Use AirPods with your Mac
When your AirPods are nearby and ready to use with your Mac, you can use them to listen to music, use Siri, or handle phone calls. To learn more about AirPods, see the AirPods User Guide.
If your AirPods are paired with your iPhone
If you already connected your AirPods with your iPhone, they’re ready to use with your Mac (your Mac must support Handoff and you must be signed in to iCloud using the same Apple ID).
Open the AirPods case.
Click the Sound control
in the menu bar on your Mac, then choose AirPods.
Pair your AirPods with your Mac
If your AirPods are not connected with your iPhone, you can connect them directly with your Mac.
With your AirPods in their case, open the lid.
Press and hold either the setup button on the back of the case or the noise control button (on AirPods Max only) until the status light flashes white.
On your Mac, choose Apple menu
.Select AirPods in the Devices list.
If your AirPods support it, click Enable to be able to say “Hey Siri” to start using Siri with your AirPods.
If asked whether you want to improve Siri and Dictation, do one of the following:
Share audio recordings: Click Share Audio Recordings to allow Apple to store audio of your Siri and dictation interactions from this Mac. Apple may review a sample of stored audio.
Don’t share audio recordings: Click Not Now.
If you change your mind later and want to share or stop sharing audio recordings, select or deselect the Improve Siri & Dictation checkbox in the Analytics & Improvements section of Privacy preferences. See Change Privacy preferences.
Note: You can remove the audio recordings from Apple servers whenever you like—see Delete Siri and Dictation history.
You can set your preferences to connect your AirPods automatically or only when last connected to your Mac. See Change when your AirPods connect to your Mac.
Turn Spatial Audio on or off on your Mac
When you watch a supported show or movie or listen to supported music on your Mac with Apple silicon, AirPods (3rd generation), AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max use Spatial Audio to create an immersive surround sound experience. Spatial Audio includes dynamic head tracking. With dynamic head tracking, you hear the surround sound channels in the right place, even as you turn your head or move your computer.
Note: Spatial Audio with AirPods is only available on Mac with Apple silicon.
To turn Spatial Audio on or off, click the AirPods (3rd generation), AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max icon
in the menu bar or Sound in Control Center, then select Spatial Audio.If the AirPods (3rd generation), AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max icon isn’t in the menu bar, choose Apple menu
To turn head tracking on or off, click the AirPods (3rd generation), AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max icon
in the menu bar or Sound in Control Center, then select Head Tracking.
If you don’t want Spatial Audio to follow the movement of your head, you can turn that option off in Audio accessibility preferences.
Change noise control modes on AirPods from your Mac
Switch between noise cancellation and transparency modes while listening to audio from your Mac on AirPods Pro or AirPods Max.
Click the AirPods Pro or AirPods Max icon
in the menu bar or Sound in the Control Center, then choose one of the following:Noise Cancellation: Blocks out external sounds.
Transparency: Lets you hear the sounds around you.
Off: Turns off both noise cancellation and transparency.
If the AirPods Pro or AirPods Max icon isn’t in the menu bar, choose Apple menu
Tip: If your AirPods support it, you can activate Siri with your voice by saying “Hey Siri.” Open Siri preferences and make sure “Listen for ‘Hey Siri’ on AirPods” is turned on. See Change Siri preferences.