As an AirPods owner, I’ve been frustrated recently by my AirPods cutting out on Mac. After doing some research and testing, I’ve discovered a few possible solutions to the problem. Here, I’m sharing my experience, so others with the same issue can benefit from what I’ve learned.
Likely reasons why your AirPods keep cutting out on Mac are that your AirPods need to be reset and reconnected to your Mac, your AirPods are automatically switching to other devices, the AirPods are broken, or your Mac or AirPods need a software update.
| Issue | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| AirPods cutting out on Mac | 1. Bluetooth issues on Mac 2. Broken battery in AirPods 3. Weak connection between AirPods and Mac 4. Other devices interfering with the connection 5. Outdated software on Mac or AirPods | 1. Test Bluetooth with other devices 2. Check AirPods battery life 3. Re-pair AirPods with Mac 4. Disconnect other devices 5. Update software on Mac and AirPods |
| Pros of AirPods with Mac | High-quality sound Easy to connect and use Portability Can be used for taking calls | N/A |
| Cons of AirPods with Mac | Can be easily lost or misplaced Can be more expensive than other headphones Battery life is not always reliable Can be prone to disconnecting from Mac | N/A |
Table of Contents
Why are my AirPods cutting out on Mac?
The first thing to try is to reset and reconnect your AirPods. By doing the following:
- Forget your AirPods from your device
- Put your AirPods in the case
- Open the lid and hold the power button for 15 seconds until the light flashes orange then white
- Reconnect your AirPods to your laptop
Below are a number of possible reasons why your AirPods or AirPod Pros have been disconnecting from your laptop.
Read more: Can you listen to AirPods from an Apple Watch?
Bluetooth
The cause might be that there is an issue with the Bluetooth on your Mac.
It would help to try connecting different devices to your Mac’s Bluetooth and to see if they also get disconnected.
If they do not, it would mean that the issue is specifically between your laptop and the AirPods.
It might also be the case that your Mac is turning its Bluetooth off when it goes to sleep or the app stops running.
Broken battery
It might also be the case that there is a problem with the battery in the AirPods.
This would be more likely if you recently dropped your AirPods allowed them to get wet or allowed them to be at 0% charge for more week or longer.
It would also be more likely if your AirPods run out of power very quickly. In this case, the only option would be to return them or to buy a new set of AirPods since you cannot replace the battery.
Connection
It could also be the case that there is a weak connection between your AirPods and the laptop.
If there is a lot of distance between them or there are walls in the way, it will make it more difficult for the AirPods to stay connected.
It would help to re-pair your AirPods with your Mac following the process as mentioned above.
Other devices
If there are other devices connected to your AirPods at the same time that your Mac is connected to your AirPods, it would be possible that they are interfering with the connection.
It would help to try forgetting your AirPods on all of the other devices you have connected them to and to see if they work better with your Mac after that.
Also, Apple devices allow for a feature called “automatic switching”. If your AirPods disconnect when you start using another Apple device, it would be likely that your AirPods are actually connecting to that device instead. This should only happen when you are not listening to something on your Mac.
Software update
AirPods do receive software updates and it could be the case that your AirPods need to be updated. To update them, you put them in the charging case while it is charging then put an iPhone/iPad/Mac near the case and it should automatically update.
It would also help to make sure that the Mac itself is updated.
Read more: Can you track AirPods if they were reset?
How to get my AirPods to stop disconnecting from my Mac?
To get your AirPods to stop disconnecting from your Mac, it would help to try resetting and reconnecting them as mentioned above, to update the Mac, to disconnect your AirPods from other devices and to disconnect any other earphones from the Mac.
If your AirPods keep cutting out on other devices or it seems likely that they are broken, it may be necessary to take them to an Apple store.
Pros of AirPods with Mac/h3>
- High quality sound
- Easy to connect and use
- Portability
- Can be used for taking calls
Cons of AirPods with Mac
- Can be easily lost or misplaced
- Can be more expensive than other headphones
- Battery life is not always reliable
- Can be prone to disconnecting from Mac
