APP2 USB-C Connect as Generic Headphones to Mac (Ventura 13.6)

[makingmark]

I have APP2 USB-C delivered straight from Apple Friday. Firmware 6A300, which seems weird since that's the same as my APP1 and contradicts Apple's support page which says latest is 6A301. I've tried updating with iPhone and Mac, and have seen no change.

The APP2 USB-C work fine with my iPhone and iPad, but with my Macbook Air M2, they connect as generic headphones. No AirPods Pro icon in the menu bar. No ability to control sound modes. Generic over-the-ear headphone icon in the Bluetooth settings. All unlike my APP1. Haven't yet reached out to Apple for support on this issue, but intend to. Just posting here if anyone else is experiencing this.

 

[chrfr]

I have APP2 USB-C delivered straight from Apple Friday. Firmware 6A300, which seems weird since that's the same as my APP1 and contradicts Apple's support page which says latest is 6A301. I've tried updating with iPhone and Mac, and have seen no change.

The APP2 USB-C work fine with my iPhone and iPad, but with my Macbook Air M2, they connect as generic headphones. No AirPods Pro icon in the menu bar. No ability to control sound modes. Generic over-the-ear headphone icon in the Bluetooth settings. All unlike my APP1. Haven't yet reached out to Apple for support on this issue, but intend to. Just posting here if anyone else is experiencing this.

What OS is running on your MacBook?

 

[makingmark]

I can’t confirm at the moment but whatever is the latest, for sure.

 

[adl1010]

I have the exact same problem. Literally exactly the same. They're working fine with my iPad and iPhone but m2 air it just shows up as generic. I can see the battery life of each AirPods but can't change settings/noise cancellation like I could on my original AirPods pros.

 

[makingmark]

To clarify, "the latest" is Ventura - that is, I'm not running a Sonoma beta or RC. But others have surmised that's the issue - not supported until Sonoma or another Ventura update. It's a good guess methinks.

 

[chrfr]

To clarify, "the latest" is Ventura - that is, I'm not running a Sonoma beta or RC. But others have surmised that's the issue - not supported until Sonoma or another Ventura update. It's a good guess methinks.

Exactly which version of Ventura are you running?

 

[dsteve]

FWIW, I just got my USB-C AirPod Pro 2, annd I’m NOT experiencing this.

Initially paired on my iPhone. Upon going to my Mac Mini M2 Ventura 13.6, it asked if I wanted to connect, and I clicked connect.

 

[makingmark]

FWIW, I just got my USB-C AirPod Pro 2, annd I’m NOT experiencing this.

Initially paired on my iPhone. Upon going to my Mac Mini M2 Ventura 13.6, it asked if I wanted to connect, and I clicked connect.

The issue I'm describing isn't connecting. It's that it connects as generic headphones. No ANC control. I'm not talking about the new adaptive stuff. I'm saying it doesn't even give me the controls my APP1 does.

 

[makingmark]

Exactly which version of Ventura are you running?

13.6. Will likely update to Sonoma tomorrow which I'm guessing will fix.

 

[dsteve]

The issue I'm describing isn't connecting. It's that it connects as generic headphones. No ANC control. I'm not talking about the new adaptive stuff. I'm saying it doesn't even give me the controls my APP1 does.

I understand that. I’m just saying that it’s not everyone because mine are fine.

 

[dsteve]

tl;dr: I suspect we have:
- a cosmetic issue with the APP2s showing up as over the ear headphones
- possibly a bug where System Settings > Control Center > Sound must be "Always Show" for it to show - "Show When Active" doesn't seem to what I would think it would do.

OK, to clarify - I was wrong about not having any off/transparency/noise canceling control; it is there, in the top menu: control center > sound > airplay > APP2 USBC down arrow. But I don't get the AirPods-specific icon & controls in top menu (what @jdb8167 calls the "normal AirPods Pro UI") that I get with APP1.

It's Ventura 13.6 on a Mac Mini M2.

I get the AirPods-specific controls in the Control Center and in the Sound menu, but I had to enable the sound menu under System Settings > Control Center > Sound = "Always Show". Setting to "Show When Active" doesn't seem to show it. Maybe that's the real bug here?

However, I do get the cosmetic issue of the icon being of headphones like the rest of you.

You just get a generic item in the Bluetooth menu and if you go to Bluetooth settings the Model Name is just "Headphones".

I also get this, but I also get left/right battery levels, so I think (?) it doesn't impact anything here. Is there something missing in the Bluetooth System Settings, or is it just cosmetic?

 

[jdb8167]

tl;dr: I suspect we have:
- a cosmetic issue with the APP2s showing up as over the ear headphones
- possibly a bug where System Settings > Control Center > Sound must be "Always Show" for it to show - "Show When Active" doesn't seem to what I would think it would do.



It's Ventura 13.6 on a Mac Mini M2.

I get the AirPods-specific controls in the Control Center and in the Sound menu, but I had to enable the sound menu under System Settings > Control Center > Sound = "Always Show". Setting to "Show When Active" doesn't seem to show it. Maybe that's the real bug here?

However, I do get the cosmetic issue of the icon being of headphones like the rest of you.

View attachment 2281715


I also get this, but I also get left/right battery levels, so I think (?) it doesn't impact anything here. Is there something missing in the Bluetooth System Settings, or is it just cosmetic?

Thanks for this. I've never used the Control Center Sound module to control my AirPods Pro (original version). The AirPods Pro icon always just showed up in the menu bar when they were connected. That doesn't happen with the newest model under Ventura. But your workaround is very welcome. Thanks.

 

[makingmark]

I just updated to Sonoma and now get the expected APP-specific menu icon & all controls.