How to Connect AirPods to a Laptop (Windows or Mac)

AirPods aren't just for Apple devices. Any laptop with Bluetooth can use them as wireless headphones with a microphone, which is handy for video calls. Apple says it plainly: on a non-Apple device you can listen and talk, but you can't use Siri. Here's how to pair them with a Windows laptop or PC, plus the MacBook shortcut and the problems you're most likely to hit.

Connect AirPods to a Windows 11 laptop

1. Open Settings, then Bluetooth & devices, and make sure Bluetooth is on.
2. Click Add device, then choose Bluetooth.
3. Put both AirPods in the case and open the lid.
4. Make them discoverable: on AirPods 1, 2, 3 or AirPods Pro 1 or 2, hold the setup button on the back for about 5 seconds until the light flashes white. On AirPods 4, 5 or AirPods Pro 3, double-tap the front of the case so the light flashes white.
5. Click your AirPods when they appear in the list. Windows says when they're connected.

On Windows 10 the route is Settings, Devices, Bluetooth & other devices, Add Bluetooth or other device, Bluetooth. The AirPods steps are the same.

No Bluetooth on your PC?

Most laptops have Bluetooth built in, but many desktop PCs don't. Microsoft's answer is a small USB Bluetooth adapter: plug it into a USB port and Windows can then pair AirPods like any other headset. If you can't find the Bluetooth switch in Settings at all, that's the sign your PC needs one.

Connect AirPods to a MacBook

If you've already set your AirPods up with an iPhone and your MacBook uses the same Apple Account, there's nothing to pair. Put the AirPods in, click Control Centre in the menu bar, click Sound and choose your AirPods. If they're not there, pair them manually in System Settings, Bluetooth, using the same setup-button or double-tap step.

Fix bad microphone sound on calls

This is the problem most Windows users hit. Music sounds great, then you join a Teams or Zoom call and everything turns thin and muffled. That's Bluetooth's headset mode, which carries the microphone but at lower quality. Two fixes help:

• Use your laptop's built-in microphone and keep the AirPods for listening only. In the call app's audio settings, choose the laptop mic as input and the AirPods as speaker.
• Or accept the lower quality while you talk; it switches back when the call ends.

Switching between your laptop and phone

Automatic switching is an Apple feature: it only works between Apple devices signed in to the same Apple Account. With a Windows laptop, you switch by hand. To move the AirPods back to your iPhone, choose them in the iPhone's Bluetooth settings or Control Centre. To move them back to the laptop, click Connect next to them in Windows Bluetooth settings. You don't need to pair again each time.

When they won't connect

• Remove the AirPods from the Windows Bluetooth list and pair again.
• Make sure the light is flashing white before you click Add device.
• Charge the case; a flat case won't pair.
• Update Windows and your Bluetooth driver through Windows Update.
• Reset the AirPods if they connect but give no sound.

If one app goes silent rather than all of them, check that app's own audio settings. My fix for Discord crashing on PC covers the audio device settings in a typical call app.

Pick the right output in Windows

Sometimes the AirPods connect but sound still comes from the laptop speakers. Click the speaker icon next to the clock and choose the AirPods from the output list. Windows may show two entries, one ending in Stereo and one in Hands-Free; choose Stereo for music and video.

Are AirPods the best choice for a laptop?

They work well for listening and are easy to carry, but the microphone over Bluetooth on Windows is their weak spot. If you're on calls all day, a headset with a wired or dedicated wireless mic is better. My comparison of noise cancelling headphones covers the alternatives.

Rename them so you can find them

If you share an office or a house with other AirPods owners, the Windows Bluetooth list can show several pairs with similar names. Rename yours on your iPhone first (Settings, tap the AirPods name, then Name) before pairing with the laptop, and Windows picks up the new name. It saves you connecting to a colleague's AirPods by mistake, which happens more often than you'd think.

Battery and sound settings on Windows

Your PC shows the battery level for many Bluetooth headphones in Bluetooth and devices, though AirPods don't always report it the way they do on an iPhone. Press and hold controls still work for play and pause, but customising them needs an Apple device. For the best sound on Windows, keep the laptop's Bluetooth driver up to date and stay close to the laptop; walls and other wireless gadgets cause dropouts.

My verdict

Bluetooth and devices, Add device, then hold the setup button or double-tap the case: that's all it takes on Windows. On a MacBook signed in to your Apple Account, just pick them from Control Centre. For clear calls on Windows, use the laptop's microphone and the AirPods for sound.

Frequently asked questions

Can AirPods connect to a Windows laptop?

Yes. They pair as Bluetooth headphones and microphone. Siri doesn't work.

How do I put AirPods in pairing mode?

Hold the setup button until the light flashes white, or double-tap the front on AirPods 4, 5 and Pro 3.

Why does my AirPods microphone sound bad on my PC?

Bluetooth headset mode lowers quality. Use the laptop's mic for calls.

Why can't I find Bluetooth on my PC?

It may not have it. A USB Bluetooth adapter adds it.

Do AirPods switch automatically between my iPhone and Windows laptop?

No. Automatic switching only works between Apple devices.