New problem with Airpods gen 2 connecting to laptop audio

annie · May 7, 2024

About a week ago, I realized my gen 2 airpods have not been connecting properly to my laptop (Dell XPS 13). It says the airpods are connected, but they are not even listed as an output device and any audio I try to play just plays through the laptop speakers. I've tried forgetting and reconnecting it through the bluetooth settings, doing a troubleshoot, and checking for driver updates, but nothing is working. The airpods are still connecting fine to my phone and ipad, and it was connecting fine to my laptop prior to this. One thing I did notice is that in the bluetooth window, it now just says "connected" under my device name, where before it used to say something like "connected microphone,speakers."

spapakons · May 8, 2024

After you have connected your Air Pods, click on the speaker icon at the taskbar. Can you change the output device from your laptop speakers to the Air Pods? Do that and see if you hear any sound from the Air Pods. Once you do that, next time Windows should remember it and switch to the Air Pods automatically once connected.

annie · May 8, 2024

spapakons said:
After you have connected your Air Pods, click on the speaker icon at the taskbar. Can you change the output device from your laptop speakers to the Air Pods? Do that and see if you hear any sound from the Air Pods. Once you do that, next time Windows should remember it and switch to the Air Pods automatically once connected.

I tried it out, and I don't see my airpods as one of the output options even when they're connected; I only see my laptop speakers.

andrew129260 · May 8, 2024

Go to settings, then under bluetooth & devices, and then remove them from there under the 3 dots. Restart your machine. Then try repairing them.

For a tutorial, see here:

Remove Bluetooth Device in Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to remove a Bluetooth device in Windows 11. Bluetooth is a short range wireless technology which enables wireless data transmission between two Bluetooth enabled devices located nearby each other. There are many different types of Bluetooth enabled devices you...

www.elevenforum.com

to pair the airpods

Put your AirPods in their case, open it, then press-and-hold the button on the case until the light flashes white.
Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Add device > Bluetooth > select your AirPods.
Your AirPods can be paired to other devices at the same time, but they can only work with one device at a time.