How to connect your AirPods to a laptop

To connect AirPods to a PC, put your AirPods in the case, open it, and press the setup button on the back.
When the status light inside the front of your AirPods case blinks white, you can let go of the button.
You can then pair the AirPods to a PC by opening Bluetooth settings in the Windows menu.

So you bought a set of Apple AirPods. Not because you’re an Apple zombie entrenched in the company’s oft-criticized walled garden ecosystem of products that can sometimes snub outsiders, but because, dagnabbit, they’re darn good earbuds.

And, yes, while they do tend to play much nicer with their own ilk, that doesn’t mean you simply can’t use your AirPods earbuds with non-Apple devices, like a windows PC, for example.

Thanks to Bluetooth support, pairing and connecting AirPods to laptop is no problem!

Windows PC will pair with any pair of AirPods, including standard AirPods (1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation), AirPods Pro (1st and 2nd generation), and AirPods Max. Here’s how to set it up.

STEPS FOR HOW TO CONNECT AIRPODS TO A LAPTOP

Put AirPods in pairing mode
Open Bluetooth settings on your laptop
Add a Bluetooth device on your laptop
Select your AirPods to pair

WHAT YOU NEED

Any model of AirPods and their charging case
A Windows laptop with Bluetooth connectivity

STEP BY STEP GUIDE FOR WINDOWS LAPTOPS

1. Put your AirPods or AirPods Pro in pairing mode

If it’s the first time connecting your AirPods or they aren’t currently paired with any device, you simply have to open the case to put them in new pairing mode.

If they’ve already been paired, find the pairing button on the rear of the case. On AirPods Max, the Setup button is located on an earcup instead of on a case. Just press and hold the setup button until you see the status light flash white.

That flashing white light indicates that it’s in new pairing mode.

2. Open Bluetooth settings on your Windows laptop

Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices on your Windows laptop. Or simply type "Bluetooth" in the Search Bar next to the Windows icon and select "Bluetooth and other devices settings" to open it quicker.

3. Add a Bluetooth device

In that window, find the option that says "Connect a new device" and tap Add device. A small window should appear, allowing you to choose the type of device you want to add. Select Bluetooth.

This will give you a list of devices that are available and in pairing mode.

4. Select your AirPods to pair

If your AirPods are in pairing mode, it should appear in the list of devices. Simply select it from the list, and wait for it to successfully connect. This shouldn’t take more than a second or two.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Sometimes, even when your AirPods have successfully connected with your laptop, Windows may not automatically select it as the primary sound output.

To make sure that the AirPods are selected, tap on the **Sound and speaker **icon on the right-hand side of the Windows Taskbar. Doing so will bring up the Quick settings panel where you’ll find the Volume bar and the Select a sound output icon next to it.

Tap the Select a sound output icon then select your AirPods from the list if it’s not already. This will ensure that any audio from your Windows laptop will come through those AirPods.