Connecting AirPods to laptop - here's how

You can connect your Apple AirPods not only to your iPhone, iPad, MacBook or iMac, but also to your Windows laptop and other Bluetooth-enabled devices. Learn how to connect the wireless headphones to your computer and what you need to keep in mind.

How to connect your AirPods to a laptop

Since AirPods connect via Bluetooth, you can usually pair the wireless headphones with almost any Bluetooth-enabled device. If your laptop does not have a built-in Bluetooth module, you will need to use a Bluetooth stick. Once all the requirements are met you can start pairing.

1. Activate your laptop's Bluetooth connection. The easiest way to activate the Bluetooth module in Windows 10 is through the Info Center, which you can access from the taskbar.
2. Place the AirPods in the charging case and open the lid.
3. Hold down the Setup button on the back of the charging case until the status indicator lights up white.
4. Select "Connect" in Windows 10's Info Center.
5. The AirPods should now show up in the list of available Bluetooth devices on your laptop. Select them to pair the two devices together.

Using Siri with non-Apple devices - is that even possible?

Not all features of the AirPods can be used when connected to non-Apple devices. Apple's voice assistant Siri, for example, cannot be used without an Apple device. Nevertheless, the built-in microphone of the AirPods works, which allows you to use the headphones as a headset even with your laptop.