How to Connect Bluetooth Headphones to your Mac (Quick Answered!)

Bluetooth headphones to your Mac computer can be connected in three ways.

However, before you begin, ensure that your Bluetooth device is turned on and in discoverable mode. This usually entails holding down the power button until the device emits a chime, but check the device's manual for specifics.

Nothing is worse than an interrupted Zoom meeting in this new era of working from home. Bad internet connections are inconvenient, but at least you can relax for a while while everything loads. Even better, you might get to skip!

It's more difficult to have someone walk in and interrupt your call. If you believe your roommates are interfering with your Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet, Bluetooth headphones can come in handy. They can also be useful if you work in an open-plan office. So you just plug in your headphones and go, right? Well…

Meetings are stressful enough without the added stress of attempting to connect your Bluetooth headphones to your Mac or iMac at the last minute. To ensure that everything runs smoothly, you'll need to connect them ahead of time. This blog will show you how to connect wireless headphones to a Macbook Pro or an iMac.

In System Preferences, connect Bluetooth headphones to your Mac.

• Select Bluetooth from the System Preferences menu on your Mac.
• If Bluetooth is not already turned on, click Turn Bluetooth On on the left side of the Bluetooth page of System Preferences.
• All nearby discoverable devices will appear on the right side of the Bluetooth window under Devices. If you don't see the item you're looking for, make sure it's turned on and in pairing mode. If you have Bluetooth headphones connected to your phone or another device, you must disconnect them before connecting to your Mac.
• Choose the headphones to which you want to connect.
• You may be required to accept or enter a passcode for the device the first time you connect to a new set of Bluetooth headphones. After the first pairing, the connection should be automatic.

Use Control Center to connect Bluetooth headphones to your Mac.

• Click Control Center in the menu bar at the top of your Mac screen, then select the Bluetooth icon.
• Select the headphones from the list of Bluetooth devices.

Using a menu bar shortcut, connect Bluetooth headphones to your Mac.

• Click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar at the top of your Mac screen and select the headphones you want to pair from the drop-down list.
• A new menu will appear. Select Connect.
• When the Bluetooth icon becomes grayed out with three black dots in front of it, your connection is successful. If the dots have been replaced by a low battery icon, click to access the menu. This will tell you which of your connected devices is running low on battery power.
• You can also turn Bluetooth on and off from the menu bar, or select Open Bluetooth Preferences, which opens the System Preferences Bluetooth page.

Alternative Video: How to Connect Bluetooth Devices to Your Mac

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Why isn't my Bluetooth device connecting? How to Resolve Problems

If you're having trouble connecting your Bluetooth devices, try the following standard troubleshooting steps:

• Make your devices discoverable: Make sure your Bluetooth headphones are in pairing mode so that other devices can “discover” and connect to them.
• Put your devices in range: The devices you're attempting to connect must be within 20 feet of one another.
• Check that your devices aren't already synced: If your Bluetooth headphones are already paired to another device, such as your iPhone, they won't connect to your Mac.
• Reset the connection: You can have your iPhone “forget the device” in Settings or remove the device in Mac System Preferences.
• Resetting your devices: Restarting all of your devices may help to resolve the pairing issue.

Disconnecting and removing Bluetooth headphones from a Mac

There are two methods for removing your Bluetooth headphone connection from your Mac.

Unplug your Bluetooth headphones from your Mac.

• Open the Bluetooth page in System Preferences or click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen.
• Click Disconnect after selecting the headphones. If you don't see a disconnect option, click the “X” beside the device and then Remove in the pop-up. You can also disconnect by simply unplugging your headphones.

Remove Bluetooth headphones from the Mac's device list.

• Navigate to the Bluetooth section of System Preferences.
• Remove the headphones by clicking the X next to them.
• You will receive a notification that you will no longer be able to pair automatically. If you remove your headphones and want to pair them again later, you must repeat the pairing process.

How to fix Bluetooth headphone issues

Going through the setup steps may result in your headphones not connecting or connecting and then abruptly disconnecting. This is extremely inconvenient, but it is easily resolved by either resetting the headphones or purging preference settings on your Mac. Here's how to resolve all known problems:

How to Troubleshoot Bluetooth Headphones to your Mac

If you are unable to connect your Bluetooth headphones not only to your Mac but also to any other device you own (iPhone or car audio), a simple reset should resolve the issue.

Check your device's manual for reset instructions. Here's how to reactivate your AirPods:

1. Place the earphones in the case while keeping the lid open.
2. Hold down the setup button until the light changes from amber to white (around 10 seconds)

All of your earphones' settings should have been reset, and you should be able to connect them again using the standard procedure outlined above. If the problem persists, it could be related to your Mac's preferences.

