Connect AirPods to a Laptop (Windows and Mac)

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You may already know how great wireless Apple AirPods are for listening to music and making calls on your phone, but do you also know how to connect AirPods to a laptop or desktop?

Modern Macs and PCs come with built-in Bluetooth capabilities, making it super easy to connect AirPods and other Bluetooth devices.

This means you can enjoy the seamless experience of using AirPods with a home computer or a work laptop. For example, you can connect your AirPods to enhance your gaming experience, make your voice crystal clear during Zoom meetings, or simply watch a movie.

Connect to AirPods on Mac OS

Because AirPods are designed to work seamlessly with Apple’s hardware, you can use Siri navigation when you’re connected to a Mac. If your Mac and iPhone are signed in to the same Apple ID, the computer will likely detect the AirPods and connect to them automatically with one simple button press in the audio menu.

This feature also makes it possible to automatically switch the audio connection when you receive a phone call, so you never miss an important call. Plus, you can enjoy other conveniences like spatial audio and noise cancellation for an immersive experience.

How to connect Apple AirPods to a Mac

Air pods

Navigate to the Bluetooth menu in your Mac’s System Preferences to connect AirPods or another Bluetooth device. Apple

Connect AirPods to Mac OS

If your Mac doesn’t automatically detect your AirPods, don’t worry! You can pair them manually by following the steps outlined in Apple Support.

  1. On your Mac, go to System settings from the Apple menu (at the top left corner of the screen) and then click the Bluetooth icon.

  2. In the Bluetooth settings, make sure the toggle switch is in the “On” position. If the feature is disabled, click the switch to enable it. You should see a message indicating that Bluetooth is now discoverable, allowing you to connect to all available Bluetooth devices.

  3. Place both AirPods in the charging case and open the lid.

  4. Press and hold the setup button on the back of the AirPods case until the status light flashes white, indicating they are in pairing mode.

  5. In the Bluetooth settings on your Mac, find your AirPods in the list of available devices and click Connect.

If you’re having trouble connecting AirPods to your Mac, you may need to update to the latest version of Mac OS. Apple states that the second generation of AirPods Pro will require the latest version of the operating system to properly sync with other Apple devices and all Bluetooth device features.

How to connect Apple AirPods to Windows PC

All recent versions of Windows PCs support Bluetooth connectivity, and your laptop likely has a compatible antenna as well. You can use your AirPods with a PC, but the Windows operating system recognizes and processes them just like any other wireless headphones or earbuds.

While you can use them for playing basic audio, listening to music, and taking phone calls, you won’t have access to Apple’s extra features like Siri integration, automatic device switching, and spatial audio.

How to connect Apple AirPods to a Windows laptop

Here’s how to pair Bluetooth audio devices and connect Airpods to Windows 10 via Microsoft Support:

  1. Make sure your Bluetooth is turned on. Select the Windows icon (Start) > Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devicesand turn on Bluetooth. Alternatively, you can probably find a shortcut to your PC’s Bluetooth settings in the Notifications tab at the bottom right of your taskbar.

  2. Turn on your Bluetooth audio device and make it discoverable. To do this, place AirPods in the charging case and press and hold the setup button until the status light flashes white.

  3. On your PC, select the Windows icon (Start) > Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices > Add Bluetooth or other device > Bluetooth.

  4. Choose your AirPods from the list of available devices, follow any additional instructions if they appear, and then select Done.

  5. Your AirPods and PC usually connect automatically when they are within range of each other and Bluetooth is turned on.

On newer Windows 11, this process varies slightly:

  1. Turn on your Bluetooth device and make it discoverable. For AirPods, place them in the charging case and press and hold the setting button until the status light flashes white.

  2. On your PC, click the Network, Sound or Battery icons next to the time and date on the right side of your taskbar. Select from the quick settings menu Bluetooth to open the Bluetooth settings. You can also access this by selecting it Windows icon (Start) > Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices.

  3. Select in the quick Bluetooth settings Manage Bluetooth devices. Under ‘Not paired’, select your AirPods or other Bluetooth device from the list of available devices. Follow any additional on-screen instructions to complete the pairing process.

Unpair Bluetooth devices from your Mac or PC

Have you ever connected your AirPods to your Mac while trying to enjoy a movie on your iPad? Sometimes all you need to do is disconnect from a Bluetooth device to keep things running smoothly. Here’s how to unpair Bluetooth devices from your Mac or Windows PC.

To unpair Bluetooth devices from a Mac:

  1. Open Bluetooth settings: Click on the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and select System preferencesthen click Bluetooth.

  2. Select the device: In the Bluetooth settings, find the device you want to disconnect from the list of connected devices.

  3. Remove the device: Hover over the device you want to unpair and click the X button next to it. Then confirm the deletion when prompted.

To disconnect Bluetooth devices from a Windows PC:

  1. Open Bluetooth settings: Click the Windows (Start) icon in the lower left corner of the screen and select Institutions (gear icon), click Devices and then select Bluetooth and other devices from the left menu.

  2. Select the device: In the Bluetooth settings, find the device you want to disconnect from the list of connected devices.

  3. Remove the device: Click on the device you want to unpair, click on the Remove device button and confirm the deletion when prompted.

This article was updated using AI technology, then fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.

That is interesting

The Bluetooth wireless standard that AirPods and many other wireless devices use was first introduced in 1998 and quickly became the preferred method for connecting audio devices (and now AirPods) and other devices to cell phones. Bluetooth operates on the 2.4 GHz radio band and allows transmission of audio over short distances, as well as some graphic and text data.

Original article: Connect AirPods to a laptop (Windows and Mac)

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