Then place your AirPods into pairing mode and scan available Bluetooth devices on your HP laptop. After connecting your AirPods to your HP laptop for the first time, the devices should automatically reconnect if both have Bluetooth enabled and the devices are in range. In this article, find a detailed guide on how to connect AirPods to your HP laptop. We also have a troubleshooting guide for common AirPods and HP laptop connectivity issues.  

Are AirPods Compatible With HP Laptop?

Most people think that AirPods only work with other Apple products. Fortunately, that’s not the case. AirPods can connect with any audio input/out device that has Bluetooth functionality. Since most modern laptops support Bluetooth connection, this means that AirPods are compatible with most laptops, including HP laptops. Using AirPods on your HP laptop works the same way as any other Bluetooth headphones or headset. If you have an older HP laptop without Bluetooth, you need to get a Bluetooth dongle.  

How to Connect AirPods to an HP Laptop

If you have any experience using Bluetooth devices, this guide will be a piece of cake for you. Follow these steps to connect your AirPods to an HP laptop:

Step 1: Prepare your AirPods device.

Make sure that your AirPods are fully charged. Replace them in the  charging case until the batteries are full. Note: AirPods take about 20 minutes to fully charge. An AirPods charging case takes about an hour to fully charge. Fully-charged cases can accommodate up to 3 or 4 AirPods recharges.

Step 2: Set up audio input on your HP laptop.

To connect to a Bluetooth device, switch audio capabilities from Speaker to Headphone:

Open the Sound Control Panel. On your Windows taskbar, click the speaker icon. Click Headphones in the dropdown menu, and choose AirPods as the default audio device.

Note:  If your HP laptop automatically switched to an available audio output upon connecting with a Bluetooth device, you can skip this step and move on to Step 3.

Step 3: Turn on Bluetooth on your HP laptop.

Access the Action center by pressing Windows + A simultaneously on your keyboard. Click on Bluetooth.  Alternatively, you can press Windows + I simultaneously to open settings. Select Devices then Bluetooth & other devices. Toggle on Bluetooth on your laptop.  Click Add Bluetooth & other device then select Bluetooth from the menu.

Step 4: Put your AirPods in Pairing Mode.

Take out your AirPods from the charging case. Press and hold the button located on the back of the AirPods charging case until the signal light on the case turns white and starts blinking. This will put your AirPods into pairing mode.

Step 5: Pair your AirPods with your HP laptop.

Get back to your laptop screen. Your AirPods should appear in the list of discovered Bluetooth devices. Put the AirPods in your ears, then select the AirPods from the Bluetooth list then pair the devices. You should hear a tiny beep sound once your AirPods successfully connect to your HP laptop.   While connecting your AirPods to an HP laptop is mostly straightforward, there are some issues that usually come up. Take a look at these common AirPods-HP laptop compatibility issues to find their troubleshooting solutions.

Why is there no sound when I connect my AirPods to my HP Laptop?

If you can’t connect your AirPods to your HP laptop, there is likely an issue with the Bluetooth function on either the AirPods or the laptop.

Bluetooth is not enabled: Check if Bluetooth is enabled on your laptop. Disable and enable Bluetooth on the charging case and check if they connect. The light on your AirPods charging case should be white. A solid bluetooth connection is needed not just for sound, but in case you need to locate your offline or dead Airpods. Drivers aren’t updated: If the Bluetooth driver on your laptop isn’t up to date, you won’t be able to establish a successful Bluetooth connection. Download the latest drivers on the HP support page to solve this issue. Incorrect audio input settings: Your audio output device might be set to Speaker mode. Navigate to the Sound Control Panel and set Headphones (AirPods Stereo) as the default device. Refer to Step 2 from the above instructions to solve this issue. Airpods keep dropping out: We have a fix for the common Airpods keep cutting out issue.

Why won’t my HP laptop detect my AirPods?

It’s a common issue for laptops to fail at recognizing Bluetooth devices. To troubleshoot Bluetooth detection, simply refresh the connection by following these steps:

Turn off Bluetooth on your laptop.  Replace the AirPods back in the charging case. Turn on Bluetooth on your laptop. Take out the AirPods from the case then turn on pairing mode again.

If the Bluetooth connection still fails, try connecting your HP laptop to another Bluetooth device to check if it can establish a successful connection. If your HP laptop fails to establish a connection with any Bluetooth device, contact HP support immediately.

Why do I get bad audio quality on my AirPods with my HP laptop?

If the audio from your AirPods keeps stuttering, check these common scenarios for troubleshooting tips.

If your AirPods keep stuttering and losing connection, try fully charging the before testing the connection. You may be out of the Bluetooth range from your laptop. The optimal reception range for AirPods is between 30 to 60 feet or 10 to 18 meters. HP laptop drivers may not be updated.

If one or both AirPods keep stuttering after applying these troubleshooting tips, call Apple support for help with technical damage.  

Conclusion

Enable Bluetooth functionality on your laptop by navigating to Settings > Bluetooth & other devices > Bluetooth.  Make sure that your AirPods are fully-charged to establish a successful Bluetooth connection. Take out the AirPods and enable pairing mode by pressing the button on the charging case. Return to your HP screen and pair your laptop with the AirPods. You should hear a light beep when the devices successfully connect. If AirPods can’t connect to your laptop, set audio input to Headphones (AirPod stereo) in the Sound Control Panel.