Let’s check out what you must do to connect the AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max to a laptop running Windows 10.
Connect AirPods to a Windows 10 Laptop
You can quickly connect your AirPods to a Windows 10 laptop by setting them up as a Bluetooth device. Before you begin, put your AirPods or AirPods Pro in their Charging Case.
Open the Start menu and click Settings. Select Devices. Pick the option labeled Add Bluetooth or other device. Select Bluetooth. Open the AirPods’ Charging Case and press and hold the Setup button. On the AirPods Max, hold down the Noise Control button instead. Keep holding until the status indicator flashes white. Select your AirPods as they appear within the list of Bluetooth devices. Click Done. Exit Settings.
Use AirPods on a Windows 10 Laptop
Once you’ve finished connecting your AirPods to your Windows 10 laptop, you can use them to listen to music right away. If you need to, select the Volume icon on the system tray to switch between the AirPods and any other audio output devices.
Windows 10 doesn’t allow you to customize the gestures on your AirPods, but you should be able to perform a double-tap on the first and second-generation AirPods to play and pause tracks. If you have a pair of AirPods Pro, you can squeeze them to toggle between Transparency Mode and Active Noise Cancellation.
On the AirPods Max, use the Digital Crown to control the audio and the Noise Control button for Transparency Mode and Active Noise Cancellation.
However, microphone compatibility with the AirPods on Windows 10 is often hit and miss. If your laptop fails to detect your voice, go through these troubleshooting tips. If they don’t help, you have no recourse but to use your laptop’s internal mic or a separate external microphone.
When it’s time to disconnect your AirPods, just put them in their Charging Case or Smart Case. They should reconnect as soon as you take them out again.
If you subsequently end up using your AirPods on another device (such as your iPhone), here’s how to reconnect them to your laptop: Go to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices, pick your AirPods from the list of paired devices, and click Connect.
Change Your AirPods Name on a Windows 10 Laptop
When you connect your AirPods to your Windows 10 laptop, they should show up with the default [Your Name] AirPods moniker (provided that you’ve previously used them on an iPhone or Mac). You can change that to whatever you want in Windows 10. However, your changes won’t carry over to an iPhone or Mac.
Press Windows + R to open the Run box. Then, type control printers and select OK. Right-click your AirPods and select Properties. Switch to the Bluetooth tab. Modify or change the AirPods’ name. Select Apply and OK. Put your AirPods in the Charging Case or Smart Case and take them out again to apply the changes.
AirPods on Windows: Ready to Go
Using a pair of AirPods on a Windows 10 laptop allows for a fairly decent listening experience. Just be prepared to deal with any microphone-related issues, and you should be fine. Now how about figuring out how to connect your AirPods to an Android smartphone?
