How to connect Bluetooth headphones to a Mac

2 min read · 5 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

You pair headphones once, and after that they connect when you switch them on near the Mac. AirPods already linked to your Apple Account appear by themselves and need no pairing.

These steps are for recent versions of macOS, where the settings app is called System Settings. The pictures are simplified diagrams, not screenshots.

Step by step

1. Put the headphones in pairing mode

   Usually you hold the power or Bluetooth button for a few seconds until a light blinks. For earbuds, the button is often on the case.

   Done

2. Open System Settings and click Bluetooth

   Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and choose System Settings. Make sure the Bluetooth switch is on.

   Done

3. Find the headphones under Nearby Devices

   It can take a few seconds for the name to appear.

   Done

4. Click Connect

   Move the pointer over the name and click the Connect button that appears. The headphones move up to My Devices.

   Done

5. Choose them for sound

   Click Control Centre in the menu bar, click Sound and select the headphones. The Mac usually switches by itself.

   Done

Good to know

If the headphones do not appear, switch them off and on, hold the pairing button again, and disconnect them from the phone they were used with before.

To remove a device, click the i next to its name and choose Forget This Device.

If sound quality drops during calls, the headphones have switched to their microphone mode. Choose the Mac's built-in microphone under System Settings, Sound, Input to keep the better sound.

In short: Pairing mode on the headphones. System Settings, Bluetooth, Connect.