4 Best Fixes for AirPods Disconnecting From Mac
Unless AirPods are running low on battery, they shouldn’t randomly disconnect from your device, especially while you’re using them. Unfortunately, this is not the case for some Mac users whose AirPods connection is dropped at regular intervals. If you are experiencing this as well, we will highlight the likely reasons your AirPods keep disconnecting from Mac and how to fix this.
If other Apple devices paired with AirPods are near your Mac, it might interfere with the AirPods-Mac connection. For example, if the AirPods are connected to your Mac and your iPhone simultaneously and are both signed in to the same Apple ID, the AirPods will switch between the two devices. This could be the reason why AirPods are disconnecting from your Mac. To resolve this issue, turn off iPhone Bluetooth and use AirPods on your Mac only. You can also turn off your Mac’s Bluetooth, turn it back on, and reconnect the AirPods.
Note: The solution in this guide applies to all generations or editions of Apple AirPods – AirPods 1, AirPods 2, and AirPods Pro.
1. Restart Mac
Tap the Apple logo in the menu bar and select Restart. Make sure to close all applications manually so that you do not lose any unsaved documents or data.
Restarting your Mac can help eliminate device issues that cause AirPods to intermittently disconnect from your Mac. If the problems persist after restarting, try the next method.
2. Forget AirPods
This involves unlinking the AirPods from your Mac and reconnecting it from scratch.
Step 1: Tap the Bluetooth icon in your Mac’s menu bar and select “Open Bluetooth Preferences.”
If the Bluetooth icon is not in the menu bar, go to System Preferences> Bluetooth and check the “Show Bluetooth on menu bar” option.
2nd step: Right click on the AirPods and select Remove.
Step 3: Tap Forget Device when prompted and the AirPods will be removed from your Mac.
The next step is to reconnect the AirPods to your Mac. Insert both AirPods into the charging case and close the cover.
Step 4: Reopen the cover and hold the setup button on the case until the status light case turns white. This puts the AirPods into pairing mode.
Step 5: Open the Bluetooth settings menu on your Mac and tap the Connect button next to AirPods. Make sure the Mac’s Bluetooth is turned on.
Use the AirPods and check if the connection is now stable. Proceed to the next solution if AirPods keep disconnecting from your Mac.
3. Debug Mac Bluetooth
There is a hidden debug menu on macOS that allows users to troubleshoot and fix Bluetooth connectivity issues. Explore the following options in the debug menu and at least one should help stabilize your connection between your Mac and AirPods.
Reset the Mac’s Bluetooth module
When you reset the Bluetooth hardware module on your Mac, the Bluetooth configurations will be refreshed and active devices will be disconnected. This can help eliminate issues that cause AirPods to disconnect from your Mac.
Step 1: Click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar while holding the Shift + Option buttons on your Mac’s keyboard.
2nd step: Tap Debug from the context menu.
Step 3: Then select “Reset Bluetooth module”.
Step 4: Click OK on the confirmation prompt to continue.
Note: This will immediately disconnect all Bluetooth devices (including AirPods) currently active on your Mac. So if you are using a Bluetooth keyboard or mouse, you will also need to reconnect them, perhaps using a USB mouse.
To reconnect the AirPods, tap the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar, select the AirPods and click Connect.
Reset Apple devices to factory settings
This debugging option resets your Mac’s connection with all Apple-branded Bluetooth devices.
Step 1: Click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar while holding the Shift + Option buttons on your Mac’s keyboard.
2nd step: Tap Debug from the context menu.
Step 3: Select “Reset all connected Apple devices to factory settings”.
Note: Make sure AirPods are connected to your Mac before selecting this option.
Step 4: Click OK at the prompt to continue.
4. Delete the Bluetooth configuration files
In a previously published guide, we discussed how deleting certain configuration files (.plist files) can reset and fix Wi-Fi connectivity issues on Mac. The same logic applies to Bluetooth issues. Think of the Bluetooth preference list (.plist) as the cache files in which the configuration / settings of the Bluetooth devices connected to your Mac are stored. Deleting this file will restore your Mac’s Bluetooth to default and eliminate errors that disrupt AirPods connection.
Step 1: Tap Go on the Mac home page and select “Go to Folder”.
2nd step: Then paste the path below in the box and click Go.
/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth.plist
This will open the Preferences folder and highlight the com.apple.Bluetooth.plist file.
Step 3: Right click on com.apple.Bluetooth.plist file and select “Move to Bin”.
Step 4: Authenticate the process by entering your Mac’s password or using Touch ID.
Reconnect the AirPods to your Mac and check if it stays connected.
Enjoy uninterrupted sound
Finally, you need to make sure that your Mac’s operating system is up to date, especially if none of the above solutions resolve the issue. It should be noted that AirPods (1st generation) will only work correctly on Macs running macOS Sierra or newer. For AirPods (2nd generation) and AirPods Pro, the operating system requirement is macOS Mojave 10.14.4 or later. Go to System Preferences> Software Update and download any available macOS update.
Then:
If the AirPods are connected to your devices (Android, iOS, Mac, or PC) but there is no sound or audio output from the speakers, refer to this guide linked below to resolve the problem.
Last updated on Oct 24, 2020
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