AirPods connected, but head tracking is not updating?

First, check whether tracking is actually live

Open the panel with Control–Option–Command–G. A fresh angle and an available Center button indicate usable tracking. Hearing audio or a recovery tone is not evidence that motion has resumed.

Requires macOS 13 or later. AirPods motion requires macOS 14 or later and headphones that provide supported head-motion data. Camera fallback requires a built-in Mac camera; external webcams and iPhone Continuity Camera are not selected.

After a phone call or switching devices

1. Reconnect AirPods to the Mac. In Control Center → Sound, select them as the Mac’s output.
2. Face the screen and wait for fresh motion. The app retries silently when tracking stalls.
3. If Play tone and retry is offered, click once and keep facing the screen. It plays through the currently selected Bluetooth output; it cannot force AirPods to switch from your iPhone.
4. If no angle arrives after the attempt, reconnect in Bluetooth settings and check motion permission in System Settings. The retry attempt reports a timeout after about eight seconds.
5. Once motion returns, face the screen and choose Center if needed. Verify both left and right turns.

The automatic watchdog begins recovery after about two seconds without valid motion and backs off to avoid continuous reconnect attempts. Exact recovery time depends on the Mac, headphones and connection; it is not guaranteed.

If permission is denied

Follow the motion-access instruction shown by macOS and the app, then reconnect your headphones. A rejected motion permission is not solved by playing a tone. macOS 13 does not support this app’s AirPods motion path.

If the angle drifts rather than stops

Face the screen in your normal working position and choose Center, or press Control–Option–Command–C. AirSnoopGuard holds that center fixed during normal tracking. This avoids software accumulation of corrections, but cannot eliminate drift inside the headphones’ fused motion data.

Using optional camera fallback

Headphone-based protection is free. Optional camera fallback is a one-time in-app purchase, available separately or included in Pro. Existing camera access is retained. No subscription or app account is required. Check the App Store and the in-app offer for current availability and local pricing.

When enabled and available, the built-in camera takes over after about two seconds without valid headphone motion. Grant camera permission and face the camera. Returning AirPods motion stops capture. Do not interpret a working camera as proof that the headphone stream has recovered.

Still stuck? Send a useful report

Include the app version, macOS version, Mac and headphone model, whether the problem followed a phone call or sleep, and how long you waited. State separately whether you heard the tone and whether a fresh angle appeared. Do not include device serial numbers, camera frames or private desktop content.