The fastest way to connect AirPods to your Mac

Put your AirPods in their charging case, open the case near your Mac, and wait for a setup screen to appear on your Mac's display. Click Connect on that screen. If no screen appears, go to System Settings > Bluetooth, make sure Bluetooth is on, then open your AirPods case again — your AirPods should show up in the list within a few seconds. Click them once to connect.

Once connected, your AirPods will automatically switch to your Mac whenever you use them near it, as long as you are signed into the same Apple account on both devices. You do not need to repeat this process each time.

Key Takeaways

  • Opening your AirPods case near your Mac triggers an automatic setup prompt if Bluetooth is on and your Mac recognizes the case.
  • If no prompt appears, you can manually connect through System Settings > Bluetooth by selecting your AirPods from the list.
  • Your AirPods will automatically switch between your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and other Apple devices signed into the same account.
  • You can control which device your AirPods connect to by opening Control Center on that device and selecting your AirPods from the audio menu.

What to do if the automatic setup screen does not appear

The setup prompt only shows if your Mac's Bluetooth is already on. Open System Preferences or System Settings (depending on your macOS version), click Bluetooth, and toggle it on if it is off. Then open your AirPods case again near your Mac.

If your AirPods still do not show up, make sure they are charged — a low battery can prevent them from broadcasting. Place them back in the case for 15 seconds, then open the case again. If your AirPods have never been connected to any Apple device before, they may need to be set up on an iPhone or iPad first before they will work with a Mac.

Switching your AirPods between your Mac and other devices

Once your AirPods are connected to your Apple account, they will automatically switch to whichever device you are actively using — your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. If you are playing audio on your Mac and then start playing audio on your iPhone, your AirPods will switch to the iPhone within a few seconds.

To manually choose which device your AirPods connect to, open Control Center on that device (swipe down from the top right on Mac, or swipe up from the bottom on older iPhones). Look for the audio or volume icon, tap it, and select your AirPods from the list of available audio outputs. This is useful if your AirPods are connected to the wrong device and not switching automatically.

Checking your AirPods battery on your Mac

Once your AirPods are connected, you can see their battery level in the menu bar at the top right of your Mac's screen. Click the Bluetooth icon, and your AirPods will appear in the list with a battery percentage next to them. This shows the charge level of both the AirPods themselves and the charging case.

If your AirPods are low on battery, place them in the case to charge. The case itself can charge your AirPods multiple times before the case needs to be plugged in. You can also check battery levels by opening Control Center and looking at the audio menu.

Troubleshooting when your AirPods will not connect

If your AirPods are not showing up in Bluetooth settings, try forgetting them and reconnecting. Go to System Settings > Bluetooth, find your AirPods in the list, click the information icon next to them, and select Forget This Device. Then open your AirPods case near your Mac again to set them up from scratch.

If that does not work, restart your Mac and try again. Hold down the power button until you see the shutdown screen, wait a few seconds, then turn your Mac back on. Once it is fully restarted, open your AirPods case near your Mac and wait for the setup prompt. If your AirPods still will not connect after restarting, they may need to be reset — place them in the case, hold the setup button on the back of the case for 15 seconds until the light flashes amber, then try connecting again.

Using AirPods with multiple Mac accounts

If more than one person uses your Mac, each person can connect their own AirPods to their own account. When you switch user accounts on your Mac, your AirPods will not automatically connect — you will need to go to Bluetooth settings and manually select them again.

If you want to share one pair of AirPods between multiple accounts on the same Mac, you can connect them to each account separately by following the same steps. The AirPods will remember all the accounts they have been paired with, but you will need to manually select them in Bluetooth settings each time you switch accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to connect my AirPods to my Mac if they are already connected to my iPhone?

No. Once your AirPods are set up with your Apple account, they work across all your devices automatically. You do not need to connect them separately to your Mac — they will switch to your Mac when you start using audio on it.

Why do my AirPods keep connecting to my iPhone instead of my Mac?

Your AirPods connect to whichever device last played audio through them. If your iPhone is playing music or notifications, your AirPods will stay connected to it. To force them to your Mac, open Control Center on your Mac, select the audio menu, and manually choose your AirPods from the list.

Can I use AirPods with a Mac that is not signed into an Apple account?

Yes. You can connect AirPods to any Mac through Bluetooth settings, even if you are not signed into an Apple ID. The automatic switching between devices only works when you are signed into the same account on multiple devices.

What should I do if my AirPods are connected but I cannot hear anything?

Check that your AirPods are selected as the audio output device. Open Control Center, click the audio menu, and make sure your AirPods are highlighted. Also check the volume level in Control Center or in the app you are using. If you still hear nothing, try disconnecting and reconnecting your AirPods through Bluetooth settings.