Airpods are easily Apple’s most popular accessory, and I just can’t get enough of them. With quality noise cancellation, automated frequency profiling, and other excellent features, can you blame me?
Still, no device is safe from technical issues. I’ll help you overcome them and connect your AirPods to your Mac devices, whether that’s a computer or iPhone.
How Do You Connect AirPods to Your Mac?
With Apple creating a connected ecosystem, it’s easy to pair your AirPods with a Mac computer. Just follow these steps:
1. Ensure Device Compatibility
The first step is to confirm your AirPods are compatible with your Mac:
- Second Generation AirPods: MacOS Mojave 10.14.4 or later
- First Generation AirPods Pro: MacOS Catalina 10.15.1 or later
- Third Generation AirPods: MacOS Monterey or later
- Second Generation AirPods Pro: Latest version of MacOS
2. Check Whether Your AirPods Are Already Connected or Not
Let’s say you’ve connected your AirPods to your iPhone. If you’ve logged into iCloud on your Mac with the same Apple ID, your other Bluetooth devices are already connected. Here’s how to test that:
- Put your AirPods inside your ears.
- Select the volume control or Bluetooth menu from your Mac’s menu bar.
- Select your AirPods from the Devices list.
3. Pair Your AirPods With Your Mac
Make sure your AirPods connect with your Mac using the following steps:
- Select the Apple Menu bar in the top left corner.
- Choose System Settings.
- Click Bluetooth, and ensure the Bluetooth is turned on.
- Put your Bluetooth device in the AirPods case with the lid open.
- Tap and hold the setup button on the back of your AirPods case until the status light flashes white.
- Choose your AirPods from the list.
- Select Connect.
How Do You Connect AirPods to iPhone?
To connect your AirPods for the first time with your iPhone, sign in to iCloud on your phone. If these are the same iCloud account and Apple ID on other devices, your AirPods will be automatically set up with them!
Afterward, you should:
- Open your AirPods charging case, and keep it close to your phone.
- Click Connect.
- Follow the instructions on the screen.
Automatic Switching
If you have AirPods (2nd or 3rd generation), AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max, you can switch between your Mac and other Apple devices, specifically iPhone with iOS 14, iPad with iPadOS 14 or later, and macOS Big Sur. Make sure you’ve logged into them with the same Apple ID.
Simply hold the pairing button on the charging case, and go through the on-screen instructions to switch. Even better, your AirPods can sense which Apple device you’re using and will automatically connect to it after setup!
This way, if you’re watching a video on your MacBook and receive a call on your iPhone, you can count on your AirPods to connect automatically with it. You may receive a notification on the device asking if you’d like to connect AirPods or not.
To turn off automatic switching, you should follow these steps:
- Place your AirPods in your ears.
- Go to Bluetooth Preferences on your Mac.
- Find your AirPods on the list of Bluetooth devices, and select the Options button next to it.
- Tap Connect to This Mac.
- Click When Last Connected to This Mac.
Summary
With Apple creating interconnected computers, phones, and more, it’s easy to get your AirPods connected to your Mac. To pair these wireless earbuds with a Mac, make sure it’s compatible and connect your AirPods from the System Preferences or Settings. Once set up, you can sit by and have the AirPods automatically connect.
