Skip to main content

How to connect AirPods to a Chromebook

hp dragonfly pro chromebook review front angle
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

So you bought a set of Apple AirPods. Not because you're an Apple zombie entrenched in the company's oft-criticized walled garden ecosystem of products that can sometimes snub outsiders, but because, dagnabbit, they're darn good earbuds.

And, yes, while they do tend to play much nicer with their own ilk, that doesn't mean you simply can’t use your AirPods earbuds with non-Apple devices, like a Chromebook, for example.

Thanks to Bluetooth support, pairing and connecting AirPods to a Chromebook is no problem! Here’s how to set it up.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • Any model of AirPods and their charging case

  • A Chromebook

how to connect airpods a chromebook quick settings menu bluetooth section
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Find your Chromebook's Bluetooth settings

First, grab your Chromebook, and let’s make sure the Bluetooth on your Chrome OS is ready.

Step 1: Turn on your Chromebook and log into the home screen.

Step 2: Look at the bottom-right of your home screen, where you’ll see the clock and several other icons. This is the Quick Settings part of Chrome OS. Select any of the icons in this section to open up Quick Settings.

Step 3: Find the Bluetooth icon in Quick Settings. It should be front and center in the top portion of the Settings window. There should be a small notification underneath saying whether Bluetooth is on or off. If it’s turned off for any reason, select the notification to turn it on.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Pair your AirPods with your Chromebook

Make sure your AirPods are in the case and the case is charged up before you begin this part.

Step 1: Disconnect your AirPods from other devices, and quit any apps that your AirPods may be using, like music apps or streaming services.

Step 2: With Bluetooth on, select the blue Bluetooth icon in Quick Settings. This should take you to a new window where Bluetooth will show paired devices and automatically search for new devices to pair with.

Step 3: Sometimes your Chromebook’s Bluetooth will pick up your AirPods without you needing to do anything else, but often you’ll have to manually make your AirPods discoverable. While Bluetooth is searching, flip your AirPods case over and locate the small, round button on the back (as pictured above).

It’s a little difficult to see, but this is Apple’s Setup button, and it's important for pairing your AirPods. Press the Setup button once, and your Chromebook’s Bluetooth should pick up your AirPods and pair with them. You’ll see them appear on the paired list, under the name you chose for your AirPods.

dont buy apple airpods right now og 1
Phil Nickinson/Digital Trends

Connect your AirPods

Select your AirPods from Chromebook’s Bluetooth list of paired devices. Your AirPods should now connect. You should get a pop-up notification about this, and the status of your AirPods will change in Bluetooth to reflect a successful connection. You’re now ready to start using them.

Note that all this works with the AirPods Max too, except the Setup button is located on an earcup instead of on a case.

how to connect airpods a chromebook chromeos volume
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Test for volume

When using AirPods with a newly-connected device, it’s always a good idea to start at low volumes and work your way up to avoid hurting your ears (and swearing loudly). As we point out in our compatibility note at the bottom of this post, you can’t use Siri to control volume if you aren’t on an Apple device. But you can use the volume keys on your Chromebook or the in-app controls for whatever app you may be using.

Apple AirPods Pro 2 close-up.
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Pro tip for brand new AirPods

If you have a Chromebook but just got a pair of AirPods, there’s something you may want to do first. If you have any Apple device, pair your AirPods with this device first. Apple will run you through setup instructions, explain some of the features, and let you name your AirPods. It’s a great first step if you’ve never used the AirPods before. Afterward, you can pair them to your Chromebook without worrying about Apple’s setup.

Troubleshooting tips for AirPods with Chromebook

  • If something goes wrong, you can try to reset your AirPods and see if that helps. It’s very easy: Place your AirPods in their charging case, close the lid, and wait for 30 seconds. While you are waiting, use your Chromebook to “forget” the Bluetooth pairing to your AirPods, then try again.

  • If that doesn’t work, try turning off Bluetooth entirely in your Chromebook’s Bluetooth menu. Wait for several seconds, then turn Bluetooth back on and try to connect to your AirPods again.

