriately. So before connecting your Airpods to your Mac, ensure your Airpods are fully charged.

To charge your Airpods, put them in the charging case and check the status light to see the amount of charge your Airpods have. You should wait until the status light turns green.

11. Contact Apple

The previous steps should fix your connectivity problem with Mac devices. However, if you are still facing the same issue, the only way remains for you to contact Apple to resolve this annoying issue.

There are two ways you can get support from Apple. You can get software help from Genius Bar or visit Apple’s support to get a repair service.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get my MacBook to recognize my AirPods?

The MacBook can recognize your Airpods after a successful pairing. To pair your Airpods with Mac, go to the Apple icon > System preferences > Bluetooth > select your Airpods from the list. Now you can easily pair Airpods to MAc to recognize them.

What do I do if my AirPods won’t connect?

You can try several methods to fix this issue; ensure your Airpods are fully charged, reset Airpods, check if any update is available, and ensure the receiver’s Bluetooth is turned on and visible.

Why is AirPods blinking orange?

Airpods blink orange when their battery runs low and need to charge quickly. A quick connection to the power source can resolve this problem.

Final Thoughts

Apple has the best ecosystem with a massive list of products and software support. The connectivity between Apple products gives you an immersive user experience.

Like any other connectivity-dependent device, the Apple ecosystem has some connectivity problems too, and Airpods not connecting to Mac is one of them.

However, I have covered all the possible reasons and fixes to resolve this annoying issue. Is there any fix in your mind, or do you have any queries?

Don’t hesitate to mention them in the comment below. Peace!