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Why can’t my laptop detect my AirPods?

As an owner of AirPods, I was frustrated to find out that my laptop wasn’t able to detect them. After doing some research, I want to share what I found out and the solutions I discovered to help others facing the same issue. In this blog post, I’ll explain why your laptop might not be detecting your AirPods and how to fix it.

Likely reasons why your laptop cannot detect your AirPods are that the AirPods are out of power, the AirPods are not in pairing mode, the AirPods need to be repaired with the laptop or there might be a problem with the laptop’s Bluetooth itself.

AirPods are able to connect to Bluetooth devices. As long as your laptop has Bluetooth, it should be possible for you to connect your AirPods to your laptop. The rest of this article will show you all of the possible problems and what you can do about them.

Possible ReasonsFixes
Bluetooth on laptop is not turned onTurn Bluetooth on and off on laptop
AirPods are connected to a different deviceDisconnect AirPods from other devices
AirPods are not in pairing modePut AirPods in pairing mode
AirPods need to be reset and paired againReset and pair AirPods
Issue with the laptop itselfCheck laptop settings and updates
AirPods are not chargedCharge AirPods
AirPods are brokenInspect AirPods for any damage
AirPods are not put in the case correctlyEnsure AirPods are in the case correctly
Charging case is brokenInspect charging case for any damage
AirPods need updatingUpdate AirPods

Why can’t my laptop detect my AirPods?

Below are likely reasons why your laptop cannot detect your AirPods and what you can do about them.

The laptop’s Bluetooth is not turned on

To start with the most obvious possible issue, it might be the case that the Bluetooth on your laptop is not turned on or the Bluetooth might be faulty.

It would help to see if you can connect to other Bluetooth devices, with your laptop, and to see if it will discover and connect to them.

If you can connect your AirPods to other devices easily, it would make it more likely that there is an issue with your laptop’s Bluetooth. It would help to try connecting your AirPods to another device that you own.

Read more: Why won’t my AirPods turn on?

AirPods connecting to a different device

Next, if you have already paired your AirPods with your laptop and you are just trying to connect them to your laptop automatically, it might be the case that your AirPods are actually connected to a different device and it would help to check that they are not connected to any nearby devices.

Read more: why do my AirPods keep falling out of my ears?

AirPods are not in pairing mode

If you are trying to connect your AirPods to your laptop for the first time, it is necessary for you to put your AirPods in pairing mode. To do this, you must do the following:

  1. Put the AirPods in the case while it is charged
  2. Open the lid while you keep the AirPods inside the case
  3. Hold the button on the case
  4. The AirPods will now go into a pairing mode and you should be able to see them on your laptop’s list of available devices in its Bluetooth settings.

The AirPods need to be reset and paired again

It could also be the case that something is wrong with the connection with the device. It would help to forget your AirPods from the device, to put the AirPods in the case, to wait 30 seconds and then to open the lid of the case, hold the button for 15 seconds until the light appears orange then white.

The issue is actually with the laptop

If they are still not appearing, check to see if your AirPods are able to connect with other devices. If they can connect with other devices, then it suggests that the issue is actually with the laptop. See if the laptop is able to connect to other bluetooth devices to see if the issue is with the bluetooth. Also try turning bluetooth off and on and resetting the laptop. Otherwise, it would help to see if other users are having issues using AirPods with your specific laptop model.

AirPods not charged

Another obvious reason why your AirPods are not connecting to your laptop is that they are not charged. It would help to try putting them back into the charging case for 10 minutes then to see if they work then.

You can tell if AirPods have charge in them by putting them in the case and then opening the lid next to an iphone. A Popup will appear showing the amount of battery in the AirPods and the case.

It might be the case that the AirPods are not getting charged due to dust or debris in the case in the area at the bottom where your AirPods get charged. To fix this, try rubbing the area using a Q-Tip or just try blowing into the case. Also, try cleaning the bottom of the AirPods themselves. You might also not be putting them in the case correctly or the lid my not be closing correctly.

When you put them into the charging case, an orange light should appear on the case to show that they are being charged.

If a green light appears, it means the AirPods are fully charged. If an orange or green light does not appear, it would mean that the case does not have any power or that the case is broken and it would help to try charging the case.

AirPods
AirPods

They are broken

It is also the case that they might be broken.

To tell if your AirPods are likely to be broken, do the following:

  1. Forget your AirPods on your device
  2. Make sure your AirPods case is charged
  3. Put your Airpods in the charging case and wait 30 seconds
  4. Open the case and hold the pairing button
  5. If your AirPods do not appear on your Device’s Bluetooth, it would suggest that they are broken.

If it does seem likely that your AirPods are broken, the best option would be to take them to a local Apple Store and to see if they can fix the AirPods.

The charging case is broken

It could also be the case that your charging case is broken.

To tell if the charging case is broken, try charging the case via a lightning cable that you know is not broken (verify by charging a different device using that cable).

If the case does not show an orange or green light, it would mean that the case is likely to be broken.

You are not putting them in the case right

It might also be the case that you are not putting your AirPods in the case right or that there is something in the case that is causing the AirPods not to charge properly.

It would help to inspect the inside of the case, where the AirPods go, and to ensure that there are no debris in there.

It would also help to make sure that you are actually using the right charging case for your particular AirPods.

Your AirPods are actually connecting to a different device.

If you have another device nearby, such as an iPhone, that the AirPods have been paired with, it could be the case that the AirPods are actually connecting to that device. To fix this you can reset your AirPods as mentioned earlier by putting them in the case, opening the lid and holding the button until the light goes orange then white.

The charging case is not getting charged properly

Another possible issue is that the AirPods have not been charging because you have not been charging the case properly.

When you open the charging case, a green or orange light should show. If no light shows, it means that the case is broken or out of power.

It could be the case that the cable you use is broken, you have not been placing the case on the wireless charging mat correctly or that the wireless charging mat is not actually compatible with your AirPods case. The wireless charging mat should be Qi certified.

The AirPods need updating

It could be the case that your AirPods need to be updated.

To update AirPods and AirPods pro, it is just necessary to have the AirPods in the case while it is charging and to have a connected iPhone or iPad nearby. The AirPods will then automatically update.

Pros of Using AirPods with a laptop

  • The AirPods are wireless and will not be tangled up with your laptop.
  • The AirPods will provide great sound quality and will be comfortable to wear.
  • The AirPods are very convenient and easy to use.
  • The AirPods will have a long battery life.

Cons of Using AirPods with a laptop

  • The AirPods may not be as compatible with some laptops as they are with other devices.
  • The AirPods may be more expensive than some other headphones.
  • The AirPods may not be as durable as some other headphones.