  • AirPods need to be connected to an Apple device to properly update. If you use your AirPods primarily on your Chromebook, make sure to occasionally take a break and link them with an Apple device like an iPhone, so they can automatically update.

  • Some users may use their AirPods primarily on other devices but want to switch to Chromebook. If that’s your case, make sure your AirPods aren’t automatically connecting with another device as soon as you take them out and put them on. Keep the AirPods in their case while you are pairing.

  • Bluetooth connections may be managed by IT administrators in some cases. If you have a work or school Chromebook, you may not be able to connect your own AirPods without getting specific permission.

  • Remember, the range can vary for Bluetooth devices like AirPods, and Chromebook Bluetooth range can vary. They may start experiencing issues if you get more than 20 feet away.

  • AirPods, especially the AirPods Pro 2, allow you to customize some of the touch controls for specific actions via Settings on an Apple device. This customization may not work when AirPods are connected to a different device like a Chromebook, so their functionality may be different.

Important note about compatibility: AirPods do support compatible Bluetooth devices, and this is true for the AirPods line through AirPods 3, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Max. However, they won’t have the same compatibility that they do on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Certain features will be missing – Siri, for example, can’t listen through your AirPods unless you’re on an Apple device, and Siri features like monitoring your battery life won’t be available. AirPods also won’t support Spatial Audio features on anything that’s not an Apple device. You can still use them for any standard listening, though.

Tyler Lacoma
Former Digital Trends Contributor
If it can be streamed, voice-activated, made better with an app, or beaten by mashing buttons, Tyler's into it. When he's not…
Prime Big Deal Days Apple deals still available: AirPods, MacBooks, iPads
Best Prime Day Deals

Update 10/10/24: Apple doesn't always have a lot of great deals, which is why we're happy to see that there are still a ton of sales going on several Apple products, even though Prime Day is officially over. The deals below have been updated to reflect the latest prices, and we'll try to keep on top of pricing, although you should grab anything you like quickly!

The Prime Day deals are over, and while that usually means missing out on some great Apple deals, there are still many options available for you to check out that you may have missed out on. In fact, we're actually seeing quite a lot of excellent sales across the board, which is why we've gone out and collected some of our favorite Prime Day Apple deals for you below. Also, if you're looking for more specific deals on Apple products, then check out our roundup on these Prime Day MacBook deals, Prime Day smartwatch deals, and Prime Day headphones deals.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max (256GB, Boost Mobile) — $0 $1,200 100% off

Read more
Amazon Prime Big Deal Days AirPods deals 2024: What’s still available?
Apple AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C and MagSafe review

Update 10/10/24: We've reached the end of Prime Big Deal Days, but if you missed out you can still grab some great Prime Day deals in its wake. Several AirPods models are still seeing Prime Day pricing and we've organized the best AirPods Prime Day deals below.

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days is now overwith, but Amazon has kept many Prime Day deals still available. There are big deals across Amazon (and its competitors), so we're still on the lookout for amazing bargains. The event has been huge, and you can still score some low prices on all sorts of tech — there are fantastic Dell Prime Day deals as well as Lego Prime Day deals, and everything in between. Here, we're going to focus on the best AirPods deals that you can get, whether you're looking for their multiple generations and styles of earbuds or their over-the-ear headphones.
Apple AirPods 2 — $89 $129 31% off

Read more
Looking for a guilt-free upgrade? Our expert-fave Apple AirPods Pro 2 are over 30% off for Prime Big Deals Days
Apple AirPods 4 with ANC

As a longtime audio enthusiast, I know a thing or two about the wireless Bluetooth earbuds that've become popular in recent years. And while there are some good options out there at every price point, my personal recommendation is to stick with the most popular example of all: the .

Arguably the headset that popularized the form factor, Apple Airpods are a must-own accessory for any iPhone owner out there. And there's never been a better time to add these fun-sized headphones to your cart, as they're enjoying a deep discount for Prime Big Deal Days. Right now, they're on sale for $168.99 (that's 32% off!) for Amazon's big sales event, which runs October 8th and 9th.

Read more