If AirPods are not connecting to a Mac after an update, turn on Bluetooth, put the AirPods into pairing mode, and reconnect them. If that fails, forget the AirPods and pair them again. You can also reset the AirPods and check that your Mac has selected them as the audio output.
If your AirPods are not connecting to your Mac after an update, you may see them in Bluetooth without being able to connect. In other cases, they connect successfully but your Mac continues playing audio through its built-in speakers.
The good news is that you usually do not need to replace your AirPods or reinstall macOS. The problem can often be fixed by reconnecting the AirPods, forgetting the existing Bluetooth pairing, resetting the AirPods, or selecting them as your Mac’s audio output.
Start with Step 1 and work through the fixes in order.
Quick Fix: AirPods Not Connecting to Mac
Before going through the detailed instructions, try these fixes:
- Turn on Bluetooth on your Mac.
- Put your AirPods into pairing mode and connect them again.
- Forget the AirPods if the existing Bluetooth pairing will not work.
- Reset the AirPods if fresh pairing still fails.
- Select your AirPods under Sound → Output if they connect but your Mac still uses its speakers.
If the first fix does not work, move to the next one.
Why Are AirPods Not Connecting to Mac After an Update?
If your AirPods stopped connecting immediately after a macOS update, the update may have coincided with a Bluetooth pairing, connection, or audio-output problem.
Bluetooth pairing allows your Mac and AirPods to recognize and communicate with each other. If that connection does not complete correctly, your AirPods might appear in Bluetooth but refuse to connect.
In other cases, the Bluetooth connection may work normally while your Mac continues sending sound through its internal speakers.
Apple recommends checking Bluetooth, keeping the AirPods charged and nearby, and manually pairing them through System Settings → Bluetooth when automatic connection does not work.
Before trying complicated troubleshooting, start by rebuilding the Bluetooth connection.
Before You Start
Before changing any settings, check these basics:
- Make sure your AirPods have enough charge.
- Keep the AirPods and Mac close together while pairing.
- Make sure Bluetooth is turned on.
- Check that your Mac is running a compatible and current version of macOS.
- If possible, test the AirPods with another compatible device to determine whether the problem is with the AirPods or Mac.
These simple checks can save you from resetting the AirPods unnecessarily.
AirPods Not Connecting to Mac: 4 Fixes
1. Reconnect Your AirPods Through Bluetooth
The first thing to try is pairing the AirPods with your Mac again.
Open:
Apple menu → System Settings → Bluetooth
Make sure Bluetooth is turned on.
Then place both AirPods inside their charging case and keep the case close to your Mac.
Put AirPods into pairing mode
The pairing procedure depends on your AirPods model.
AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3:
Open the charging case and double-tap the front of the case until the status light flashes white.
AirPods 1, AirPods 2, AirPods 3, AirPods Pro 1, and AirPods Pro 2:
Open the charging case, then press and hold the setup button on the back until the status light flashes white.
Once your AirPods appear under Bluetooth, select them and click Connect.
If the AirPods connect successfully, test the audio.
If they appear but still refuse to connect, move to Step 2.
For Apple’s current instructions for connecting AirPods to a Mac, see Apple’s official AirPods setup guide.
2. Forget Your AirPods and Pair Them Again
If your AirPods appear in Bluetooth but repeatedly refuse to connect, the existing pairing may not be working correctly.
Instead of clicking Connect repeatedly, remove the existing Bluetooth connection and create a fresh pairing.
Open:
Apple menu → System Settings → Bluetooth
Find your AirPods in the device list and open their options. Select Forget This Device.
Confirm that you want to remove the AirPods.
Your Mac will no longer have the existing Bluetooth pairing for the AirPods.
Now put the AirPods back into pairing mode:
- For AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3, double-tap the front of the case until the status light flashes white.
- For earlier AirPods models with a setup button, press and hold the button until the status light flashes white.
Return to System Settings → Bluetooth, find your AirPods, and select Connect.
Why this can help
If the original pairing is no longer working correctly, forgetting the device gives your Mac and AirPods a chance to establish a new Bluetooth connection.
