How to connect airpods to non apple device

Please don’t hate but what are AirPods like on non apple devices. I have a work phone that’s not apple. I’m curious what it’ll be like when I get them

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Connect Your AirPods To Your Device's Bluetooth

When you see the light in between your AirPods flashing, you'll be able to start the pairing process. Then, you should be able to find the AirPods in your device's Bluetooth menu (make sure your Bluetooth is turned on before you try it). After you find them, go ahead and connect. After that, you should be all set.

Again, I haven't tried this method out yet — but it seems pretty straightforward. Once I do purchase a pair of AirPods, I'll certainly give it a go. If you haven't gotten a pair of the wireless ear candies yet, either, you can easily buy them on Apple.com. According to the company's online store, one pair of AirPods will cost you $159.

If you end up buying a pair, you'll be able to link 'em to your Apple devices without a problem. Yes, I say "devices" (plural) because they'll connect to more than just your iPhone. According to Apple, you can connect AirPods to your iPad, Mac, and even your Apple Watch. When you think about it, that's pretty convenient.

However, those of you who aren't running on Apple products don't have to miss out. Follow the steps above to pair your AirPods with non-Apple devices and enjoy their wireless perks.

How to connect airpods to non apple device

Whether you're a brand new Apple Airpods owner or have recently purchased a non-Apple device, the process to set up your AirPods is easy! We've already covered how to pair AirPods with Apple devices, and in this article, we'll focus on how to connect your AirPods to Android, Windows, Chromebook, and other non-Apple devices. To pair your AirPods, all you need to do is make sure your device Bluetooth is on, enable AirPods pairing mode, and select your AirPods from the Bluetooth device list. Let's get started.

Related: How to Make Your AirPods' Batteries Last Longer

Can you use AirPods with Android, Chromebook, Windows, or other PCs? The short answer is yes. AirPods can be paired with any Bluetooth-enabled device supporting headphones. While you cannot use Siri when you pair your AirPods with a non-Apple device (no surprise there!), you should be able to listen to your music and chat on your phone calls as usual. If you're interested in learning more about your Apple AirPods settings, consider signing up for our free Tip of the Day.

If you already know how to access the Bluetooth menu on your non-Apple device, you can skip this section and start pairing your AirPods! For those who are unfamiliar with Bluetooth devices, I've added some quick notes on how to access your Bluetooth menu on popular devices. It's important to make sure your device Bluetooth is enabled before you begin the pairing process in the section below.

  1. Click Settings.
  2. Select Connections.
  3. Click Bluetooth.
  4. Click to toggle Bluetooth on, if it isn't already.
  1. Select the user menu in the lower right corner of your home screen.
  2. Click Bluetooth.
  3. Click to toggle Bluetooth on, if it isn't already.
  1. Open Settings.
  2. Click Devices.
  3. Select Bluetooth & other devices
  4. Click to toggle Bluetooth on, if it isn't already.

Check to make sure your device has Bluetooth enabled if you haven't already done so in the previous section. Once you've done so, read below for the instructions on how to pair AirPods with your device.

  1. Place both AirPods in the case and open the lid.

    How to connect airpods to non apple device

  2. Press and hold the white button on the back of the case.

    How to connect airpods to non apple device

  3. The AirPods status light will blink white to indicate pairing mode.

    How to connect airpods to non apple device

  4. Select your Apple AirPods from the device list in Bluetooth settings.

That's all there is to it! After your AirPods have been paired with your device, they will automatically connect anytime you pull them out of the case (as long as Bluetooth is enabled on your device). Next, find out if AirPods are waterproof.

Can I pair AirPods using Bluetooth to an Android phone or Windows computer?

For a while now, Apple has relentlessly pushed us all into going wireless. It started with the removal of the audio jack on the latest iPhones, and it followed with two generations of AirPods, and the release of the AirPods Pro. These earbuds are everywhere now, and part of their appeal is the ease with which they can sync to iPhones—but also any other device with standard support for Bluetooth headphones.

It’s not perfect though. Due to the proprietary tech Apple has built into the buds, you’ll lose some functionality along the way, including the possibility of checking the battery life of your AirPods on the device you’re listening to, or having your music automatically pause when you take one of the buds out.

Still, the rest of the features such as tapping your AirPods or squeezing the stems of the AirPods Pro to pause playback, will work just the same.

