How to Connect Apple Airpods to Apple and Non-Apple Devices
Apple’s Airpods have always been the exponent of proper wireless connectivity, pairing and working seamlessly with just about any device that carries the name Apple. While AirPods also utilize Bluetooth in their connectivity, you can trace their efficiency with Apple devices to the H1 chip embedded inside.
Interestingly, you can also connect Airpods to non-Apple devices, whether a Windows PC or an Android smartphone. But the caveat is that features such as Hey Siri voice control, hearing aid, and audio sharing won’t work as the H1 chip powers them.
But, hey, who says the stellar audio output from Airpods can’t make up for their shortcomings on non-Apple devices? Keep reading to discover how to connect them to both Apple and non-Apple devices.
How to Connect AirPods to iPhone, iPad, and Mac
Connecting AirPods to Apple devices is the easiest as no unique input is required to establish connectivity. Interestingly, you enjoy a seamless connection if all your Apple devices are synced to the same Apple ID. Your devices automatically establish a connection with your Airpods without any input command from you, thanks to the H1 chip.
To connect your Airpods to your iPhone and iPad,
- Enable Bluetooth on your iPhone and go to the home screen
- Hold the charging case next to your iPhone with the lid open and the Airpods inside
- A window will automatically pop up on your iPhone, prompting you to connect. Tap the Connect button to pair
- Another prompt on using the Hey Siri feature may also pop up, depending on your iPhone model and iOS version.
- Either way, repeat all the steps above to connect your Airpods to an iPad.
Things are a little bit different when it comes to a MacBook, but you should be up and running with the steps below:
- If your Airpods don’t connect automatically with your MacBook, go to System preference on your MacBook and enable Bluetooth
- Place the AirPods in their case with the lid open
- Press and hold the button at the charging case’s back till it flashes a white light
- Check the Devices list on your Mac and select AirPods to connect
You may need to set your Airpods as the output device in the Volume Control menu to hear any sound.
How to Connect Apple Airpods to Non-Apple Devices
You can only establish connectivity with Airpods on non-Apple devices via Bluetooth, so your Bluetooth setting is where all you need lies. If your recipient device is a Windows PC, you can follow our specific tutorial on How to Connect Airpods on Windows PC.
Otherwise, you can connect your Airpods to an Android device with the following steps:
- Launch the Settings app on your device and go to Connections > Bluetooth
- With Bluetooth toggled on, Place the Airpods in their case with the lid open
- Press and hold the button at the charging case’s back till it flashes white light
- Select AirPods from the list of available devices under the Bluetooth screen
Final Notes
There you have it! Connecting your Airpods to various devices has never been easier. If your AirPods won’t connect to the recipient device, it indicates that it needs a factory reset. Place the AirPods inside their case, then press and hold the button at the back of the case till you spot the LED light flash amber.