Pro Tip:
If clicking Connect repeatedly does nothing, stop retrying. Forget the old pairing and create a fresh connection instead.
If your AirPods still will not connect, continue to Step 3.
3. Reset Your AirPods
If your AirPods still won’t connect after forgetting and pairing them again, resetting them can clear a persistent connection problem.
First, put both AirPods inside their charging case.
Close the lid and wait 30 seconds.
Then open the lid.
Reset AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3
For AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3, double-tap the front of the charging case three times.
The status light should flash amber and then white when the reset is successful.
Reset AirPods 1, 2, 3 and AirPods Pro 1 or 2
For AirPods 1, AirPods 2, AirPods 3, AirPods Pro 1, and AirPods Pro 2, press and hold the setup button on the back of the charging case for about 15 seconds.
Continue holding the button until the status light flashes amber and then white.
After resetting the AirPods, keep the case open and near your Mac.
Then return to:
Apple menu → System Settings → Bluetooth
Put the AirPods into pairing mode and connect them as a new Bluetooth device.
Because the reset procedure differs between AirPods models, make sure you identify your model before following these instructions.
For the latest model-specific reset instructions, see Apple’s official AirPods reset guide.
Resetting should come after reconnecting and forgetting the device, not before.
4. Select Your AirPods as the Mac’s Sound Output
What if your AirPods connect successfully but you still hear sound from your Mac’s speakers?
In that situation, the Bluetooth connection may already be working.
Your Mac may simply be using the wrong audio output.
Open Control Centre from the menu bar, select Sound, and choose your AirPods.
You can also go to:
Apple menu → System Settings → Sound → Output
Select your AirPods from the available output devices.
Then play some audio to test the connection.
Connected but no sound?
Don’t reset your AirPods immediately.
First check whether your Mac is sending audio to:
- MacBook Speakers
- Built-in Speakers
- Display speakers
- Another Bluetooth device
- Your AirPods
If your AirPods are connected but the Mac is still using its internal speakers, changing the output device may solve the problem immediately.
Connected but silent? Check the output before resetting anything.
What Does Your AirPods Problem Tell You?
The exact symptom can help you choose the right troubleshooting step.
AirPods do not appear in Bluetooth
If your AirPods don’t appear in the Bluetooth device list, make sure Bluetooth is enabled and put the AirPods into pairing mode.
Keep the charging case close to your Mac while searching.
If they still don’t appear, check that the AirPods have sufficient charge.
AirPods appear but will not connect
If your AirPods appear in Bluetooth but clicking Connect does nothing, forgetting the device and pairing it again is the next logical step.
AirPods connect but there is no sound
If the AirPods show as connected but your Mac continues playing audio through its speakers, check:
System Settings → Sound → Output
Then select your AirPods.
AirPods repeatedly disconnect
If your AirPods connect but keep dropping the connection, make sure they have enough charge and test them with another compatible device.
If they also disconnect from other devices, the problem may be with the AirPods rather than the Mac.
AirPods won’t connect to any device
If the AirPods fail to connect to multiple compatible devices, resetting them becomes more important.
You may also need to investigate a charging or hardware problem if resetting does not help.
You can often identify the likely source of the problem from the symptom before changing another setting.
What If AirPods Still Won’t Connect to Your Mac?
If none of the four fixes works, check a few additional things before assuming the AirPods are defective.
Check Your macOS Version
Make sure your Mac is running a compatible and current version of macOS.
This is particularly important with newer AirPods models. AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3 require the latest compatible version of macOS, while older AirPods models have different software requirements.
Go to:
Apple menu → System Settings → General → Software Update
Install any available compatible update, then restart your Mac and try pairing the AirPods again.
You can check Apple’s current AirPods compatibility and setup requirements in Apple’s official AirPods setup and compatibility guide.
Check the AirPods’ Battery
Low battery can prevent a reliable connection.
Place both AirPods inside the charging case and allow them to charge before trying again.
Also make sure the charging case itself has sufficient charge.
Test the AirPods With Another Device
If you have access to an iPhone, iPad, or another compatible device, test the AirPods there.
If they work normally on another device but not on your Mac, the Mac’s Bluetooth or audio configuration becomes the more likely source of the problem.
