The fastest way to connect AirPods to your Mac

Put your AirPods in their charging case, open the case near your Mac, and press and hold the button on the back of the case until the light inside flashes white. Your Mac will show a popup asking you to connect — click Connect. That's it. The whole process takes about 30 seconds the first time, and after that your AirPods will reconnect automatically whenever they're near your Mac.

If the popup doesn't appear, or if you're adding AirPods to a Mac that's already paired them to another device, you'll need to go through Bluetooth settings instead. The steps are slightly longer but work the same way.

Key Takeaways

  • Hold the button on the back of your AirPods case until the light flashes white, then click Connect when your Mac prompts you.
  • If no popup appears, open System Settings, go to Bluetooth, and select your AirPods from the list of available devices.
  • Your AirPods will automatically reconnect to your Mac whenever they're in range, even if they're paired to other devices.
  • If your AirPods won't show up in Bluetooth settings, forget them from your Mac and try the pairing process again.

Step-by-step pairing using the automatic popup

This is the easiest method and works on any Mac running macOS 10.15 or newer. Open your AirPods case near your Mac — within a few feet is fine. Press and hold the small button on the back of the case (not the lid) until you see the light inside flash white. This usually takes about 15 seconds.

Your Mac's screen will show a popup with your AirPods name and a Connect button. Click it. Your Mac will then ask if you want to use your AirPods for phone calls and Siri — you can choose yes or no, it doesn't affect audio playback. Once you confirm, you're done. Your AirPods are now paired to your Mac.

Pairing through Bluetooth settings if the popup doesn't appear

If you don't see a popup after holding the button on your case, or if you're pairing AirPods that have already been paired to another device, use Bluetooth settings instead. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, then select System Settings. On older Macs running Big Sur or earlier, it's called System Preferences instead.

In System Settings, click Bluetooth in the left sidebar. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on — you'll see a toggle at the top. Now open your AirPods case near your Mac and hold the button on the back until the light flashes white. Your AirPods should appear in the list of available devices within a few seconds. Click the Connect button next to them.

What to do if your AirPods don't show up in Bluetooth settings

If your AirPods aren't appearing in the Bluetooth list even after you've held the button on the case, try restarting Bluetooth on your Mac. In System Settings, click Bluetooth, then toggle it off. Wait 10 seconds, then toggle it back on. Now hold the button on your AirPods case again until the light flashes white.

If they still don't appear, your AirPods may be paired to another device and not in pairing mode. Put your AirPods back in their case, close it, wait 15 seconds, then open it again and hold the button. The light should flash white instead of amber. If the light stays amber, your AirPods are still connected to another device — you may need to disconnect them there first, or reset your AirPods entirely.

Resetting your AirPods if pairing fails

If you've tried pairing multiple times and your AirPods still won't connect, a reset will clear all their stored connections and let you start fresh. Put your AirPods in their case and close the lid. Wait 30 seconds. Now open the case, press and hold the button on the back for 15 seconds — longer than the pairing hold. The light will flash amber, then white. This means your AirPods are reset.

Once reset, your AirPods will no longer be paired to any device. Go back to Bluetooth settings on your Mac, hold the button on the case until the light flashes white, and pair them again. A reset also clears any custom settings like which ear controls volume, so you may need to adjust those in System Settings afterward.

Why your AirPods might disconnect and how to fix it

Once paired, your AirPods should reconnect automatically whenever you open the case near your Mac. If they keep disconnecting, first check that Bluetooth is still on — click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen. If Bluetooth is off, click it and select Turn Bluetooth On.

If Bluetooth is on but your AirPods still disconnect, your Mac may be switching them to another device. If you have an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch nearby, your AirPods might be connecting to that instead. You can control which device your AirPods use by clicking the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar, hovering over your AirPods name, and selecting the device you want. Alternatively, disconnect your AirPods from your other devices if you only want to use them with your Mac.

Using AirPods with multiple Macs

You can pair the same AirPods to multiple Macs, and they'll switch between them automatically depending on which one you're actively using. Once you've paired them to your first Mac, go to the second Mac and follow the same pairing steps. Your AirPods will remember both Macs.

When you want to switch which Mac is using your AirPods, just start playing audio on that Mac. Your AirPods will disconnect from the first Mac and connect to the second one. If automatic switching doesn't work, you can manually select which device your AirPods are connected to by clicking the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pair my AirPods every time I use my Mac?

No. Once you've paired them once, your AirPods will automatically reconnect whenever they're in range of your Mac and Bluetooth is on. You only need to pair them once.

Can I use AirPods with a Mac that doesn't have Bluetooth?

Older Macs without built-in Bluetooth can't connect to AirPods directly. You would need a USB Bluetooth adapter, though this is rarely necessary — most Macs from 2008 onward have Bluetooth built in.

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

Apple devices prioritize the device you're actively using. If your iPhone is unlocked and nearby, your AirPods may connect to it first. Lock your iPhone or move it farther away, then open audio on your Mac. Your AirPods should switch to your Mac.

What if my AirPods are paired but I can't hear anything?

Check that your AirPods are actually selected as the audio output. Click the volume icon in the menu bar, then look for the audio output menu — it may say "Internal Speakers" or another device. Select your AirPods from the list. Also check that the volume on your Mac isn't muted.

Can I unpair my AirPods from my Mac without resetting them?

Yes. Go to System Settings, click Bluetooth, find your AirPods in the list, click the three dots next to them, and select Forget This Device. Your AirPods will stay paired to your other devices but will disconnect from your Mac. You can pair them again anytime.