How to connect AirPods to a Windows computer or laptop

Can I use the AirPods with a Windows computer 10, 8.1 o Windows 7? Yes, may: you just need to make sure your computer or laptop has a bluetooth adapter and that it works properly; Once you connect the AirPods, you can use them as headphones with mic.

These instructions detail how to connect Apple AirPods or AirPods Pro to your PC or laptop., as well as the possible problems you may encounter when doing so. In the context of the topic it can be useful: How to connect any Bluetooth headset to your laptop or computer and troubleshoot possible sound problems, How to connect and use AirPods with Android.

Connect AirPods to your computer

As previously stated, to be able to connect, your computer must be equipped with Bluetooth, the adapter should work properly and not be disconnected, the next steps are as follows:

1. Put the AirPods in pairing mode. To do this, put them in the box, open it and then press and hold the round button on the case until the LED indicator flashes white. If it doesn't start to blink, wait a little longer without releasing the button: will light up white, will flash orange several times and then start to flash white.
2. Pair your AirPods with your computer. To do it in Windows 10, go to Settings (Win + I or the gear icon in the Start menu) – Devices – Add Bluetooth or other device – Bluetooth, wait for the AirPods to appear in the listing and click on them, wait the connection will be completed.
3. In Windows 7 Y 8.1, you can go to control panel – Devices and printers – Add device and connect AirPods in the same way.
4. Activate the audio output and microphone of the AirPods. In Windows 10, go to Settings – System – Sound and make sure AirPods are installed as input and output devices.
5. In Windows 7 Y 8.1, go to “Recording and playback devices” (by right-clicking on the speaker in the notification area) and set the AirPods as the default device for playback and recording (right click on the AirPods; use as default and use as default communication device). In Windows 10, it is also better to look in that section (see How to open recording and playback devices in Windows 10). In some messaging programs (as an example, Skype), it is necessary to choose the default microphone in the program's own settings.

This is usually the end of the adjustments: AirPods work with Windows and no problems, and reconnection is usually automatic (or no pairing, but simply by connecting the device in its settings). The only nuance: when used with an iPhone, headphones will need to be reconnected to it.

Possible problems connecting AirPods and AirPods Pro in Windows 10, 8.1 and Windows 7

Here are some common problems when using AirPods on a Windows computer and possible approaches to solve them:

• Bluetooth works (see other devices), but the AirPods cannot be found – This happens with older Bluetooth adapters (as well as inexpensive USB-Bluetooth PC adapters), or in general it is generated by the controllers. Try deleting the existing Bluetooth driver (in device manager, uninstall the adapter and check “Uninstall the drivers for this device”) and install it manually from the laptop manufacturer's official website. At the same time, I have discovered that on the contrary, with the official controller the headphones were not found, but after uninstalling it and automatically installing the driver by Windows itself 10, everything worked fine. If you are not sure if Bluetooth is working properly (and has the adapter disabled, even though the driver is installed and “the device works fine”), read a separate guide: What to do if Bluetooth does not work a notebook PC.
• Communication with AirPods drops, the sound is intermittent. Also for this case, you can experiment with different versions of drivers until you find a stable one. Sometimes it helps to disable power saving for the Bluetooth adapter (go to adapter properties in Device Manager, in the tab “Power management”, disable power saving). It is also useful: sound is delayed in Bluetooth headphones.

Using AirPods with your computer – video

In case when trying to connect the AirPods to your laptop or computer, something does not work as expected, describe the situation, paying special attention to your laptop model and Bluetooth adapter, maybe a solution can be found.