A step-by-step guide to pairing AirPods
Ready to hook up your AirPods to your laptop? Then follow these simple steps…
- Open your laptop’s Bluetooth settings.
If you’re on a MacBook, this is simple. Head to the Apple menu in the top-left corner, click on System Preferences, and then select Bluetooth. On a Windows laptop, click on the Start Menu, type ‘Bluetooth’ in the search bar, then click Bluetooth & other devices settings. - Put your AirPods in pairing mode.
Make sure your AirPods are inside their case and the lid is open. Press and hold the button on the back of the AirPods case until you see a flashing white light. This tells you that they’re ready to pair. - Pair the AirPods with your laptop.
Once your AirPods are in pairing mode, they should show up in the Bluetooth devices list on your laptop. On a Mac, you’ll see them under Devices – and you simply need to click Connect. On Windows, click Add Bluetooth or other device, choose Bluetooth, and then select your AirPods when they appear on the list.
There you go! Your AirPods should now be connected and ready to go. Pop them in your ears and you can start enjoying audio on your laptop.
How to disconnect and reconnect AirPods
Need to disconnect your AirPods, but don’t want to unpair them completely? Here’s how you can do that.
To disconnect:
- On a Mac: Go to your Bluetooth menu in the top-right corner, click on your AirPods, and select Disconnect.
- On Windows: Head back into Bluetooth & other devices settings, find your AirPods on the list, and click Disconnect.
To reconnect:
- On a Mac: Revisit the Bluetooth menu and simply click Connect next to your AirPods.
- On Windows: Go back to the Bluetooth settings and click Connect on your AirPods.
Don’t forget – your AirPods are smart enough to reconnect automatically to your laptop when they’re the closest device around. Just pop them in your ears, and you’re good to go.
Removing AirPods from Bluetooth
Sometimes, you’ll want to start with a clean slate—maybe you’re selling your laptop, or you want to reset your AirPods for a different device. In that case, removing them from your Bluetooth list is the best way forward.
On Mac:
- Go to System Preferences, then click Bluetooth.
- Locate your AirPods in the device list.
- Right-click (or two-finger tap if you’re on a trackpad) and select Remove.
On Windows:
- Open Bluetooth & other devices settings.
- Under Audio, find your AirPods.
- Click on them and select Remove device.
Your AirPods will now no longer automatically reconnect to your laptop. But you can always go through the pairing process again if you want to reconnect them later.
Troubleshooting common issues
Having problems listening to a laptop with your AirPods? Here are a few common issues and how to fix them:
AirPods won’t connect to the laptop.
- Make sure your laptop’s Bluetooth is turned on. (Obvious, but it happens to us all!)
- Make sure your AirPods are charged. Low battery levels can sometimes stop them from pairing properly.
- If it still won’t connect, reset your Aiods by holding the button on the back of the case until the light flashes amber and then white again. After resetting, try pairing them again.
Sound only comes from one AirPod.
- Put both AirPods back in the case, wait a few seconds, and then put them back in your ears.
- Try cleaning the problematic AirPod. Sometimes earwax or dirt can block the sound.
- Check your audio settings to make sure the sound balance isn’t set to one side.
Choppy or distorted audio.
- If your audio keeps cutting out or sounds distorted, it could be due to Bluetooth interference. Try moving closer to your laptop or turning off other nearby Bluetooth devices.
- As a last resort, unpair your AirPods and then pair them again.
Handy Bluetooth shortcuts for Windows
If you’re a Windows user, there are three handy Bluetooth shortcuts you can use to make managing your AirPods easier.
- Windows Key + A. This opens the Action Centre, where you can quickly toggle Bluetooth on or off.
- Windows Key + I. Opens the Settings window directly, where you can access your Bluetooth settings in just a few clicks.
- Quick Settings Menu. In the Action Centre, right-click the Bluetooth icon to directly access Bluetooth settings.
Using these shortcuts can save you time when pairing, reconnecting, or managing your AirPods (or any other Bluetooth device).
Using AirPods with non-Apple devices
Despite being designed for the Apple ecosystem, AirPods aren’t exclusive to iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks. You can connect them to lots of non-Apple devices including Windows laptops, Android phones, and even smart TVs.
The process you need to follow is usually pretty much the same. Put the AirPods in pairing mode, open your device’s Bluetooth settings, and select your AirPods from the list.
There are a couple of things to keep in mind though:
- Some features, like auto-pause (where your audio stops when you take an AirPod out), might not work on non-Apple devices.
- The AirPods’ double-tap functions (like play/pause or skipping tracks) can still work, but the customisation you get on Apple devices won’t be available.
So, now you know exactly how to keep your AirPods connected—and, more importantly, how to troubleshoot when they don’t behave!
Source: CURRYS.CO.UK