Set up AirPods with your Mac and other Bluetooth devices

: June 7, 2024
: Apple

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Set up AirPods with your Mac and other Bluetooth devices

Set up AirPods with your Mac and other Bluetooth devices

Learn how to set up your AirPods with your Mac, Android device, or another Bluetooth device to listen to music, take phone calls, and more.

Use AirPods with your Mac

If you’re using AirPods (2nd generation), make sure that your Mac has macOS Mojave 10.14.4 or later. AirPods Pro require macOS Catalina 10.15.1 or later.

If you set up your AirPods with your iPhone and your Mac is signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID, your AirPods might be ready to use with your Mac. Place your AirPods in your ears and click either the Bluetooth menu or the volume control in the menu bar on your Mac.1 Then choose AirPods from the list.

If you don’t see your AirPods in the Bluetooth or volume control menu,2 pair your AirPods with your Mac:

On your Mac, choose System Preferences from the Apple menu (), then click Bluetooth .
Make sure that Bluetooth is on.
Put both AirPods in the charging case and open the lid.
Press and hold the setup button on the back of the case until the status light flashes white.
Select your AirPods in the Devices list, then click Connect.

If sound still plays from your Mac speakers, click either the Bluetooth menu or the volume control in the menu bar and make sure that your AirPods are selected as the output device.1

Use AirPods with a non-Apple device

You can use AirPods as a Bluetooth headset with a non-Apple device. You can’t use Siri, but you can listen and talk. To set up your AirPods with an Android phone or other non-Apple device,3 follow these steps:

On your non-Apple device, go to the settings for Bluetooth and make sure that Bluetooth is on.4 If you have an Android device, go to Settings > Connections > Bluetooth.
With your AirPods in the charging case, open the lid.
Press and hold the setup button on the back of the case until you see the status light flash white.
When your AirPods appear in the list of Bluetooth devices, select them.

Switch devices automatically

Your AirPods (2nd generation) or AirPods Pro can automatically switch between your Mac with macOS Big Sur, iPhone with iOS 14, and iPad with iPadOS 14 or later. Your devices need to be signed in with the same Apple ID using two- factor authentication. For example, while listening to music on your Mac, you answer a call on your iPhone. Your AirPods automatically switch from the music on your Mac to the phone call on your iPhone.

In some situations, you’ll see a notification about your AirPods on the screen of your Mac. When you hold the pointer over the notification, a Connect button appears. Click Connect to confirm that you want your AirPods to switch to—or stay with—your Mac.

If you want to turn automatic switching off for your Mac, open Bluetooth preferences on your Mac with your AirPods in your ears. Click the Options button next to your AirPods in the list of devices. Click Connect to This Mac, and then choose When Last Connected to This Mac. To turn this feature on again, choose Automatically.

Sound should not automatically switch from one device to another if you’re in a conversation, like a phone call, a FaceTime call, or a video conference.

Learn more

Learn what to do if you can’t set up or connect your AirPods.

If you don’t see the volume control in the menu bar, learn how to add it.
Your AirPods Pro can connect automatically with your Mac that uses macOS Catalina 10.15.1 or later. Your AirPods (2nd generation) can connect automatically with your Mac that uses macOS Mojave 10.14.4 or later. Your AirPods (1st generation) can connect automatically with your Mac that uses macOS Sierra or later.
The features of your AirPods might be limited, depending on the Bluetooth device that they’re connected to.
If you can’t find the Bluetooth settings for your device, check the user guide.

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Published Date: June 09, 2021