If they fail to connect anywhere, investigate the AirPods themselves.
Restart Your Mac
A simple restart can clear temporary Bluetooth or system problems.
Choose:
Apple menu → Restart
After the Mac restarts, turn Bluetooth on and attempt to pair the AirPods again.
A connection problem after an update does not automatically mean the update damaged your AirPods.
Quick Win Summary: Fix AirPods Not Connecting to Mac
If you need the shortest possible troubleshooting path:
- Turn on Bluetooth in System Settings → Bluetooth.
- Put your AirPods into pairing mode and connect them again.
- Forget the AirPods if the existing Bluetooth connection will not work.
- Reset the AirPods if fresh pairing still fails.
- Select AirPods as the sound output if they connect but your Mac still uses its speakers.
- Update macOS if your AirPods model requires a newer compatible version.
- Test the AirPods with another device to determine whether the problem is the Mac or the AirPods.
Start at the top and stop once the connection works.
Official Apple Resources
If the steps above do not resolve the problem, these official Apple resources provide additional guidance for connecting, pairing, resetting, and troubleshooting AirPods with a Mac.
- Set up AirPods with your Mac — Apple explains how to connect AirPods to a Mac through Bluetooth, including how to put different AirPods models into pairing mode and select them from the Bluetooth settings.
Apple Support: Set up AirPods with your Mac - Reset your AirPods and AirPods Pro — If your AirPods still will not connect after forgetting and pairing them again, Apple provides model-specific instructions for resetting AirPods, including AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3.
Apple Support: How to reset your AirPods and AirPods Pro - Pair AirPods with an Apple device — Apple’s AirPods User Guide provides additional instructions for pairing AirPods with Apple devices and managing the connection.
Apple Support: Pair AirPods with an Apple device - AirPods Support — Use Apple’s main AirPods support page for additional troubleshooting, setup information, software requirements, and help for specific AirPods models.
Apple Support: AirPods
Frequently Asked Questions
Why won’t my AirPods connect to my Mac after an update?
If your AirPods stopped connecting immediately after a macOS update, the update may have coincided with a Bluetooth pairing, connection, or audio-output problem. Reconnecting the AirPods, forgetting the existing pairing, and pairing them again can often resolve the issue.
Why do my AirPods connect but have no sound on my Mac?
Your AirPods may already be connected correctly, but your Mac may still be using its internal speakers or another audio device. Open Control Centre → Sound or go to System Settings → Sound → Output and select your AirPods.
Why are my AirPods not showing up in Mac Bluetooth?
Make sure Bluetooth is turned on and put the AirPods into pairing mode. Keep the charging case close to your Mac and make sure the AirPods have sufficient charge.
If they still don’t appear, try restarting the Mac and putting the AirPods into pairing mode again.
Should I reset my AirPods if they won’t connect?
Try reconnecting and forgetting/re-pairing the AirPods first. If those steps fail, resetting the AirPods can help clear a persistent pairing problem.
The reset procedure depends on your AirPods model.
Can AirPods work with a Mac after a macOS update?
Yes. Compatible AirPods can work with a Mac after a macOS update. However, newer AirPods models may require a newer compatible version of macOS, particularly for certain features.
Why do my AirPods keep disconnecting from my Mac?
Repeated disconnections can be caused by low battery, Bluetooth connection problems, software issues, or problems with the AirPods themselves.
Charge the AirPods, restart the Mac, reconnect them, and test the AirPods with another compatible device.
Final Thoughts
When your AirPods are not connecting to your Mac after an update, don’t immediately assume that the AirPods are broken.
Start with the simplest solution: make sure Bluetooth is enabled, put the AirPods into pairing mode, and reconnect them.
If that doesn’t work, forget the existing Bluetooth pairing and create a new one. If the connection still fails, reset the AirPods using the procedure for your specific model.
And if the AirPods connect but your Mac continues playing audio through its speakers, check the sound output before doing anything more complicated.
These steps cover the most common AirPods connection and audio problems without sending you into unnecessary system-level troubleshooting.
Start with Step 1, work downward, and use the symptom you’re seeing to determine which fix you need.
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