Computers, Laptops & Tablets > Microsoft How to Pair and Connect AirPods to a Windows 11 PC Connect Apple's wireless headphones with Bluetooth By Jeremy Laukkonen Jeremy Laukkonen Facebook Twitter Writer Shoreline Community College Jeremy Laukkonen is automotive and tech writer for numerous major trade publications. When not researching and testing computers, game consoles or smartphones, he stays up-to-date on the myriad complex systems that power battery electric vehicles . lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on December 15, 2021 Reviewed by Ryan Perian Reviewed by Ryan Perian Western Governors University Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Microsoft Microsoft Apple Google Tablets Accessories & Hardware What to Know Put your AirPods in the case, open the case, and press the button on the case until the LED flashes white to place them in pairing mode.On your Windows 11 PC: Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Add device > Bluetooth, and select your AirPods.Your AirPods can be paired to your Windows 11 PC, iPhone, and other devices at the same time, but can only work with one device at a time. This article explains how to pair and connect AirPods to a Windows 11 PC, including how to perform the initial Bluetooth pairing and how to connect and select the AirPods later after you’ve used them with another device. Do Apple AirPods Work With Windows 11 PC? AirPods are designed to work seamlessly with iPhones and other Apple devices, but you can pair and connect AirPods to any Windows 11 PC with Bluetooth. Your AirPods can even remember your Windows 11 PC, your iPhone, and other devices as well, allowing you to switch between them whenever you want. How Do I Connect My AirPods to My Windows 11 PC? To connect your AirPods to your Windows 11 PC, you need to put the AirPods in pairing mode, enable Bluetooth on the PC, and then initiate the connection through the PC. Your AirPods will remember the PC from then on, allowing you to reconnect whenever you want. Here’s how to connect your AirPods to a Windows 11 PC: Right click the Windows icon on the taskbar. Click Settings. Click Bluetooth & devices. Click the Bluetooth toggle if it isn’t already on. Click + Add device. Place the AirPods in their case, and open the case. Jeremy Laukkonen / Lifewire Press and hold the button on your AirPods case. Jeremy Laukkonen / Lifewire When the light on the case flashes white, release the button. Jeremy Laukkonen / Lifewire The light may be inside the case or on the front of the case depending on the version of AirPods you have. Return to your Windows 11 PC, and click Bluetooth. Wait for your PC to search for devices, then click your AirPods when they appear in the list. Wait for the connection to be established, then click Done. Your AirPods are now connected and ready to use. How to Use AirPods With a Windows 11 PC AirPods will automatically connect to your iPhone when you open the case in close proximity to your phone, and you’ll also get an automatic popup on your Mac asking you to connect if your Mac senses your AirPods. Using AirPods with a Windows 11 PC is a little more complicated, but it’s easy to reestablish a connection and use them with your PC whenever you want. If you’ve been using your AirPods with another device, here’s how to use them with your Windows 11 PC again: Take your AirPods out of the case, and place them near your Windows 11 PC. Jeremy Laukkonen / Lifewire Click the Speaker icon on the taskbar. Click the > icon to the right of the volume control. If the Bluetooth button is grayed out, it means Bluetooth has been turned off. you’ll need to click the Bluetooth button before clicking the > button. Click Headphones (AirPods) in the list of devices. When your AirPods are selected in this menu, it means they’re connected, ready to use, and set as the default audio source on your Windows 11 PC. FAQ How do I disconnect my AirPods on Windows 11? Select the Speaker icon in the taskbar and choose the default speakers to disable the headphones. To unpair your headphones from your PC, go to the Bluetooth settings, choose your Airpods, and select Disconnect. Why do my AirPods keep disconnecting from my PC? Your AirPods might be going into power save mode when you pause audio playback. Open the Windows Device Manager, go to your AirPod's Properties, and disable the power management feature. Why won't my AirPods connect to my PC? If your AirPods won't connect, it could be due to low battery, or there could be a problem with Windows 11 Bluetooth. If all else fails, reset your AirPods. How do I turn off my AirPods? You can't turn off AirPods. They go into power save mode when not in use. To conserve battery life, keep your headphones in the case when you're done using them. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Email Address Sign up There was an error. Please try again. You're in! Thanks for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. Thank you for signing up! 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