How Do I Get My Mac to Recognize My Headphones (Explained!)

Fact-Checked

Updated on October 10, 2022

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If you only got 30 seconds:

To pair your Bluetooth headphones with your Mac, go to System Preferences. In the Bluetooth section, you’ll see a list of all the Bluetooth devices in your system. To pair a new device, click on the Pair button beside the device you want to pair with. After a few seconds, your headphones should show up in the list of devices and you can start using them.

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First things first

Hi!

If you have a Mac computer, you can use your headphones to listen to music, watch videos, or play games.

To use your headphones, you need to first make sure that your Mac can see them. To do this, follow these steps:

Open System Preferences on your Mac.
Click on the Sound icon.
In the Sound pane, make sure that the Output tab is selected.
Under the Output category, make sure that the Headphones checkbox is checked.
Click the OK button.
If you want to use your headphones with other devices, like an audio output device, you will need to enable Bluetooth on your Mac. To do this, follow these steps:
Open System Preferences on your Mac.
Click on the Security & Privacy icon.
Click on the Bluetooth tab.
Under the Bluetooth category, make sure that the Headphones checkbox is checked.
Click the OK button.

Now you can use your headphones with your Mac!

Why Is My Mac Not Detecting My Headphones

When you plug in your headphones, your Mac should automatically detect and use them. If your Mac does not detect your headphones, make sure they are turned on and in range. Make sure the headset is connected with your Mac. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Bluetooth. Check to see if your headset is in the list of devices. If your Mac does not detect your headset, try restarting your Mac and/or the headphones.

How Do I Get My Mac to Recognize My Wired Headphones

If you are using a wired set of headphones, you can try to get your Mac to recognize them by holding down the alt key and clicking on the speaker volume icon in the top menu bar. The headphones should show on the dropdown menu and now they will be your output device.

How Do I Get Sound Through My Headphones on My Macbook Air

Unplug any headphones or external speakers from your Mac.
Make sure the cables from the display are connected to the ports on your Mac.
Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Sound, then click Output.
Make sure Display Audio is selected in the output device list.
Choose the output device you want to use.
Click the Output Options button.
Select your headphones or external speakers.
Click OK.

How Do I Use Headphones With My Macbook Air

To use headphones with your Macbook Air, make sure the headphones are discoverable by your computer (see the documentation that came with your headset). Then, in the Bluetooth status icon in the Control Center or menu bar, choose the headset you want to use and it will be automatically used as the sound input and output device.

Why Doesnt My Headphones Work When I Plug in My Computer

Check for dirt, lint and dust on the headphone jack and the computer.
If there is dirt, lint and dust on the jack, use a cotton swab damped with some rubbing alcohol to clean it.
Plug the headphones back in and see if they work.
If there is dirt, lint and dust on the headphone jack, try using a can of compressed air to clean it.
If there is dirt, lint and dust on the headphone jack, try cleaning it using a cotton swab damped with some rubbing alcohol.
If there is dirt, lint and dust on the headphone jack, try cleaning it using a can of compressed air.
If there is dirt, lint and dust on the headphone jack, try cleaning it using a cotton swab damped with some rubbing alcohol and a can of compressed air.

Why Is the Headphone Jack on My Macbook Air Not Working

Check the settings at Apple  Logo > System Preferences > Sound > Output tab. Make sure the headset is selected.
If sound is still coming through the internal speakers instead, check the audio cables.
If the audio cables are plugged in correctly and the headphones are plugged in correctly, try a different audio output.
If the audio output is still not working, the headphone jack on the Macbook Air may be broken.
If the headphone jack on the Macbook Air is broken, it can be replaced with a new one.