Yes, the AirPods work like magic with the iPhone. But if you connect your AirPods or the new AirPods Max with your MacBook, you can switch between both seamlessly and turn your experience up a notch.
Connecting the AirPods to the MacBook is slightly different than connecting it to your iPhone, though, so this guide will help you set up your AirPods with your MacBook in no time.
Connecting AirPods already paired to your iPhone
If your AirPods are already paired with an iPhone, connecting them to your Mac is easy. Just make sure that your MacBook and iPhone are signed in to iCloud using the same Apple ID.
Step 1: Put the AirPods in your ears.
Step 2: On your Mac, click the Bluetooth icon or the volume control in the menu bar and select AirPods from the list.
And that’s it.
Connecting new AirPods to the Mac
Connecting AirPods that aren’t paired with your iPhone to the Mac, however, takes a few more steps, so let’s get into that.
Step 1: On your Mac, go to System Preferences from the Apple menu on the top left.
Step 2: Click Bluetooth and make sure it’s turned on.
Step 3: Place your AirPods in the charging case and make sure the lid is open.
Step 4: Press and hold the setup button on the back of the AirPods’ case until the status light flashes white (which indicates that the AirPods are now in pairing mode).
Step 5: In the Bluetooth menu on your Mac, find your AirPods under devices and click connect.
If the AirPods aren’t producing any sound, click the Bluetooth menu or the volume control and select AirPods as the output device.
If AirPods Still Fail To Connect
If your AirPods do not connect to your macOS for the first time, you don’t need to worry. You might see a popup that says “Couldn’t connect to this device,” as AirPods sometimes do not register as a connectable device on a Mac.
Here’s what you need to do in that case.
Reset Bluetooth
Step 1: Head over to the Bluetooth menu, and from the drop-down, toggle the Bluetooth off.
Step 2: Wait a few seconds, and then turn the Bluetooth back on.
Reboot Devices
Step 1: Shut down your Mac and the AirPods.
Step 2: Reboot the MacBook.
Step 3: Turn The AirPods back on.
Reset the AirPods
Step 1: Go to Settings on your iPhone or iPadOS
Step 2: Tap the “I” icon listed next to the AirPods and tap on Forget This Device.
Step 3: Make sure the AirPods are in the case and hold the Setup button at the back of the case for 15 seconds.
Step 4: Reconnect your AirPods to the iPhone
Hopefully, you won’t need these steps. But if you do run into connection issues, these steps above will help you resolve them.
