While the market is flooded with a ton of wireless earbuds, none have managed to garner as much glory and glamor as Apple’s mighty popular AirPods. Packed with several adorable features such as active noise cancellation, adaptive audio, and transparency mode, the earphones work like a charm. Couple that with the deep integration with the Apple ecosystem, and they seem to be hard to beat on all fronts, especially the seamless listening experience.
No wonder Apple’s AirPods have won over not only the iDevice owners but also the folks who live on the other side of the fence – Windows! Unfortunately, a large number of PC users have recently taken to various forums to complain that the AirPods are not working on Windows 11. If an unexpected issue has marred your listening experience as well, you are in the right place to resolve the AirPods issues on your Windows 11 PC and bring them back on track. Read on…
Best Tips & Tricks to Fix AirPods Issues on Windows 11 24H2
So, what derails the AirPods on Windows and makes them malfunction? From what I have experienced, there are eight main reasons why they fail to kick in and work, including –
- Driver compatibility issues
- Bluetooth interference nearby
- Outdated Windows version
- Incorrect sound settings
- Power-saving settings
- AirPods firmware conflicts
- Audio profile mismatch
- Bluetooth service glitches
But fret not as I’m going to break down each one of these culprits and sort them out with the most viable tips and tricks.
1. Reinsert AirPods in the Case and Try Again
It’s worth pointing out upfront that putting the AirPods back in the case and taking them out again resets the connection state.
2. Make Sure AirPods Are Fully Charged
Bear in mind that a low battery can cause disconnections or poor audio. Therefore, I recommend you place them in the charging case and let them charge for a few minutes.
3. Enable Bluetooth on Windows 11
If Bluetooth is disabled, your PC won’t be able to detect your AirPods.
- On your Windows PC, head over to Settings > Bluetooth & devices and make sure Bluetooth is turned on.
4. Put AirPods in Pairing Mode
If you are unable to pair your AirPods with your PC? Ensure that you have activated the pairing mode.
- Just press and hold the button on the AirPods case until the light starts blinking white.
- After that, pair them again in Windows 11 settings and find out whether or not your beloved true wireless earbuds have come back on track.
5. Remove and Reconnect AirPods
Many a time, you can sort out the AirPods issues on your PC by just removing and reconnecting the AirPods.
- Hence, dive into the Settings app on your PC > Bluetooth & devices > Devices, click the three dots next to the AirPods, and select Remove. Then re-pair them from scratch.
6. Toggle Airplane Mode
At times, enabling and disabling Airplane mode can let you reset all wireless connections.
- Navigate to the Settings app on your PC > Network & internet and toggle Airplane mode on/off.
7. Restart Your PC
Note that a simple restart can help fix temporary glitches and Bluetooth stack issues that could be getting in the way of your AirPods.
- So, dive into the Start menu > Power > Restart and find out if it is able to troubleshoot the problem for you.
8. Check Bluetooth Compatibility
Your older Bluetooth adapters (e.g., v3.0 or v4.0) might not be in line with the AirPods requirements. Therefore, ensure your PC supports Bluetooth 4.2 or newer.
9. Use an Audio App with Better Codec Handling
Some apps are designed to handle AirPods audio better than others. Thus, try Spotify, VLC, or Chrome for streaming, especially if you hear choppy or distorted audio.
10. Set AirPods as the Default Playback Device
Many a time, you can restore the full functionality of AirPods on a PC by just setting them as the default playback device.
- Right-click the speaker icon > Sound settings > Choose your AirPods under “Output” and set them as default to ensure proper audio routing.
11. Switch to Headphones Profile for Better Audio
Note that AirPods often default to “Headset” mode. Keep a close tab on it as the headset mode has low-quality audio.
- On your PC, head over to the Sound settings (right-click on the speaker icon > Sound settings) and switch to the “Stereo” profile under “Output.”
12. Disable Hands-Free Telephony
If the “Hands-free” telephony is active on your PC, I suspect it’s spoiling your game.
- Head over to the Control Panel on your PC > Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers.
- Now, right-click your AirPods > Properties > Services tab > Uncheck “Handsfree Telephony.”
13. Update Bluetooth Drivers
Malicious Bluetooth drivers might be hurting the functionality of AirPods on your PC. Yeah, you got that right! The Outdated Bluetooth drivers may not support newer wireless audio protocols.
- On your PC, fire up the Device Manager > Bluetooth > Right-click your adapter > Update driver > Search automatically for drivers and update them.
14. Update Audio Drivers
If your system’s audio drivers are outdated or corrupted on your Windows 11 PC, it might be impacting the playback.
- On your PC, launch the Device Manager > expand the Sound, video, and game controllers.
- Now, choose Update driver > Search automatically for drivers and proceed to update your driver.
15. Restart Bluetooth Services
More often than not, rebooting the Bluetooth services will help you resolve the AirPods issues.
- To get it done, press Win + R to fire up the Run dialog > type
services.msc, and restart “Bluetooth Support Service” and “Bluetooth Audio Gateway Service.”
16. Run Bluetooth Troubleshooter
It’s also important to note that Windows can let you diagnose and fix Bluetooth issues affecting the AirPods on your PC.
- Go to Settings on your PC > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
- Then, run the Bluetooth troubleshooter and follow its instructions to resolve the problem.
17. Run Audio Troubleshooter
Never fail to remember the built-in audio troubleshooter as it is exceptionally handy in fixing the related issues.
- On your Windows device, dive into the Settings app > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
- After that, run the Audio troubleshooter to resolve playback issues.
18. Update Windows 11
An outdated OS might not be compatible with the newer AirPods firmware.
- To update your PC, go to the Settings app > Windows Update and install all available updates.
19. Check for Interference from Other Bluetooth Devices
Too many Bluetooth devices nearby may cause interference. Temporarily disconnect unused devices from your PC.
20. Disable Bluetooth Power-Saving
Do not overlook the greedy Bluetooth power saving as it might also be conflicting with your AirPods.
- So, bring up the Device Manager (Win+X) > Bluetooth > Right-click your adapter > Properties.
- Power Management tab > Uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.”
21. Use Only One AirPod Temporarily
- If one AirPod is faulty, it would be a good idea to try using only the left or right one. It may help isolate the issue.
22. Reset AirPods
I can’t remember how many times this troubleshooter has rescued me by fixing the malfunctioning AirPods. Therefore, I’m going to bank on it to come good this time again.
- To get done, make sure to first put the AirPods in the case, hold the button until the light flashes amber and then white, and re-pair them with your PC.
23. Unpair from Other Devices
Check if your AirPods are already connected to another phone or Mac. If yes, they may not pair with Windows. Therefore, be sure to disconnect them from other devices first.
24. Try a Different USB Bluetooth Adapter
Bear in mind that your PC’s built-in Bluetooth chip might be outdated. Thus, I’d suggest you use a dedicated USB Bluetooth dongle to resolve compatibility issues.
25. Uninstall and Reinstall Bluetooth Drivers
Should the problem still persist, reinstall your Bluetooth drivers.
- In Device Manager (Win+X) > expand the Bluetooth section > right-click on your Bluetooth driver > uninstall the Bluetooth driver and restart your PC.
- Windows will reinstall the driver automatically.
Wrapping up…
There you have it, folks! Although AirPods are optimized for Apple devices, they can work great on Windows 11 with the right setup. Most connection and playback issues stem from driver conflicts, system settings, or power management features. By carefully going through the fixes above, you can enjoy stable and high-quality audio using your AirPods on your PC. If all else fails, consider resetting your Bluetooth stack or using third-party software for enhanced Bluetooth device management.
