Apple’s AirPods Max offers a stylish design and great sound quality. They come with various features that make listening to music a great user experience. But sometimes, you will come across certain issues while using these headphones. One of the most common problems is pairing issues.

Below, we will look at some of these problems and offer solutions so you can fix them without a trip to the Apple store. Keep reading to learn nine tips to help you pair your headphones correctly!

9 Tips for AirPods Max Pairing Issues

Some users report issues that prevent them from pairing their AirPods Max to their devices. While the symptoms are the same across the board, it can be difficult to pinpoint the cause.

Some things that may help you resolve pairing issues with your AirPods Max include:

  • Make sure your AirPods are chargedCheck your Bluetooth settingsMake sure you’re signed in to iCloudKeep your device close to your AirPods while pairingPerform a hard reset on your AirPods MaxUpdate your device’s softwareCheck for interference from other wireless devicesReset your deviceContact Apple Support for help

There are many ways to improve your AirPods Max pairing ability. Follow this guide to diagnose and repair pairing issues.

Make Sure Your AirPods Max Are Charged

The first thing you should do is make sure your AirPods Max are charged. You can check the headphone’s battery level on your iPhone or iPad by going to Settings > Battery and tapping on the AirPods icon. This should tell you how much charge they have.

If there’s less than a 50% charge, give your AirPods a quick 15-minute boost before trying to pair again. If they’re already charging and still won’t pair, follow these steps:

  • Unplug the power adapter from its port.Plug the power adapter back in.Wait 10 seconds, then try pairing again.

If you’re pairing your AirPods to your device for the first time, Apple advises fully charging them beforehand.

Check Your Bluetooth Settings

AirPods run on Bluetooth connectivity, so you’ll need to ensure Bluetooth is turned on for your device. Then, tap Settings > General > Bluetooth and ensure your AirPods are connected to your device. You should see a checkmark and the word “Connected” next to your headphone’s name.  

If you’re still having problems, tap “Forget This Device” to remove any previous connections. Try pairing your headphones once more and see if it solves the problem.

Make Sure You’re Signed in to iCloud

If you’re still experiencing pairing issues, sign in to iCloud on your iOS device and AirPods Max before pairing them. This will upload all previously stored data on your device to iCloud, preventing issues with automatic pairing in the future.

You may also want to enable Find My iPhone on your iOS device. If you have to visit the Apple store in the future, this will make it easier for support staff to help you solve any problems. Go to Settings > iCloud > Find My iPhone and switch to “On.”

Find My iPhone is only available to users who have activated it through their Apple ID. If you’ve done this and still don’t see this option here, contact Apple Support.

Keep Your Device Close to Your AirPods While Pairing

If your device is more than a few feet away from the AirPods Max, you may experience audio dropout. Ensure the AirPods Max are within proximity of your device whenever you’re using them together.

This will ensure your AirPods Max receive a strong signal, preventing audio dropout. If this doesn’t help, try removing the AirPods from their case, as this may cause interference with the device’s antenna.

Perform a Hard Reset on Your AirPods Max

If you’re still experiencing audio dropout, performing a hard reset on your AirPods Max is highly recommended. This is a quick way to restore your device to its factory settings and will ensure no third-party software or apps interfere with it. Hold the power button on your AirPods for 10 seconds, or until you hear a beep and see the red light flash.

If done correctly, your AirPods Max should beep and turn off when you release the button. After this, wait a few seconds before turning them back on and trying to pair again.

Update Your Device’s Software

AirPods Max may not work if your iOS device is not updated to the latest version. If you haven’t updated your software in a while, doing so may help fix any pairing issues or Bluetooth connection errors your device is experiencing.

You can check for a new software update by going to Settings > General > Software Update on your Macbook, iPhone, or iPad. If there are available updates, you’ll see them in the list here. Download and install the update, then try pairing your AirPods again.

Check for Interference from Other Wireless Devices

If you have other wireless devices, such as speakers, keyboards, or a Magic Mouse, within 30 feet of your AirPods Max, it could be causing interference that prevents the headphones from pairing with your device. Try turning off those devices and pairing them again. If there’s still an issue, try moving the device you’re trying to pair away from all other wireless devices but your AirPods before attempting to pair again.

Reset Your Device

If none of the tips above have helped, there could be a problem on your device that’s causing an issue with pairing. Try resetting your iPhone or iPad by going to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings and see if that fixes the issue.

When you reset your device, everything will be wiped and need to be set up again. Back up any important information, such as contacts and photos, before doing so.

Contact Apple Support

If you’ve tried the steps above and still have issues, it’s time to contact Apple Support. Apple offers phone support 24/7 and can assist you with AirPods Max pairing issues. You can also reach out to them via chat or email.

Conclusion

Pairing issues are a common complaint among AirPods owners. However, the tips above may help you get around any problems and easily use your wireless headphones to listen to audio on your Apple devices.

We highly recommend checking out these troubleshooting steps before attempting anything else. If none of the above tips work, you may be experiencing a hardware problem and should contact Apple Care. They will be able to help you out and possibly provide you with a replacement.