The basic connection process
AirPods Pro 3 connect to a laptop the same way they connect to an iPhone or iPad — through Bluetooth. Your laptop searches for the AirPods, you confirm the pairing on both devices, and they stay connected until you manually disconnect them or pair them with something else. The whole process takes about two minutes.
Before you start, make sure your AirPods Pro 3 are charged and in their case. Open the case near your laptop — within a few feet — and hold the setup button on the back of the case for about three seconds until the light inside flashes white. This puts the AirPods into pairing mode.
On your laptop, the next steps depend on whether you use Windows or Mac. Both are straightforward, but the menus are in different places.
Key Takeaways
- Put your AirPods Pro 3 into pairing mode by holding the setup button on the back of the case for three seconds until the light flashes white.
- On a Mac, go to System Settings, click Bluetooth, and select your AirPods from the list of available devices.
- On Windows, open Settings, go to Bluetooth & devices, and click Add device, then select your AirPods when they appear.
- Once paired, your AirPods will reconnect automatically whenever you open the case near your laptop, as long as Bluetooth is turned on.
- If your AirPods do not appear in the list, close the case, wait ten seconds, open it again, and hold the setup button for another three seconds.
Connecting on a Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings. In the sidebar on the left, click Bluetooth. Your Mac will start searching for nearby devices.
Open your AirPods case near your Mac and hold the setup button on the back for three seconds until the light flashes white. Within a few seconds, your AirPods Pro 3 should appear in the Bluetooth list as "AirPods Pro (3rd generation)" or similar. Click the Connect button next to them.
A popup may appear asking you to confirm the connection. Click Connect again if prompted. Your AirPods are now paired with your Mac. You should see them listed under "My Devices" in the Bluetooth menu, and a small Bluetooth icon will appear in the menu bar at the top of your screen.
Connecting on Windows
Click the Windows Start button in the bottom-left corner and type "Settings" into the search box. Open the Settings app. On the left side, click Bluetooth & devices.
Click the button that says Add device or Add a device. A window will open showing available Bluetooth devices. Open your AirPods case and hold the setup button on the back for three seconds until the light flashes white. Your AirPods Pro 3 should appear in the list within a few seconds.
Click on your AirPods in the list. Windows will pair with them and show a confirmation message. Your AirPods are now connected. You can close the Settings window, and your AirPods will stay paired with your Windows laptop.
What to do if your AirPods do not appear
If you do not see your AirPods in the Bluetooth list after holding the setup button, close the case completely and wait ten seconds. Then open the case again and hold the setup button for three seconds until the light flashes white. Try searching again on your laptop.
Make sure Bluetooth is actually turned on. On a Mac, check the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen — it should show a filled-in Bluetooth symbol, not a crossed-out one. On Windows, go back to Settings, click Bluetooth & devices, and make sure the Bluetooth toggle is switched on.
If your AirPods still do not appear, try moving them closer to your laptop — sometimes they pair more reliably within three feet. If you have paired your AirPods with other devices recently, they may be trying to connect to those instead. Put your AirPods back in their case, wait a few seconds, and try the pairing process again from the beginning.
Reconnecting after the first time
Once your AirPods Pro 3 are paired with your laptop, you do not have to go through the setup process again. straightforward open the case near your laptop with Bluetooth turned on, and your AirPods will reconnect automatically within a few seconds. You will hear a chime in your AirPods when they connect.
If your AirPods do not reconnect automatically, make sure Bluetooth is turned on and try opening and closing the case again. You can also go back to your Bluetooth settings and click Connect next to your AirPods manually.
Your AirPods will stay connected to your laptop until you close the case, turn off Bluetooth, or pair them with a different device. If you pair them with your iPhone or another device, they will disconnect from your laptop and connect to that device instead.
Switching between devices
AirPods Pro 3 can be paired with multiple devices at once, but they can only play audio from one device at a time. If you want to use them with your laptop instead of your phone, straightforward open the case near your laptop. Your AirPods will usually switch to the laptop automatically.
If they do not switch automatically, go to your Bluetooth settings on your laptop and click Connect next to your AirPods. On your phone, open Control Center (swipe down from the top-right on iPhone) and tap the audio card at the top. You should see your AirPods listed — tap them and select a different audio output to disconnect them from your phone.
You can also unpair your AirPods from a device entirely if you do not plan to use them with that device anymore. On a Mac, go to System Settings > Bluetooth, find your AirPods, click the information icon next to them, and select Forget This Device. On Windows, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices, find your AirPods, click on them, and select Remove device.
Using your AirPods with your laptop
Once connected, your AirPods Pro 3 will work as your laptop's speaker and microphone. Audio from videos, music, calls, and notifications will play through your AirPods. The volume controls on your AirPods work the same way they do on your phone — tap once to play or pause, double-tap to skip forward, and triple-tap to skip back.
You can also control volume by pinching and sliding on the stem of either AirPod. Pinch and slide up to increase volume, and pinch and slide down to decrease volume. These controls work on both Mac and Windows.
If you want to adjust settings specific to your AirPods on a Mac, go to System Settings > Bluetooth, find your AirPods, click the information icon, and select Details. On Windows, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices, find your AirPods, click on them, and select Device options. From here you can change the microphone input, adjust noise cancellation, and see the battery level of your AirPods and case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my AirPods Pro 3 with both my laptop and phone at the same time?
Your AirPods can be paired with both devices, but they will only play audio from one at a time. If you are listening to music on your laptop and someone calls your phone, your AirPods will switch to the phone call. When the call ends, they will switch back to your laptop if audio is still playing there.
Why do my AirPods keep disconnecting from my laptop?
This usually happens if your AirPods are paired with multiple devices and one of them is trying to connect at the same time. Turn off Bluetooth on your other devices, or unpair your AirPods from the devices you do not use often. Also make sure your laptop and AirPods are within 30 feet of each other and that nothing is blocking the Bluetooth signal.
Do I need to unpair my AirPods from my phone to use them with my laptop?
No. Your AirPods can stay paired with your phone and your laptop at the same time. Just open the case near your laptop and they will connect to it. When you want to use them with your phone again, open the case near your phone.
What if my AirPods are already paired with another device and will not pair with my laptop?
Your AirPods may be trying to connect to the other device instead. Put your AirPods back in their case and close it. On the other device, go to Bluetooth settings and click Forget or Remove next to your AirPods. Then try pairing them with your laptop again.
Can I use only one AirPod with my laptop?
Yes. You can use just the left or right AirPod alone, and the other will stay in the case. Both AirPods will still connect to your laptop, but only the one you are wearing will play audio. This is useful if you want to keep one ear free to hear your surroundings.