AirPod not connecting to macbook

Hey again no worries, I’m not the one that’s disappointed. It maybe a good idea to stay in touch with Apple then considering the steps you’ve taken already. I know you’ve already spoken with them, but they’ should be able to help to find a solution, whether it’s escalating the issue to their engineer team for analysis, or setting up a repair to take a further look, or test further. Hope it works out okay.

Hey there!

Since you said you’ve gone through all the steps already, You might already be familiar with these articles:

Use AirPods with your Mac:

https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-airpods-with-your-mac-mchld2f124d1/11.0/mac/11.0

If your AirPods won’t connect:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207974

Reset your AirPods:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209463

I’ll assume you’ve already forgot other connected devices, restarted, tried connecting again, making sure fully charged etc. from what you said.

And of course checking software compatibility and making sure it’s up to date and all.

There could be a number causes from software/hardware/network environment, and even an interface change, etc. 

I’d probably try the steps in this article here, maybe a quick fix, though I haven’t yet tested it yet on the new OS, still may help resetting the SMC, and/or the Bluetooth Module, as in the article:

https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/reset-mac-bluetooth-module/amp/

Otherwise, can you give more specifics? What shows up in preferences, if other Bluetooth devices connect fine, if these AirPods do or don’t connect to other devices, If OTHER AirPods connect to the same Mac (If able to test), what devices you normally have connected? And finally if the same happens in safe boot and/or another user?

Thanks, that might help to diagnose but hopefully one of those suggestions helped!

Hey again! Did you also happen to reset your AirPods?:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209463

These things can take time to figure out, I find usually in cases like this, the environment may contribute to the cause, hence disabling all Bluetooth devices, etc. as you’ve done.

Did you also happen to reset the Bluetooth module as in the article I posted earlier?

As well as resetting the SMC, (In the same article)?:

Reset the SMC:

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201295

If you don’t have the resources for other tests, such as testing other AirPods with your Mac, or your AirPods with another Mac, etc. etc. I’d give Apple Support a call, they may have other solutions if the previous ones don’t work out, including finding a software/hardware/environmental cause. Hope it works out okay!

Contact Apple Support:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201232

Cheers.

Hey again! Well that sounds stubborn. We know the AirPods work though (On other devices of course).

You did also reset the Bluetooth Module? (Sent that article earlier).

In that case I’d also try resetting the NVRAM on your Mac and trying again, considering the issue still persists:

Reset the PRAM/NVRAM of your Mac:

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT204063

It’s another simple yet useful step that just takes a minute or so.

If that doesn’t fix it, and considering the steps you took already with safe boot and a new user, I’d probably reset the p.list:

First disconnect any bluetooth devices, and if you use wireless keyboard and mouse, I’d have a usb backup in case.

As this happens across all users and not just locally, I’d open: Finder

On the top menu hit Go > Computer > Macintosh HD (Usually) > Library > Preferences.

From there delete:

com.apple.bluetooth.plist

Restart your Mac, and pair just the AirPods again. I’d hope that would do it but have been suprised before good luck!