Reset Mac sound preferences

To begin, ensure that your Mac is running macOS Sierra or later (macOS High Sierra or Mojave). If not, go to System Preferences > Software Update or use the App Store to upgrade if you're upgrading from a previous version.

If nothing else has worked, try resetting your Mac's sound preferences. To accomplish this:

1. Select Go > Go to Folder… from the menu bar and enter /Library/Preferences.
2. Find and delete the following preference files from the long list: com.apple.preferences.plist and com.apple.soundpref.plist.

By removing preferences from the library, your Mac is forced to recreate them from scratch, avoiding any bugs or incorrect algorithms that could have interfered with your Bluetooth headphones setup. If that doesn't work, you can try restarting the audio process:

1. Open Activity Monitor by selecting it from the Applications folder.
2. Find the process called coreaudiod in the CPU tab.
3. Close Activity Monitor and exit the process.

For all needs, use master Bluetooth software.

Audio on Mac is usually not a problem. What irritates me is how current settings are scattered throughout macOS. Many of the fixes described here may appear perplexing and counterintuitive at first glance. You might wish there was an app that allowed you to control all of your audio needs from a single location.

And there are not one, but two such apps!

As previously stated, we adore AirBuddy, an app that extends the ease of pairing headphones from iOS to macOS. You don't need to do any manual pairing as long as you're logged in to your iCloud account; simply bring your headphones close to your Mac and click “Connect.”

How to Pair Bluetooth Headphones to your Mac?

Don't be concerned about connecting Bluetooth headphones to your Macbook Pro. It is simple and should be completed quickly (although it might take longer on older models).

1. Check that Bluetooth is enabled on both your Mac and your headphones.
2. Launch Bluetooth on your Mac and look for devices.
3. Choose your headphones (which should be labeled with the model name, such as ‘Your Name' AirPods or TaoTronics SoundLiberty 80).
4. Wait for them to connect before testing the audio.

If you're having trouble, watch the YouTube tutorial below. It also includes some tips and tricks for locating Bluetooth on your Mac.

Why Bluetooth headphones won't connect to Mac

There are a few common problems we need to explore:

1. Bluetooth headphones will not connect to a Mac right away; some configuration is required.
2. Bluetooth headphones for Mac are not the same as Bluetooth headphones for iPhone or your car's audio system.
3. Special settings that address issues such as how to connect two Bluetooth headphones to a single Mac and how to use multiple audio outputs.

AirPods will be used as an example throughout the article, but any other model of Bluetooth headphones can be connected in a similar manner.

What If My Bluetooth Headset Doesn’t Work with My Mac?

You should not be concerned. If your laptop computer and Bluetooth headphones are working properly, there are a few things you should check before calling customer service.

1. Check that your Bluetooth headphones are turned on and within range (i.e., you should be sat near your laptop).
2. Check that your headset is connected to your Mac. This may seem strange, but your headphones may have been connected to another device. It could also have simply not worked when you expected it to.
3. If your headset isn't listed, reconnect with it again. The second time's the charm!
4. Check that your headset is charged. It could be disconnecting because the battery is dead.
5. Ascertain that your Mac's audio output is set to headphones. If your Mac is connected to two different Bluetooth audio devices, it may be playing audio from one of them (like your speakers).

How to Disconnect or Remove Bluetooth Headphones from a Mac

In this situation, you have a few options. They are straightforward as usual, and you should have no problems–you can always turn off your headphones and they will automatically disconnect!

1. Select the Bluetooth icon. Disconnect the headphones after selecting them.
2. Disable Bluetooth in the System Preferences window.
3. Simply remove your headphones.
4. When you plug some headphones into the charger, they disconnect.
5. Bluetooth headphones can also be removed from your list of Bluetooth devices.

How to fix Bluetooth headphone issues

Going through the setup steps could result in your headphones not connecting successfully, or connecting and then abruptly disconnecting. This is extremely inconvenient, but it can be fixed by either resetting the headphones or purging preference settings on your Mac. Here's how to fix all known issues:

Restart your Bluetooth headphones to your Mac

If you are unable to connect your Bluetooth headphones not only to your Mac but also to any other device you own (iPhone or car audio), a simple reset should resolve the issue.

For reset instructions, check your device’s manual. Here’s how to reset AirPods:

All of your earphones' settings should have been reset, and you should be able to connect them again using the standard procedure outlined above. If the problem persists, it could be related to your Mac's preferences.

Conclusion

It can be difficult to connect your Bluetooth headphones to your Mac or iMac. If you follow the tips above, such as turning off your cell phone's Bluetooth before attempting to connect, you'll find it much easier. Looking for the perfect pair of headphones to pair with your Mac? Go to TaoTronics' website! We have an incredible selection of True Wireless Earbuds, over-ear headphones with noise cancelling technology, and headsets that sit comfortably on your head all day.