What to do if Bluetooth headphones are not showing on a Mac

We all love Bluetooth until it stops working. There's nothing more annoying than when you can't connect Bluetooth headphones to your Mac. Luckily, there are plenty of troubleshooting tips to help solve the troublesome blues. 

If you're having problems connecting, syncing, or finding your headphones, keep reading, we've got all the troubleshooting tips you need.

Connect your Bluetooth headphones to your Mac 

Let's start with the basics. Ensure your headphones are fully charged or have fresh batteries and switch them into discoverable mode, then:

1. Select the Apple menu > System Settings > Bluetooth.

2. To turn Bluetooth on, switch the toggle.

3. Wait for your headphones to appear in the list on the right-hand side, then press Connect. 

Simple! But if your headphones don't show up on the list, keep reading.

Bluetooth headphones not showing up on Mac

So you've tried to connect your headphones, and they're not showing up in the list. Here's how to troubleshoot:

1. Turn Bluetooth off and on

• Use the steps above to open the Bluetooth settings.

• Turn your Bluetooth off and on again.

• Connect to your device.

Tip: One common Mac glitch is notifications not showing on Mac. Here's a guide on how to fix it.

2. Restart your MacBook

If you still can't connect your Bluetooth headphones to Mac, it's time for a quick restart. Here's how:

1. Select the Apple menu > Restart.

2. Reopen your Bluetooth settings using the instructions above.

3. Turn your Bluetooth on, and search for your headphones on the list.

Still no joy? Keep reading.

3. Rule out other Bluetooth devices

If restarting your Mac hasn't helped, turn off any Bluetooth accessories you are not using right now. Begin with using their own power switch, so nothing is unpaired. Now, try the headphones again. Keep the ones you need, such as a Bluetooth keyboard or mouse. If your headphones do appear in the list but still will not connect, forget and re-pair them.

If they never show up at all, skip these steps and carry on below:

• Select the Apple menu > System Settings > Bluetooth.

• From the list, select your headphones.

• Click Forget Device and confirm.

• Now, put the headphones back into pairing mode and connect them again as if they were new.

If that does not help either — or your headphones never appeared in the list to begin with — restart your Mac and try connecting them one more time.

Tip: If several Bluetooth accessories are active at once, switch some of them off temporarily and try again.

4. Reset the Bluetooth module

If you've tested all of the above troubleshooting tips and you still can't connect Bluetooth headphones to your Mac, reset the Bluetooth module via Terminal. Here's how:

1. Open Terminal from the Applications>Utilities folder or via the Spotlight search.

2. Type in this command: sudo pkill bluetoothd and press Return.

3. Type your admin password if prompted. 

4. Restart your Mac and check if your headphones reconnect. 

5. Check for apps that interfere with audio

If you use audio software that takes control of sound devices, it can interfere with your headphones connecting to the Mac. So, if you started noticing the problem after installing something like that, quit the app and try connecting again. If that fixes it, you can remove the app. Here's how:

• Open a Finder window.

• Select Applications.

• Search through and find the app you want to remove, then press Command-Delete.

• Empty your Trash and try to connect your headphones again.

The problem with removing apps using this method is that dragging an app to the Trash does not fully uninstall it. Apps leave behind traces of junk, including hidden and broken files.

If you want an app fully uninstalled, try CleanMyMac and its Applications feature. Its Uninstaller tool safely and completely removes apps, including all their hard-to-spot support files; here's how:

1. Open CleanMyMac — get your free trial here.

2. Select Applications from the sidebar and click Scan.

3. Click Manage My Applications, then open the Uninstaller tab.

4. From the list, select the app you want to remove and click Uninstall.

It's honestly that simple.

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6. Check your system for updates

So if you've reached this section of the article and you still can't connect Bluetooth headphones to your Mac, it's time to check that your Mac is up to date. It sounds obvious to say, but keeping your Mac updated helps to keep it working smoothly, so here's how to check:

Select the Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update.

If there is an update, follow the on-screen instructions. When your update is installed, try restarting your Mac and connecting your headphones again.

If nothing worked, rule out wireless interference. Apple notes that Bluetooth and Wi-Fi share the 2.4 GHz band, which means that microwaves, power cables, fluorescent lights, and cordless phones can disrupt a connection. Try moving closer to the Mac, away from any of these devices, and see if you can connect your headphones.

Hopefully, your headphones are now connected, and you're enjoying your latest Spotify playlist. 

If you still can't connect the headphones after all of the above, try pairing them with another phone or computer. If they fail there too, that points to a problem with the headphones, and their manufacturer is the place to go. If they pair normally elsewhere, that points back to the Mac, and Apple Support can take it further.