Learn how to connect AirPods to Mac with this step-by-step guide. Using AirPods with your MacBook is a great way to enjoy your music or videos without disturbing others. You can also use Siri and answer phone calls right from your Mac.
Connecting AirPods with an iPhone or iPad is a simple and intuitive process. You get automatic pairing–just open up the case and pop them in your ears, and that’s it.
However, it requires a few steps to do so with your MacBook. Don’t worry, it’s not that complicated. Follow along to connect your AirPods to your Mac in just a couple of minutes.
Connect AirPods to Mac
Before you can pair your AirPods to your MacBook, you’ll need the following things:
- A recent MacBook model.
- AirPods
- For 1st Generation AirPods, the Mac needs macOS Sierra 10.12 or later.
- For 2nd Generation AirPods, the Mac needs macOS Mojave 10.14.4 or later.
- If you own AirPods Pro, the Mac needs macOS Catalina 10.15.1 or later.
For AirPods already connected with your iPhone
If you’ve already set up your AirPods with your iPhone and your Mac is signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID, then you should be all set.
All you have to do is open your Mac System Preferences, click on the Sound icon. Then, choose AirPods from the list. We’re assuming that you’ve turned on and put your AirPods in your ears at this point.
If you’ve set the volume and Bluetooth to appear in the menu bar, your AirPods’s name should appear on the dropdown list when you click on either icon. No other setup needed. You should hear the loud chime indicating that your AirPods are successfully connected.
For brand-new AirPods
If your AirPods are brand new or have been never connected to any Apple devices, you’ll have to manually connect them to your Mac. Follow the instructions below.
Step 1: Open System Preferences on your MacBook. You can do so by either clicking the “Apple logo” in the top left corner, or the app’s icon in the Dock then clicking “System Preferences”.
Step 2: In System Preferences, click Bluetooth. Make sure that Bluetooth is turned on. You will know Bluetooth is already on if you see the “Turn Bluetooth Off” button on the left-hand side.
Step 3: Put both AirPods in their charging case and open the lid. We’re assuming that your AirPods have enough charge.
Step 4: Press and hold down the button on the back of the AirPods charging case until the status light starts to flash white to make the AirPods discoverable.
Step 5: At this point, your AirPods should appear in the Bluetooth preferences window on your Mac. A “Connect” button will appear next to your AirPods’ name, click it to pair them with your Mac.
That’s pretty much it. You’ve successfully connected your AirPods to your Mac.
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