How to Connect your AirPods to a Mac

You can connect your AirPods to many devices, including your Mac, just like you can with any Bluetooth earbuds. Depending on how you already use your AirPods, there are two ways to connect them to your Mac. Here's how to connect your AirPods to a Mac.

How to connect AirPods to Mac if you don't use them on iPhone

If your AirPods are not already connected to your iPhone, you can still connect them directly to your Mac.

1. Open the charging case for the AirPods, but don't take the headphones out.

2. Press and hold the button on the back of the case until the status light starts blinking.

3. On your Mac, go to the Apple menu and select "System Preferences."

4. Click on  "Bluetooth" in the System Preferences window.

5. Find the AirPods you want to connect to the Mac in the list of devices, then click "Connect."

6. Once the connection is made, the AirPods will be at the top of the Devices list and ready to use.

You can try a few things to fix the problem if you can't get your AirPods to connect:

First, make sure that your Mac is up to date. You need macOS Sierra or later to use the first generation of AirPods, and macOS 10.14.4 or later to use the second generation.

If the AirPods are on your list of Bluetooth devices but won't connect, take them off the list and pair them with the Mac again. Click the "x" to the right of the AirPods in the list of Bluetooth devices. Then start over from the beginning.

You can reset your AirPods and try again if nothing else works. To reset your AirPods, press and hold the button on the back of the case for at least 15 seconds. Let go of the button when the status light starts to flash amber.

How to connect AirPods to Mac if you already use them on iPhone

If your iPhone and Mac both use the same Apple ID, your AirPods should connect to your Mac automatically.

1. Open your AirPods' case the same way you do when you connect them to your iPhone.

2. Click the Volume icon in the menu bar at the top of your Mac's screen. It looks like a speaker.

3. Pick your AirPods from this menu's "Output Device" section.

RELATED: How to connect AirPods to iPhone.

If this doesn't work, you need to make sure that a couple of settings are on. To open the System Preferences window, click the Apple icon in the menu bar and then click "System Preferences."

Make sure that the same Apple ID is used on both your iPhone and your Mac. Make sure you're signed in with the same Apple ID as your iPhone by clicking "Apple ID" in the System Preferences window.

See if Handoff is turned on. In the System Preferences window, click "General" and make sure the box next to "Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices" is checked.

If you don't see the volume icon in the menu bar, you need to turn it on. In the System preferences window, click "Sound," and then check the box next to "Show volume in menu bar."

So, this is it. Your AirPods or AirPods Pro can now be used with your Mac. When you connect your headphones to your computer, you can change the settings by clicking the "Options" button next to the list of headphones.

Here, you can set what happens when you double-tap, turn off Automatic Ear Detection, change the noise cancellation settings for AirPods Pro, and choose which microphone to use.

Now that your AirPods are paired, take the earbuds out of the case and put them in your ears. You'll hear the familiar connection chime when your Mac switches the audio output to your headphones.

If your AirPods are paired but not connected, you can switch to them by clicking "Volume Control" in the menu bar and then choosing your earbuds.

You can check the battery life and connection of your AirPods from the Bluetooth menu in the menu bar. Here, click the "Disconnect" button if you want to stop using AirPods with your Mac or switch to a different device.