The Connection Tug-of-War
macOS handles Bluetooth connections with aggressive convenience. Once you pair a device—like a set of AirPods or a Bluetooth speaker—your Mac remembers it indefinitely. By default, if that known device is powered on and within range, macOS will often automatically connect to it. While seamless if you only own one Apple device, this becomes a chaotic tug-of-war if you use those same headphones with your iPhone or iPad. If your Mac wakes from sleep in the same room, it might instantly hijack the Bluetooth connection, cutting off a phone call or podcast you were listening to on your mobile device.
Isolating the Audio
To prevent your computer from hijacking your mobile audio and stop macOS from automatically connecting to known Bluetooth devices, you must unpair the device or disable the Mac’s Bluetooth radio when inactive.
Unlike iOS, macOS lacks a granular “Forget this device for auto-connect but keep it paired” toggle. If a device is in your Mac’s Bluetooth list, the OS will attempt to claim it. The most permanent solution is to explicitly unpair the conflicting device. Click the Control Center icon in your top Menu Bar, click Bluetooth, and select Bluetooth Settings. Find the speaker or headset in the “My Devices” list. Hover over it, click the small ‘i’ icon, and click Forget This Device. If you still need to use the device with your Mac occasionally, the better alternative is to simply toggle your Mac’s main Bluetooth switch Off in the Control Center whenever you are using your headphones with your iPhone.