Connecting AirPods to Mac: A Step by Step Guide

[MacRumors]

If you've set up first-generation or second-generation AirPods with your iPhone and your Mac is signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID, then your AirPods should be ready to use with your Mac.

Ideally, all you need to do is put your AirPods in your ears, click the Bluetooth icon in your Mac's menu bar, select your AirPods from the dropdown list, and click Connect.

If you don't see your AirPods in the Bluetooth menu, you can pair them manually with your Mac in the following way.

How to Connect AirPods to Mac

1. On your Mac, launch System Preferences from the Apple menu bar ( -> System Preferences...).
2. Click the Bluetooth pane.
   
   
   
   Make sure Bluetooth is turned on.
3. With your AirPods in their charging case, open the lid.
4. Press and hold the button on the back of the charging case until the status light between the AirPods flashes white.
   
   
   
   Select your AirPods in the Bluetooth devices list and click Connect.

Next time you want to use your AirPods with your Mac, place them in your ears and they should automatically pair. If they don't (if they pair with your nearby iPhone instead, for example) simply click the Bluetooth icon in your Mac's menu bar, select your AirPods in the dropdown list, and click Connect.

How to Customize AirPod Controls on a Mac

Apple AirPods support a number of gestural touch controls that you can customize, including the option to change tracks with a double tap.

All of these options can be accessed in the Settings app while the AirPods are connected to your iPhone or iPad. But you can also access them when your AirPods are connected to your Mac. Here's how:

1. On your Mac, launch System Preferences from the Apple menu bar ( -> System Preferences...).
   Click the Bluetooth pane.
   
   
   
   In the Bluetooth devices list, click the Options button next to your AirPods.
   
   

From this menu, you can enable or disable manual ear detection, choose to use the left or right AirPod microphone, and choose what happens when you double tap an AirPod.

Double-tap options include Siri, Play/Pause, Off, Next Track, and Previous Track. Note that you can also set different gestures for the left and the right AirPod.

Article Link: Connecting AirPods to Mac: A Step by Step Guide

 

[davidec]

Incredibly useful for Skype on a tower MPro

 

[foobarbaz]

It's so much nicer with ToothFairy, though.

 

[Narial Taster]

It's so much nicer with ToothFairy, though.

I’ve been confused about this. All ToothFairy does is save the extra tap right? (the one on the Bluetooth menu) Am I missing something?

 

[YegorH]

“Ideally, all you need to do is put your AirPods in your ears, click the Bluetooth icon in your Mac's menu bar, select your AirPods from the dropdown list, and click connect...”

This is the biggest problem with AirPods + multiple devices. Why should the user go through 3 steps to connect? Why not give a pop-up to connect or dismiss when the Mac or iPad, or any other device detects AirPods?

 

[MrGuder]

“Ideally, all you need to do is put your AirPods in your ears, click the Bluetooth icon in your Mac's menu bar, select your AirPods from the dropdown list, and click connect...”

This is the biggest problem with AirPods + multiple devices. Why should the user go through 3 steps to connect? Why not give a pop-up to connect or dismiss when the Mac or iPad, or any other device detects AirPods?

Exactly...every time I connect my Airpods to my Mac then later I go to workout and listen to some music on my iPhone I have to go through 3 steps to get them to re connect to my iPhone. Then later at night if I want to use my Airpods again on my Mac I have to do the same thing go thru the re connect process. If Bluetooth is already on (like I have) then it should just be 1 pop up that says re connect. Why make me jump thru all these menus to re connect on the same Apple products?

 

[britboyj]

“Ideally, all you need to do is put your AirPods in your ears, click the Bluetooth icon in your Mac's menu bar, select your AirPods from the dropdown list, and click connect...”

This is the biggest problem with AirPods + multiple devices. Why should the user go through 3 steps to connect? Why not give a pop-up to connect or dismiss when the Mac or iPad, or any other device detects AirPods?

I don't have as much of an issue with the Mac connection option as the steps to reconnect on a phone. Unlock > Settings > Bluetooth > Tap ... So dumb.

 

[Michael Tsai]

This is the biggest problem with AirPods + multiple devices. Why should the user go through 3 steps to connect?

I develop an app called ToothFairy that makes this much easier. You can just press a hotkey or click an icon in the menu bar to connect to your AirPods.

 

[Futurix]

I don't have as much of an issue with the Mac connection option as the steps to reconnect on a phone. Unlock > Settings > Bluetooth > Tap ... So dumb.

You can just choose AirPods in the Now Playing widget in Control Centre (or use the device selection button in the same way in Music / Podcasts / TV / Spotify / etc).
And in case of Control Centre there is no need to unlock.

 

[xbjllb]

Wow, what a terrific idea! Wireless right next to your brain! Sign me up!!!

Apple is gonna need those billions when the brain cancer tumors start showing up in 10-15 years.

Seriously? This is profit-seeking toymaking malfeasance bordering on abject evil. This ain't using an iPhone on speaker setting.

 

[pdaholic]

Sometimes my AirPods will just decide that no matter what I do, they refuse to connect to my 2013 MacBook Pro. Have to forget the device and pair it all over again. Granted it might occur one out of 30 times that I paid them, but still...

 

[Vjosullivan]

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[BuffaloTF]

Wow, what a terrific idea! Wireless right next to your brain! Sign me up!!!

Apple is gonna need those billions when the brain cancer tumors start showing up in 10-15 years.

Seriously? This is profit-seeking toymaking malfeasance bordering on abject evil. This ain't using an iPhone on speaker setting.

1990 called, they want their irrational fear (and me using this stupid statement) back.

This isn't putting your head inside a 1000 watt microwave. This is such a tiny risk that it can't be scientifically calculated because it's estimated to be fractions around 1/1,000,000th of 1%.

 

[doctor-don]

Selected Bluetooth: On - OK
Selected My AirPods: Connected
Selected Preferences > Sound > Output - BUT NO AIRPODS IN THE DEVICES!!!!

They connect just fine to my phone.

 

[jagooch]

Thanks for the tip on setting up single and double tap. I searched all over the settings for that and could not find it.