How to connect your Apple AirPods to a Windows PC using Bluetooth
Place your AirPods in the case, open it up, and then click the button on the case’s rear to connect them to a personal computer.
You are free to release your grip on the button when the status light on the front of your AirPods case begins to flicker white.
After that, you may connect the AirPods to a computer by going to the Windows menu and accessing the Bluetooth settings.
Apple’s AirPods are earbuds that use Bluetooth technology and are totally wireless. They were developed specifically for use with iOS devices such as the iPhone and iPad. However, you can use AirPods with a variety of other devices as well, including a computer running Windows.
Here is how to pair and connect your AirPods to your personal computer if you wish to utilise them with your computer.
Note that you won’t be able to utilise Siri with your AirPods if you connect them to a computer; this feature can only be accessed when the earbuds are linked to an iOS device like an iPhone or iPad.
The steps to link AirPods to a personal computer
Put your AirPods in the case, then press and hold the little button on the case’s rear until the white status light begins flashing. This will allow you to connect your AirPods to a personal computer. After that, your AirPods ought to appear in the Add a device window inside the Bluetooth settings on your personal computer, where you may click to pair and connect them.
1. Place your AirPods in the carrying case provided and check to see that they are fully charged.
2. From the Start menu on your computer, open the Settings application. It’s the icon that looks like a gear and it’s located above the power button. You may also use the search box in the Start menu to look for Settings.
The start menu is where you may access the settings for Windows.
Launch the Settings application from the Start menu. 3. Navigate to the Devices tab. Dave Johnson/Business Insider
4. At the very top of the section labelled “Bluetooth & other devices,” make certain that Bluetooth is activated. The toggle switch’s position should be set to the right, and its colour should be blue.
5. Select the Bluetooth or other device you want to add.
menu for Bluetooth and other devices, with an arrow pointing in the direction of the plus symbol.
In the Settings menu, first make sure that Bluetooth is turned on, and then select the Add Bluetooth button. Dave Johnson/Business Insider 6. Select Bluetooth from the drop-down menu in the window labelled “Add a device.”
7. Remove the top of the case that contains your AirPods. (You can skip this step if you already own a pair of AirPods Max.)
8. Press and hold the little button located on the case’s back for a few seconds, until the status light located on the case’s front begins to flicker white.
A hand is seen in close-up holding an AirPods case when the lid is open.
The AirPods may be set into pairing mode by pressing the button located on the case’s back. Dave Johnson/Business Insider
9. It is expected that the AirPods will be included in the list of devices that may be paired with your personal computer. It’s possible that they’ll first be labelled as Headphones, but after a few moments, they’ll transform into AirPods.
10. Go to the AirPods page.
Include an arrow that points to the “AirPods” option in the menu that pops up when you select a device.
You should be able to see the AirPods appear in the list of available devices once the pairing mode has been activated on the AirPods. Dave Johnson/Business Insider 11. Windows will display a success message after it successfully connects to the AirPods. Click Done. You may now use the AirPods to listen to audio on your personal computer.
Include in the pop-up menu for connected devices an indication that your AirPods are currently linked to your computer.
When you are finished configuring Bluetooth, you can click “Done” and then close the Settings menu. Dave Johnson/Business Insider
Important note: Have a Mac instead of a personal computer (PC)? This article will walk you through the process of connecting your AirPods to your Mac computer.
Troubleshooting when your AirPods won’t connect to your PC
Whether your AirPods won’t connect, there are a number of things you may try to fix the problem, including checking to see if they need to be charged. Resetting your AirPods is something you should consider doing if you continue to experience issues with them. You will be able to charge them and ensure that they are correctly synchronised if you do it this manner.
There’s also a possibility that the problem lies with your personal computer rather than with your AirPods. If this is the case, you can attempt to solve the issue by using the Windows troubleshooter. The Settings menu in the Start menu is where you go to access this.
From this point forward, select Troubleshoot after first selecting either Updates & Security (for Windows 10) or System (for Windows 11). Finally, select Bluetooth by clicking the Other troubleshooters button. When it completes, you might be given some ideas for how to correct the issue.
A helpful hint: If you want to disconnect your AirPods, switch off the Bluetooth on your Windows device.
Devon Delfino is a freelance journalist living in Brooklyn who specialises in covering topics related to personal finance, culture, politics, and identity. Her work has been featured in a variety of media, including CNBC, Business Insider, Teen Vogue, and The Los Angeles Times, among others. You may find her on Twitter under the handle
As a technology journalist, Dave Johnson writes on consumer technology and the ways in which the industry is bringing the fantastical world of science fiction into the present day and age. Dave spent his childhood in New Jersey and then joined the Air Force, where he eventually became a satellite operator, taught space operations, and planned space launches. After that, he worked for Microsoft for eight years in a content lead position on the Windows team. Dave is a photographer who has taken pictures of wolves in their natural habitat. In addition to being a scuba instructor and co-host of many podcasts, Dave is also a photographer. Dave has written more than a dozen books and has contributed to a wide variety of online and print magazines, including as CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.