The AirPods are still the most sought-after earbuds worldwide. It connects to any Bluetooth-powered device so iOS devices, Android, macOS, and PC users can use this minimalist gadget. Perfect for iOS and macOS devices, connectivity is smooth, sound quality is on point, and battery usage is good because of the H1 and W1 chip that connects well with iOS and macOS. That’s why connecting AirPods to Mac shouldn’t be a problem. But sometimes, it is. So it just gets frustrating when this happens making you question why won’t my AirPods connect to my Mac?
Why Won't My AirPods Connect to My Mac
Before we give you the common problems and solutions, we’d like to direct you to our guide on How to Connect AirPods to Mac just to make sure you tried to connect your AirPods properly to your Mac. If you still have the question: Why won't my AirPods connect to my Macbook after this and your problem persists, then there might be other issues.
Here are the common issues and fixes that you can do to connect your AirPods to your Mac:
Update your macOS
Make sure you’ve gotten a system update or upgrade.
Click on the Apple menu
Select System Preferences
Click Software Update
Select Update Now or Upgrade Now
Charge your AirPods
We tend to overlook this common problem but it could just be that you’ve run out of battery. Make sure they’re charged by placing them back in their charging case or plugging them into a power outlet. Read All About AirPods Battery Life here.
Check your Mac’s Bluetooth
Always make sure that your Mac’s Bluetooth is on.
Go to Apple Menu
Choose System Preferences
Click Bluetooth
Under the Bluetooth icon, it should say Now discoverable as [Your Name]’s MacBook Air
Restart your Mac
It could just be an error that restarting could resolve. Apple Menu > Restart > Restart to confirm.
Reconnect AirPods as an audio device
If you saw that you’re already connected to your Mac but the audio doesn’t play on your AirPods, you could forget the device first and pair them again.
Go to Apple Menu
Select System Preferences
Choose Bluetooth
Right-click on [Your Name]’s AirPods and click Forget device
Then simply connect to your Mac again.
Clean your AirPods and charging case
Sometimes it could be the dust, dirt, or earwax that prohibits connection. Gunk buildup could disable your AirPods from charging which limits its syncing to your Mac.
We have a guide on how to clean your AirPods safely.
Reset AirPods
Your AirPods may act up once in a while and one solution is to reset your AirPods. Click the link for the step-by-step guide on how to reset AirPods.
Why Are My Airpods Connected but Not Playing
Make sure you've connected your AirPods successfully. Check if your AirPods has been selected as the output device.
Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Sound > Output > select your AirPods
Note: You may adjust the balance and volume of your AirPods here too.
If the above method didn't work and you're still asking -- why do my AirPods say connected but not working, try restarting your Mac before connecting to your AirPods again. And if it doesn't work again, reset your AirPods.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes, there are simple things that we tend to forget like charging our AirPods, cleaning them, and turning the Bluetooth of our Mac on. Sometimes it’s just some bugs and glitches that are solvable by updating our software, restarting a Mac, or unpairing and reconnecting. But sometimes, we just need a hard reset to start all over again. Well, we hope you're not left asking -- why are my AirPods not connecting to my Macbook.
Share with us which fix resolved your issue in the comments section.
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