Connecting AirPods to your MacBook usually happens by itself if they are already paired with your iPhone on the same Apple Account. If that does not work, or you have headphones from another brand, you pair them over Bluetooth in a few steps. This article explains how to connect AirPods and other Bluetooth headphones to your Mac, and what to do when the sound stutters or the connection drops.
Blue Apple repairs MacBooks and headphones in Amsterdam. If Bluetooth on your MacBook does not work at all any more, read on at the end.
AirPods already paired with your iPhone
- Make sure your Mac is signed in with the same Apple Account as your iPhone, and Bluetooth is on.
- Put the AirPods in your ears or open the case near your Mac.
- Click Control Centre or the Bluetooth icon top right in the menu bar and choose your AirPods.
Pairing new AirPods or other headphones
- Open System Settings and choose Bluetooth.
- Put the headphones in pairing mode. For AirPods: put them in the case, open the lid and hold the button on the back until the light flashes white. For other brands the manual explains how, often by holding the power button down.
- The headphones appear in the list under Nearby Devices. Click Connect.
Switching between devices automatically
AirPods switch by themselves between your iPhone, iPad and Mac, depending on where you play something. If you find that awkward, open your AirPods in System Settings (they appear in the sidebar when connected) and set Connect to This Mac to "When Last Connected to This Mac".
Sound comes out of the wrong place
Click the sound icon in the menu bar (or Sound in Control Centre) and choose your headphones as output. In System Settings, Sound you also choose which microphone is used.
Sound gets worse during a video call
If you use the microphone of Bluetooth headphones, Bluetooth switches to a mode for calls with lower sound quality. In your call app or in System Settings, Sound, choose your MacBook's built-in microphone as input. Then the sound in your ears stays good.
The connection stutters or drops
- Charge the headphones and the case.
- Turn Bluetooth on your Mac off and on again.
- Remove the headphones in System Settings, Bluetooth (click the info button, then Forget This Device) and pair them again.
- Move USB hubs or other devices away from your MacBook; some older USB 3 devices interfere with Bluetooth.
- Reset AirPods if needed: hold the button on the case for about fifteen seconds until the light flashes amber and then white, and pair them again.
Bluetooth does not work at all any more
If you no longer see the Bluetooth icon, or the Mac reports that Bluetooth is not available, restart the Mac and install the latest update. If the problem stays, there may be something with the hardware, for example after liquid damage or a drop. A MacBook that no longer finds any Bluetooth device is also one we are happy to test.
What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam
We test whether your MacBook's Wi-Fi and Bluetooth still work properly, and when there is a problem we check whether it is the software, the antenna or the logic board. You hear beforehand what is wrong. More on our page about MacBook repair in Amsterdam. Also read liquid spilled on a MacBook if something was spilled.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use two headphones at once?
With two pairs of AirPods or Beats it works via Audio MIDI Setup (a multi-output device). With other brands it usually does not.
Do Android earbuds work with a Mac?
Yes, any Bluetooth headphones work. Only automatic switching is reserved for AirPods and Beats.
How do I see my AirPods' battery on the Mac?
The percentage is shown next to your AirPods in the Bluetooth menu, and in the Batteries widget.
