Set up AirPods Max with your Mac and other Bluetooth devices

Learn how to set up your AirPods Max with your Mac, Android device, or another Bluetooth device.

Use AirPods Max with your Mac

If you set up your AirPods Max with your iPhone and your Mac is signed in to iCloud with the same Apple Account, your AirPods Max are ready to use with your Mac. If they don't connect automatically:

1. Make sure your Mac is updated to the latest version of macOS.

2. Place your AirPods Max on your ears, then click Control Center in the menu bar.

3. Click Bluetooth, then choose your AirPods Max from the list.

If your AirPods Max don't appear in Control Center, pair your AirPods Max with your Mac:

1. On your Mac, choose System Settings from the Apple menu (), then click Bluetooth.

2. Make sure that Bluetooth is on.

3. Press and hold the noise control button on your AirPods Max until the status light flashes white.

4. Click Connect next to your AirPods Max in the Nearby Devices list.

   

If sound still plays from your Mac speakers, click Control Center in the menu bar and make sure that your AirPods Max are selected as the output device.

Use AirPods Max for audio with a 3.5mm audio source

You can use your AirPods Max in wired mode to connect to analog sources:

• To use your AirPods Max in wired mode, plug a Lightning to 3.5 mm Audio Cable into your AirPods Max (Lightning) or plug a USB-C to 3.5 mm Audio Cable into your AirPods Max (USB-C).

• If you have an Android device, you can use AirPods Max in wired mode with a USB-C to 3.5 mm Audio Cable and Android 12 or later.

Use AirPods Max (USB-C) for lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio

You can listen to lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio with AirPods Max (USB-C):

• Update your device to the most recent software version.

• Update your AirPods Max to the most recent firmware version.

• Use the included USB-C to USB-C cable to connect your AirPods Max to your Mac, Android, or other non-Apple device with a USB-C port.

• Use a USB-C to USB-A cable to connect your AirPods Max to a Mac or non-Apple device with a USB-A port.

• When AirPods Max are connected to your Mac, turn on Bluetooth to use features such as Siri and Spatial Audio or to make audio calls.

Use AirPods Max with a non-Apple device

You can use AirPods Max as a Bluetooth headset with a non-Apple device. You can't use Siri, but you can listen and talk and use Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode. To set up your AirPods Max with an Android phone or other non-Apple device, follow these steps:

1. On your non-Apple device, go to the settings for Bluetooth and make sure that Bluetooth is on. If you have an Android device, go to Settings > Connections > Bluetooth.

2. Press and hold the noise control button on your AirPods Max until the status light flashes white.

3. When your AirPods Max appear in the list of Bluetooth devices, select them.

Learn more

Set up and use AirPods Max with your iPhone or iPad

Learn what to do if you can't set up or use your AirPods Max