How to Fix AirPods Connected but No Sound on Windows 11
AirPods are super popular wireless headphones that work flawlessly on Apple devices, but when you try to switch ecosystems to Windows they aren't as user-friendly. As a result, a lot of people have major issues connecting and using AirPods on Windows, which usually ends with them connecting but no sound playing. Fortunately, this common problem has some reliable fixes — so follow along as we guide you through the steps to get your AirPods working.
How to Fix AirPods Connected but No Sound on Windows 11
Windows may not automatically select AirPods as the main audio output, so while they are connected Windows is sending sound to a different device. So do the following.
- Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and choose Sound Settings.
- Under Output, select your AirPods from the list.
- If your AirPods don't appear, click Manage sound devices, find them under Disabled, and enable them.
- Set them as default by clicking the device and choosing Set as default.
Note: Some users report better results when selecting "AirPods Hands-Free AG Audio" instead of "AirPods Stereo."
Reconnect AirPods to Windows 11
Re-establishing the Bluetooth connection might solve any conflicts. This has worked for me plenty of times with my generic headphones and should solve the issue with AirPods.
- Open Settings and navigate to Bluetooth & Devices > Devices.
- Locate your AirPods, click on them, and select Remove device.
- Place your AirPods in their case, close the lid, and wait a few seconds.
- Reopen the lid and hold the setup button until the LED flashes white.
- Reconnect your AirPods to Windows.
Restart the Bluetooth Service
Windows 11 has a lot of problems with Bluetooth devices. So try restarting Bluetooth services.
- Type Services in the Windows search bar and press Enter.
- Find Bluetooth Support Service, right-click, and choose Restart.
- Double-click the service, set Startup type to Automatic, then click Apply and OK.
Note: If this problem just started it's possible that a Windows Update broke something so you might want to consider rolling back the last update. This has solve so many problems for me I can't even count them at this point in time.
Update Bluetooth and Audio Drivers
Outdated drivers can prevent proper audio transmission.
- Right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager.
- Expand Bluetooth, right-click your AirPods, and select Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for drivers.
- Repeat this for Sound, video, and game controllers to update audio drivers.
- Restart your computer.
Disable Hands-Free Telephone Mode
If Windows has wrongly opted for Hands-Free Mode you might need to change it.
- Open the Control Panel, then go to Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers.
- Double-click your AirPods, then navigate to the Services tab.
- Uncheck Hands-Free Telephony.
- Click Apply, then OK.
Run the Audio Troubleshooter (Kinda Useless but Worth a Shot)
The Windows troubleshooter can automatically detect and fix sound issues. But I'm yet to see it fix anything...
- Search for Troubleshoot in the Windows search bar.
- Select Other troubleshooters or Additional troubleshooters.
- Click Playing Audio, then Run the troubleshooter.
- Follow the prompts to diagnose and resolve the problem.
Reset Your AirPods
If nothing works, resetting your AirPods may help.
- Place the AirPods in their case and close the lid for 30 seconds.
- Open the lid and press the setup button until the LED flashes amber.
- Reconnect them to Windows.