How to connect AirPods to a laptop?

Apple AirPods are undoubtedly one of the best headphones available on the electronics market. With three generations of different AirPods, these sleek, ivory-colored earbuds are a big hit. Beyond looks and quality, AirPods are known for their versatility.

Regardless of the host device, AirPods can connect to any smart device. For users who didn’t know that your AirPods can also be used with a Windows laptop. If you didn’t know about it, read this article to connect Airpods to your laptop.

Can I connect my Apple AirPods to a Windows computer?

This is a very common question that comes up in several internet forums. There are other questions about whether AirPods can work with Android mobile phones.

The answer to both of these questions is YES. Users can easily connect AirPods to Windows computers. AirPods are compatible with Windows OS.

However, there is a simple catch; You won’t be able to use Siri, a voice AI feature only available on Apple devices. AirPods work just like Bluetooth devices designed by any other brand.

Steps to Connect AirPods to Laptop in Windows

It’s important to understand that while AirPods are an Apple product, MacBooks must meet certain requirements. AirPods can only be connected to Mac computers running macOS Mojave version 10.4.4 or later. AirPods Pro and AirPods Max users will need a Mac with macOS Catalina version 10, 15, or macOS Monterey.

Once you have finished checking device configurations, use the two different methods below:

The first method is simple, since the user does not need to set up a connection from scratch. Check if your Mac and your iPhone are connected with the same Apple ID. If so, there is no need to pair AirPods with it.

• Take your AirPods out of the AirPods case and place them in your ears.
• Click on the Volume Control option in your Mac’s menu bar. Another alternative is the Bluetooth connection menu.
• Select your active AirPods from the list of devices.

In some cases, you may not be able to see the AirPods option in the Bluetooth or volume menus. Now we need to pair the AirPods with your Mac book.

• Go to the “System Settings”section. It’s available in the Apple menu.
• Select the advanced Bluetooth settings option and turn on Bluetooth.
• Put your AirPods back in the case and leave the lid open.
• Locate the “Settings”button on the back of the charging case. Press and hold it until you see a blinking white light on the LED spot.
• In the list of Bluetooth devices, select your AirPods and click the “Connect”button.

Be sure to set AirPods as an audio output device to listen to music through them. You can adjust this through the volume control menu. If Blueth

Disconnecting AirPods from Mac

If you no longer want to use your AirPods with your Mac, the following steps may help with unpairing your Airpods:

• Draw the Apple menu down. From the menu, select the System Preferences option.
• Select the Bluetooth tab in this window.
• Click on the AirPods you don’t want to use.
• Now press the cross button (X) to disable these Bluetooth headphones.
• In the confirmation prompt that appears, choose to remove the connection from your Mac.

Connecting AirPods to a Windows laptop

The concept of connecting your AirPods is the same as connecting any other device via Bluetooth. You just need to pair your computer and AirPods through Bluetooth settings.

There are no hardware or software requirements to connect Apple AirPods to a Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer.

Windows 10 PC

If you have Windows 10 installed, the following procedure will help you:

• Open Windows Settings. The icon for this can be found in the Start menu (Windows button).
• Go to the device settings tile.
• Go to the Bluetooth & other devices tab on the left panel and turn on Bluetooth.
• Click on the + icon titled “Add Bluetooth or other device.”
• When the Add Device window appears, select Bluetooth.
• Open the Apple AirPods case and press the button on the case. Hold it until the indicator starts flashing white.
• Select AirPods from the list of available Bluetooth devices. In some cases, this device may even be called headphones.
• You will see a “Done”message when the AirPods are connected. Close the window and you will be able to play music through them.

Windows 11 PC

Windows 11 users can manually connect their AirPods to modern laptops using this procedure −

• Start by opening the AirPods case. Only when the lid is open will the AirPods connect.
• Press the Windows & I keys on a Windows laptop. This will launch the Settings app.
• On the left pane, click on the Bluetooth and Devices option.
• Select the Add Device option to open a window with device types.
• Select the Bluetooth option and wait for the Apple AirPods option to appear.
• Click on it to confirm the pairing of the device. Select “Allow”to link the device to your laptop.

Now that the AirPods are near your Bluetooth-enabled laptop,

Disconnect AirPods from Windows laptop

To disconnect Airpods from your PC, follow these steps:

• Go back to Windows settings and Bluetooth and devices settings.
• Find the connected AirPods tile. Click on the three dot menu.
• From the drop-down menu, select the Remove device option.
• A hint will appear. Here you have to confirm that you want to disable the device.

What should I do if my AirPods won’t connect to my laptop?

There may be a number of reasons why your AirPods cannot connect to your laptop. The most common causes and their workarounds are detailed below.

Low battery

If your AirPods don’t have enough power, they can’t be connected to your device. This is an indirect indicator that AirPods need to be charged before use. When you put your AirPods in the charging case, they will automatically charge. You can check the light under the Home button on the AirPods case.

Bluetooth off

Only when the Bluetooth function is active on your laptop will you be able to connect your AirPods. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on before trying to connect your AirPods. You can enable Bluetooth through the system settings interface.

Problems with Bluetooth

There is a very small chance that the connection inconvenience could be caused by Bluetooth problems. It could either be a bluetooth driver issue or some other connectivity issue. If you are using a Windows laptop, you can try to fix this by updating your BlueTooth drivers.

Bluetooth is already connected to another device

If your laptop was previously connected to Bluetooth, you won’t be able to pair your AirPods with your PC. You can use the methods mentioned above to remove the connection and add your AirPods.

Already paired AirPods

AirPods can be paired with another device. This may make it impossible to connect to the host device. There is a possibility of detaching a device that does not work for this.

Therefore, we suggest that you reset your AirPods. Press and hold the button on the back of your AirPods until the light blinks white. When you’re done, use the solutions above to plug them back in.

AirPods not inside the charging case

If you are trying to initialize a connection, it is very important that the lid is left open. The AirPods must be inside the case. Only if these conditions are met will you be able to see AirPods in the list of Bluetooth devices.

If you still can’t connect your AirPods to your MacBook or Windows laptop, contact Apple Support. Happy broadcasting!