Your iPhone, iPad, and other mobile gadgets aren’t the only ones that benefit from Bluetooth’s simplicity. Bluetooth gives you immense freedom to go about while still being able to communicate and listen via your Mac. You can listen to music on your Mac easily if you have Bluetooth headphones. But, how to connect Bluetooth headphones to Mac?
Apple has made it incredibly simple to connect Bluetooth headphones to Mac.
This article explains how to pair Bluetooth headphones with a MacBook and what to do if the headset doesn’t connect properly. To begin, allow us to explain the factors that contribute to the inability of your Bluetooth headphones to connect to your Mac.
Why Won’t My Bluetooth Headphones Connect to My Mac?
Even though pairing Bluetooth headphones with your Mac seems to be a simple process, it can be daunting too sometimes. Here are some reasons why your Bluetooth headphones do not connect to your Mac:
A Previously Connected Device Is Attempting to Reconnect
It is a pervasive issue. In most cases, when you turn on your Bluetooth headphones, they will automatically re-establish a connection with the last device to which you connected them (such as your phone). However, because you can only connect one Bluetooth device at a time, your headphones will not work with your Mac.
You can easily resolve this problem by unplugging your headphones from the computer or other connected device. To do this, you will need to go into the device’s settings. After that, select “Forget This Device” from the list of connected headphones or disable Bluetooth altogether. Both methods work to remove Bluetooth headphones.
Bluetooth Headphones Are Undiscoverable
To connect to other devices, you need to set your Mac and Bluetooth headphones to “Discoverable” mode. Following are the steps to make your Mac discoverable:
- Click the apple symbol in the toolbar’s top-left corner.
- Navigate to the “System Preferences.”
- Select the “Bluetooth” icon.
- If you have not yet done the configuration of Bluetooth on your Mac, you will need to do so and activate it. Consequently, click “Turn Bluetooth On.”
The following steps will help you make your headphones discoverable:
- Hold the power button down once you have turned on your headphones.
- The light should begin blinking immediately.
- Release the button. Now that your headphones are discoverable, you should be able to use them.
Your Mac Requires a Restart
Restarting your device will reset your operating system software, enabling your software to start fresh and cure common software faults. Restarting your Mac is sometimes all it takes to fix your device.
To restart your Mac, follow these instructions:
- Click on the Apple logo in the top left of your screen to get started.
- Choose “Restart.”
- Once you’ve reactivated your device, use your headphones to link with your Bluetooth-enabled device. Connect your Bluetooth headphones.
Bluetooth Headphones Are Low on Battery
Your headphones may refuse to connect to other devices until you recharge if they run low on battery power. Moreover, if your battery is low, plug in your headphones and wait for them to charge before attempting to connect them fully. To ensure that your devices connect again, you should charge their batteries first.
Bluetooth Headphones Are Out of Range/Off
For your Mac to successfully connect to your headphones, they must be within a reasonable distance of your computer. As a result, your headphones must be within easy reach of your Mac. Your Mac and headphones should be 20 feet apart to have a solid Bluetooth connection.
Headphones Need Resetting
If you are finding difficulty in connecting your headphones to Mac, it might be that your headphones need resetting. You must keep in mind that the need of resetting depends upon the type of headphone and brand you are using, so a quick check of your device’s manual or the manufacturer’s website will provide you with the required information.
Your Mac Needs a Software Upgrade
Check if your Mac needs any upgrades if you’ve done all of the above and still can’t connect your headphones to your Mac. You can easily accomplish this by clicking “About This Mac” and selecting “Software Update” from the dropdown menu. If there is an update available, you’ll get a notification and have the choice to install it. It might help your Mac connect to your headphones, mainly if the upgrade affects Bluetooth.
How to Connect Bluetooth Headphones to MacBook Air?
You need to follow the steps below to connect your Bluetooth Headphones to your MacBook Air:
- Open system preferences
- Select Bluetooth settings in the System Preferences app.
