Published 2023-07-22 by TechNet New England
AirPods are Bluetooth headphones. While they are designed for Apple devices, they work with anything that supports Bluetooth audio. ## Connect AirPods to Windows 1. Open **Settings > Bluetooth and devices**. 2. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on. 3. Put your AirPods in the charging case. 4. Open the lid of the case. 5. Press and hold the **setup button** on the back of the case until the status light flashes white. 6. On your Windows PC, click **Add device > Bluetooth**. 7. Select your AirPods from the list. 8. Click **Done**. Your AirPods are now paired. They will automatically connect when you open the case near your PC (as long as they are not connected to another device). ## Connect AirPods to Android 1. Open **Settings > Connected devices > Pair new device** (exact path varies by Android version). 2. Put AirPods in the case, open the lid, press and hold the setup button until the light flashes white. 3. Select your AirPods from the list of available devices. ## Switching Between Devices AirPods do not automatically switch between Apple and non-Apple devices the way they do between iPhone and Mac. To switch from your iPhone to your Windows PC: 1. On your iPhone, go to **Settings > Bluetooth** and disconnect the AirPods (or turn off Bluetooth). 2. On your Windows PC, go to **Settings > Bluetooth and devices**, find your AirPods, and click **Connect**. To switch back, reconnect on the iPhone and the Windows connection will drop. ## Limitations on Non-Apple Devices Some AirPods features only work with Apple devices: Automatic ear detection (play/pause when removing an AirPod) may not work. Spatial Audio does not work on Windows. Siri is not available. Battery status is not shown natively (third-party apps like MagicPods can display battery on Windows). Seamless device switching does not work. ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) and Transparency mode work on most AirPods Pro/Max models via the stem controls, but you cannot adjust them from Windows settings. ## Audio Quality AirPods on Windows may default to the "hands-free" Bluetooth profile (lower quality with microphone) instead of the "stereo" profile (higher quality without microphone). To fix this in a meeting app, set the microphone to your laptop's built-in mic and the speaker output to AirPods. This forces the stereo profile for better audio quality. ## Troubleshooting **AirPods not appearing in Bluetooth list:** Make sure the status light is flashing white. If it is not, press and hold the setup button longer. Make sure Bluetooth is on and your PC is searching. **Audio cutting out:** Move closer to the PC. Bluetooth range is typically 30 feet but can be affected by walls and interference. **Only one AirPod plays audio:** Take both AirPods out of the case. If one is dead, charge it. If both are charged, forget the device in Bluetooth settings, put AirPods back in the case, and re-pair.