After Sonoma update, headphones won't attach to Macbook Pro via Bluetooth

Question

After Sonoma update, headphones won't attach to Macbook Pro via Bluetooth

I own three pairs of Bluetooth headphones, which all used to connect to my Macbook Pro just fine. Since updating to Sonoma, I have been unable to get them to connect. My Mac keyboards, mouse, and trackpad all still connect fine via Bluetooth. The headphones still connect fine to my iPhone.

The computer recognizes only one of the pairs of head phones in the bluetooth pairing list, but no sound ever comes out when I try to pair them. The computer will temporarily claim it's connected to the headphones, but then unpair. The headphones routinely tell me they have "no connection".

Details: I have a Macbook Pro (2021 - M1 chip) running macOS 14.2.1 (23C71). All the software is up to date. All three pairs of headphones are manufactured by Sennheiser. I have updated their firmware and tried all the unpairing, forgetting, factory resetting, and re-pairing I can stand.

MacBook Pro 16″

Posted on Feb 25, 2024 10:04 AM

Reply

Answer 1

VikingOSX

Level 10

124,304 points

Feb 25, 2024 11:01 AM in response to interrowhimper

Sonoma is not up to date at 14.2.1. Apply the available 14.3.1 update and see if that also changes Bluetooth issues.

Reply

Answer 2

VikingOSX

Level 10

124,304 points

Feb 25, 2024 10:12 AM in response to interrowhimper

If the Sennheiser headphones do not support Bluetooth multi-link, they may be paired to your iPhone and will not pair to your Mac until unpaired from the iPhone or another device. My Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones are multi-link and can be paired to two devices concurrently (iPhone and M2 mini).

Reply

Answer 3

a brody

Level 10

85,366 points

Feb 25, 2024 10:06 AM in response to interrowhimper

My advice is to temporarily forget all other bluetooth devices, and turn them off. Try just pairing the headphones.

If that works, add each bluetooth device one by one. There may be a maximum number of devices you can hook at one time, or the preferences got corrupt.

Reply

Answer 4

Feb 25, 2024 10:23 AM in response to a brody

I tried this and it worked, thanks! Now I just need to figure out which of my bluetooth devices I want to perpetually be unpaired. I wonder if the max number changed with the update -- this was not a problem before.

Reply

Answer 5

Feb 25, 2024 10:23 AM in response to VikingOSX

This is a problem I'm familiar with but isn't the problem I'm currently dealing with. Only two of the three pairs can pair with more than one device at a time. Thanks!

Reply