Your AirPods Max should connect fast, so it is frustrating when they never appear in Bluetooth or stay silent after pairing. Low battery, old software, stale pairing data, and Apple Account locks are the usual blockers. Start with the quickest checks, then move to restart, reset, update, and account fixes if the problem continues.
Try the fastest connection fixes first
Start here when your AirPods Max will not appear, will not pair, or seem connected but play through another device.
- 1.Charge your AirPods Max first, then press the listening mode button to check the charge status.
- 2.On iPhone or iPad, open Settings > Bluetooth and make sure Bluetooth is on.
- 3.On Mac, open Apple menu > System Settings > Bluetooth and turn Bluetooth on.
- 4.Take AirPods Max out of the Smart Case and hold them close to your iPhone or iPad within 60 seconds.
- 5.If the setup animation appears, follow the onscreen instructions and tap Done.
Pair them manually when the animation never appears
The setup animation is convenient, but manual pairing is the next move when the headphones do not pop up automatically.
Press and hold the listening mode button on AirPods Max for about 5 seconds, until the status light flashes white. Open Settings > Bluetooth on iPhone or iPad and select your AirPods Max when they appear.
On Mac, open Apple menu > System Settings > Bluetooth, turn Bluetooth on, hold the listening mode button until the light flashes white, then click Connect next to AirPods Max in Nearby Devices.
If manual pairing fails, restart the headphones before you forget the old pairing and reconnect them.
Route audio when sound plays somewhere else
Use this fix when AirPods Max show as connected, but sound still comes from your phone, tablet, Mac, TV, or watch.
On iPhone or iPad, tap the AirPlay button from Now Playing, the Lock Screen, or Control Center, then choose your AirPods Max.
On Mac, click Control Center in the menu bar, click Sound, then choose AirPods Max from the list.
If sound still comes from the Mac speakers, return to Control Center > Sound and select AirPods Max again as the output device.
On Apple Watch, press the side button to open Control Center, tap the Playback Destination button, then choose your AirPods Max.
On Apple TV, press and hold the TV or Control Center button on the Siri Remote, open Control Center, select the General Settings tab, choose Audio Controls, then select your AirPods Max.
Restart AirPods Max before a full reset
A restart clears a stuck headphone state without erasing pairing information.
- 1.Find the Digital Crown and the listening mode button on the right headphone.
- 2.Press and hold both buttons at the same time.
- 3.Keep holding until the status light next to the charging port flashes amber, around 10 seconds.
- 4.Release both buttons immediately after the amber flash.
- 5.Try pairing or selecting AirPods Max again from your device's Bluetooth or audio output screen.
Forget the old pairing and reconnect
A stale pairing record can make AirPods Max look half-connected. Removing the saved device entry gives Bluetooth a clean pairing attempt.
On iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap the name of your AirPods near the top of the screen, then tap Forget This Device. This removes the AirPods from all devices where you are signed in to the same Apple Account.
On Mac, open System Settings, click the name of your AirPods in the sidebar, then click Forget This Device. Pair them again from Bluetooth.
For Apple Watch, open Settings > Bluetooth, tap the Info button, then tap Forget Device. On Apple TV, go to Settings > Remotes and Devices, select Bluetooth, choose your AirPods, then select Forget This Device.
If forgetting the device does not fix it, use the factory reset next.
Reset AirPods Max to factory settings
Charge the headphones before you reset them.
Press and hold the listening mode button and the Digital Crown together for 15 seconds.
Keep holding until the LED flashes amber, then white.
Reconnect AirPods Max to your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or other Bluetooth device after the reset finishes.
Tip: use 15 seconds for a factory reset; the shorter amber-flash restart is a different step.
Update the device you are connecting to
This fixes compatibility problems caused by old iOS, iPadOS, or macOS software.
On iPhone or iPad, back up the device, plug it into power, connect to Wi-Fi, then open Settings > General > Software Update.
If an update is available, tap Download and Install, then follow the onscreen instructions.
AirPods Max 1 with Lightning require iOS or iPadOS 14.3 or later. AirPods Max 1 with USB-C require iOS or iPadOS 18 or later. AirPods Max 2 require iOS or iPadOS 26.4 or later.
On Mac, open Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update, then install any macOS update or upgrade shown.
Update firmware and remove account locks
AirPods Max firmware updates automatically when the headphones are connected by Bluetooth to an updated iPhone, iPad, or Mac, the device is on Wi-Fi, and the headphones are charging within Bluetooth range for at least 30 minutes. To check the version on iPhone or iPad, open Settings > Bluetooth, tap the Info button next to AirPods Max, then look under About.
On Mac, open Apple menu > System Settings > Bluetooth, then click the Info button next to AirPods Max. Apple's current firmware versions are AirPods Max 2 at 8E258, AirPods Max 1 with USB-C at 7E108, and AirPods Max 1 with Lightning at 6F25.
If the headphones are still tied to someone else's Apple Account, the previous owner needs to remove them in Find My. On iPhone or iPad, open Find My, tap Devices or Items, choose the AirPods Max, swipe up on the handle, then tap Remove, Remove Item, or Remove This Device.
For a school or work iPhone, iPad, or Mac, Bluetooth controls can be locked by management settings. Contact the school, employer, or device administrator if Bluetooth is unavailable or you cannot change it.
Connect to non-Apple devices or use a cable
AirPods Max also work as Bluetooth headphones with Android and other non-Apple devices. On Android, open Settings > Connections > Bluetooth, turn Bluetooth on, hold the AirPods Max listening mode button until the status light flashes white, then select them in the Bluetooth device list.
Siri is not available on non-Apple devices. Apple does not offer a Siri or voice-command method to start AirPods Max pairing or repair a failed connection.
For a wired workaround, AirPods Max 1 with Lightning use Apple's Lightning to 3.5 mm Audio Cable. AirPods Max 1 with USB-C and AirPods Max 2 use Apple's USB-C to 3.5 mm Audio Cable for analog audio sources, and USB-C models can also use USB-C wired audio with compatible devices.
If Bluetooth, restart, reset, updates, account removal, and cable options do not get your AirPods Max working, use Apple's AirPods service and repair options for troubleshooting, repair, replacement, Genius Bar, Apple Authorized Service Provider, or mail-in service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why won't my AirPods Max show up in Bluetooth?
Charge them first, turn on Bluetooth, then hold the listening mode button for about 5 seconds until the status light flashes white. If they still do not appear, restart them, forget the old pairing, then reset them.
Why do my AirPods Max say connected but have no sound?
They are connected but not selected as the audio output. Use AirPlay or Control Center on your device and choose AirPods Max as the playback destination.
Can I connect AirPods Max to Android?
Yes. Turn on Bluetooth on the Android device, hold the AirPods Max listening mode button until the status light flashes white, then select them from the Bluetooth device list. Siri is not available on non-Apple devices.
What does the amber then white light mean during reset?
The amber-then-white LED confirms a factory reset after you hold the listening mode button and Digital Crown together for 15 seconds. Pair the headphones again after that.