Fancy a pair of AirPods? We get it — like many Apple products, they’ve become a global icon, instantly recognizable whether you have the Pro or the regular pair. That said, maybe you’re worried you also can’t have Apple’s earbuds dangling out of your ears, because you don’t have an iPhone or a Mac. Don’t worry — anyone can use AirPods, thanks to the magic of Bluetooth.
Just because AirPods are Apple-made, doesn’t mean everything about them is purely Apple. Sure, they work a little more smoothly with an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, but they’ll connect to your Android phone or PC just like any other wireless headphone.
That’s because the technology that makes these connections possible — Bluetooth — is an industry-standard. The Bluetooth tech in your friend’s iPhone is the same in your Android. To connect to AirPods, you just need to know how to put them into paring mode.
To do so, open up your AirPods case and hold down the button on the back. You should see the light on your AirPods case turn white. That’s your cue that pairing mode is now enabled.
Now, all that’s left to do is select the AirPods on your device. If you’re on your phone, open Settings, then tap “Connected devices,” then tap on your AirPods. If you’re on a PC, click Start > Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices > Add Bluetooth or other device > Bluetooth, then choose your AirPods. Click “Done” when finished.