- The Bluetooth devices in range will show in a pop-up window. If your MacBook Air can detect the headphones, they will appear in the Bluetooth devices list. Ensure that the device you wish to connect is in the pairing mode and ready to go if it doesn’t appear in the list. Before you may connect to your MacBook Air, detach the Bluetooth headphones from your phone or another device.
- Choose the headphones you’d want to connect.
- You may need to approve or input a passcode for the device the first time you connect to a new pair of Bluetooth headphones. After the first time you pair, the connection should happen independently.
Go to System Preferences and pick the Bluetooth icon to add a Bluetooth status icon to the top of your screen’s menu bar. In addition, you will find a box saying “Show Bluetooth in menu bar” at the bottom of the screen that displays that you may tick.
Once you have checked that option, you may use the menu bar icon to connect a Bluetooth device:
- Select the headphones you wish to link from the dropdown list by clicking on the Bluetooth symbol.
- You’ll see a second menu appear. Connect wireless headphones are the option to choose from.
- When the Bluetooth symbol is grayed out and has three black dots in front of it, you know that you have your connection. If a low battery symbol appears instead of the dots, click it to see the dropdown option. Using this method, you can see which of your linked gadgets is running low on power.
You can connect two Bluetooth headphones or multiple Bluetooth devices connected to your MacBook Air simultaneously. However, you’ll need to utilize the Audio MIDI app if you wish to connect multiple wireless devices to your MacBook Air. You can find the Audio MIDI setup in the Applications > Utilities section.
How to Connect Bluetooth Headphones to MacBook Pro?
A few easy steps are all you need to follow to get your Bluetooth headphones working with your MacBook Pro.
Activate the Apple Menu
Look for the Apple logo in the top left corner of your Mac screen. Alternatively, on your dock and Launchpad, select the System Preferences icon. To access the dropdown menu, click the logo, then locate and pick System Preferences. It resembles a gear.
Choose Bluetooth From the Menu Options
You will find the Bluetooth menu in the System Preferences window that appears after opening it up. Select “Turn Bluetooth On” after clicking on it. It is possible to see all Bluetooth devices within range after choosing this option.
Pair Your Bluetooth Headphones
Before using your Bluetooth headphones, check that they have a full charge and are in the discoverable mode. Then, look for your Bluetooth headphones.
You may look for the model number on the headphones by consulting the documentation of your purchase. Use the user handbook or instructions for setting up your connection to track down its name.
Select your Bluetooth headphones from the list and click Connect to pair them with your computer. This operation connects your MacBook Pro headphones to the computer.
Upon successful pairing, your wireless headphones should remain or immediately reconnect when both devices are active and within range (falling within 33 feet or 10 meters).
How to Remove and Unplug Bluetooth Headphones From Mac?
The procedure to disconnect Bluetooth headphones from your Mac gadgets is relatively straightforward.
If you want to disconnect your Bluetooth headphone, click on the Bluetooth icon to disconnect from your Mac. Disconnect the headphones by clicking on them. Disconnecting from Bluetooth is also possible via the System Preferences pane. Alternatively, remove the headphones.
When your headphones run out of juice, they will detach from your Mac, and you’ll have to reconnect them after charging them fully. However, when you put your headphones on the charger, some may disengage from the device.
You may also delete Bluetooth headphones from the list of Bluetooth devices. Open the Bluetooth preferences window to accomplish this. To remove the headphones, click the X in the vicinity of the icon for each one.
You’ll get a warning that you won’t be able to pair automatically anymore. If you take your headphones off and wish to connect them again later, you’ll have to repeat the procedure.
Read Also: Are Bluetooth Headphones Safe to Use?
Final Words
While listening to music or taking notes from an audio recording, Bluetooth headphones are helpful to ensure that your Mac’s audio output only reaches your ears.
As we explained in this post, it’s simple enough for Mac users to connect Bluetooth headphones. There are two ways to go about it. The first method is to use System Preferences. The second option is to utilize the menu bar shortcut. As a result, we’ve also given you some pointers on connecting Bluetooth headphones to a Mac if they aren’t working.
Enjoy your listening!