If you’ve got a Mac, iPad, or Apple TV, and it’s signed into the same iCloud account as your iPhone, once you’ve paired your AirPods with your phone then the earbuds should automatically pair with your other devices as well. All you need to do is select them as an audio output.

On a Mac, click the sound icon in the menu bar, then choose your AirPods from the list. If for whatever reason you don’t see them there even after you’ve synced them with your iPhone, go to Bluetooth in the System Preferences dialog (listed on the Apple menu) to add them.

It’s all very straightforward on an iPad too. As with iPhones, iPads should recognize and connect to AirPods as soon as you open the charging case. If you’re not automatically connected, go to the Bluetooth menu on Settings to pair your earbuds.

On Apple TV boxes, you need to open up the Settings screen, then choose Remotes and Devices and Bluetooth. You should see your AirPods on the list. Select them to confirm the connection.

Using AirPods with Android, Windows and Chrome OS

The process of connecting any pair of AirPods as a standard Bluetooth headset is very similar across a lot of devices, including those running Android, Windows, and Chrome OS. You first need to put your AirPods in pairing mode—open the charging case with the earbuds in them, then press and hold the button on the back of the case until the white LED light starts flashing. That means your AirPods are ready to pair with another Bluetooth device.

On an Android phone or tablet go to Settings, Connected devices and tap Pair new device. You should be able to select your AirPods from the list as you would any other pair of bluetooth headphones. Tap Pair on the confirmation box that pops up to complete the connection.

If you’re using Windows, open Settings (the cog icon on the Start menu), then pick Devices, Add Bluetooth or other device, and Bluetooth. The AirPods will just show up as Headphone to begin with, so click to connect and then choose Done to finish. Back on the Bluetooth screen they should adopt the AirPods or AirPods Pro name.

On a Chrome OS computer, click the status tray icon displaying the time and other information (lower right), then the arrow underneath the Bluetooth icon to start scanning for new devices. If the AirPods are in pairing mode, they’ll appear as an entry in the list—click on it to connect.

Using AirPods with a PS4, Xbox One or Nintendo Switch

How to connect airpods to non apple device
The Nintendo Switch doesn’t support any Bluetooth headphones, but you can pair your AirPods through a dongle. Bionik

The process gets a little more complicated when it comes to gaming. Various hardware and software limitations mean that the PS4, the Xbox One, and the Nintendo Switch don’t offer standard support for Bluetooth headphones. That means you can’t just hook up a pair of AirPods out of the box.

Workarounds exist, but like with most of them, you might not get the same sort of quality and stability that you’d expect. If you want to try connecting AirPods to a PS4, for example, you need a Bluetooth dongle like the $30 Avantree Leaf. The dongle plugs into your console, and the AirPods then connect to the dongle as would any other pair of Bluetooth headphones.

The Nintendo Switch doesn’t support any wireless headphones natively, but you can work around this with a dongle like the $35 Bionik BT or the $28 Gulikit Route Air. If you find other dongles you like better, just make sure that you’re buying one built for the Switch and with specific support for AirPods. The best way to do this is by checking the list of compatible devices, and any attached user reviews.

It’s even trickier on the Xbox One, where there isn’t really any way (dongle or otherwise) to get AirPods connected. The only potential fix—which may work for the PS4 and Switch as well—is pairing your AirPods with your TV. Support for this will vary from set to set though, so check the instructions for yours to see if Bluetooth headphones can be hooked up.

If you listen to a lot of music, podcasts, or audiobooks through a smart speaker (or watch a lot of videos on a smart display), then you can get this audio to play through a pair of AirPods rather than the built-in speaker.

With an Amazon Echo, open the Alexa app on your phone, then select Devices, Echo & Alexa, and the speaker to pair. Tap Bluetooth Devices and Pair a new device to connect up your AirPods as you would on your Apple devices.

If you’ve got an Amazon Echo Show then you can do the pairing straight from the smart display without having to use your phone. Swipe down from the top of the Echo Show screen, then tap Settings and Bluetooth to begin the pairing process. Once the AirPods are in pairing mode, pick them from the list.

For Google Home and Google Nest speakers, everything is done via the Google Home app on your phone. Tap the speaker or display you want your AirPods to connect to, then tap the cog icon (top right), and Default music speaker. Choose Pair Bluetooth speaker and make sure your AirPods are in pairing mode.