Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

jrhop

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 1, 2014
98
77
Just upgraded to Big Sur and on my 2014 MacBook Air the AirPods auto switching doesn’t appear to be working. Works fine between iPad and iPhone on iOS 14.2, however on MacBook Air it comes up with a notification asking to connect. Checked Bluetooth settings and Airpods are set to connect Automatically. Checked Apple support link and doesn’t mentioned any hardware requirements for MacBook Air side. Any else have it working on older Mac hardware?
 
  • Like
Reactions: RichardMcGeorge
Similar situation here with iPhone, iPad and Mac Mini. Many people are reporting the similar issue with Big Sur's Airpods automatic switching not working though their iPhone+iPad switch perfectly fine. I think that's a bug requiring Apple's further work. Kind of disappointed though.
 
Same situation with MacBook Pro 2018+iPhone 11 pro Max+iPad Pro. Seamless switching between iPad and iPhone, but only manual switching with MacBook Pro.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RichardMcGeorge
AirPods not Switching Automatically to Mac

FINALLY was able to update my new MacBook Pro (2019 15inch) to MacOS Big Sur with the promise of automatic switching between devices for my airpods.

Unfortunately it only works between my iPad Pro 11inch and iPhone 12 Pro Max. I can also connect manually my AirPods to my Mac by clicking it under “sound” and it transfers TO my iPhone BUT the audio connection doesn’t go back to my Mac.

Anyone else experiencing this? Do we know the fix?
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: romaguyntx
Same here with MacBook Pro 2019
Works great with iPhone 11 Pro and iPad but shows AirPods nearby connect on Mac. It would be very useful if Apple found a fix on this.
 
Same. This was the one feature I was looking forward to and it doesn't really work. Sometimes it will, when I switch from my 2020 MBP to my iPhone SE, but as someone else mentioned, it won't switch back when I go back to the Mac. Hope this is fixed, and I'm sure it will be.
 
Same problem for me. It works perfectly between my iPhone X and iPad Pro 2020, but I have to select manually my AirPods in my MacBook Pro 2015, and even then it doesn't switch back automatically in the other direction.
Hopefully it will be fixed soon.
 
I got the same problem wir my MacBook Pro 2018. works fine on my iPhone XR and my iPad Pro 2017. Hope there will be a fix soon.
 
The same here with Powerbeats Pro. No automatic switching to the Macbook Pro 16 on Big Sur.

I have tried pairing and rebooting devices but have found no improvements.
 
Just upgraded to Big Sur and on my 2014 MacBook Air the AirPods auto switching doesn’t appear to be working. Works fine between iPad and iPhone on iOS 14.2, however on MacBook Air it comes up with a notification asking to connect. Checked Bluetooth settings and Airpods are set to connect Automatically. Checked Apple support link and doesn’t mentioned any hardware requirements for MacBook Air side. Any else have it working on older Mac hardware?
I am wondering if this is related to handoff not working and the lack of ability to use your phone or iPad as a scanner now. These are features I used all the time and now I cannot import images/scans from my iPhone 11 Pro Max on iOS14 or iPad Pro on iPadOS14 (2020) with my MacBook Pro on Big Sur (2017). I'll be crossposting this issue as it might make sense to someone when they start looking at the ecosystem features that don't work, or don't work consistently.
 
Same Problem here with MacBook Air early 2020 and iMac Mid 2014 on Big Sur not working or not reliable, iPhone 11 and iPad Pro no problem. Hopefully it will be an update to fix it soon.
 
AirPod connection is super finicky now. It was easier in Catalina. Bluetooth, mouse down to AirPods, click connect. Now, it tries to switch, but fails. And now when I click on my AirPods in Bluetooth, it doesn’t always connect. Then when I do connect, and while I’m using them, notification pops up 5 mins later that my AirPods are nearby.

Bad implementation. Wish I could stay with the old method while keeping BS.
 
  • Like
Reactions: romaguyntx
So after updating to Big Sur, my Bluetooth Headphones won't connect to my mac. It let's me connect but after 5-10 seconds it just disconnects.
This fixed it for me:

"I could resolve this issue finally with removing additional audio plugins in the folder /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins."
 
of course not apple. you simply can not get it right at first. Same issue here. It would send the audio one way. As in from the mac to the iPhone but not going back when the call ends!! wonder how many tweaks until they will get this right. The one function I was really looking forward to with big sur!!(also because the only one!)
 
Also for me the auto switching between MacBook Pro Mid 2015 (macOS Big Sur 11.0.1) and iPhone 7 (IOS 14.2) doesn't work.
 
Just tried this feature. I really doesn't work. It works between my iPhone and iPad but when I try it on my MacBook Pro it doesn't automatically connect. To make things even worse, when I connect manually, this completely breaks the feature on my iPhone and iPad so that I have to manually connect there as well afterwards before it works again. This is really annoying.
 
Same here. Took since Thursday to resolve the BigSur download problem, and now that I have it the switching doesn't work. Wow Apple! (Jobs rolling in his grave)
 
Ok, so now, suddenly, it semi-works. I still have to connect manually on my MacBook but at least it then connects automatically to my iPhone. And I get a message on macOS saying something like „AirPods got switched“. But, it still doesn’t automatically connect to my MacBook.
 
Having serious Bluetooth issues with the AirPod Pros on mi 2020 iMac. Really sketchy. A restart helps now and then, but it’s still not great. Hopefully improved in an update.
 
Same problem, by the way my magic mouse jerks when I'm using the airpods on macbook air 2019
We have to wait for an update, hopefully soon
 
  • Like
Reactions: decypher44
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.