The basic steps to connect Bluetooth headphones to Windows or Mac

To connect Bluetooth headphones to your PC, you need to put your headphones into pairing mode, then tell your computer to find and connect to them. The exact steps depend on whether you use Windows or Mac, but the process is the same idea: make your headphones discoverable, search for them on your computer, and confirm the connection.

Most headphones enter pairing mode by holding down a button for three to five seconds until you see a light blink or hear a tone. Once that happens, your PC can see them. You then open your Bluetooth settings, select the headphones from the list, and click connect. After that first time, your headphones will usually reconnect automatically when you turn them on near your computer.

Key Takeaways

  • Put your headphones into pairing mode by holding the power or Bluetooth button for three to five seconds until the light blinks or you hear a tone.
  • On Windows, open Settings, go to Bluetooth & devices, then select your headphones from the list and click Pair.
  • On Mac, open System Settings, click Bluetooth, wait for your headphones to appear, then click Connect.
  • After the first connection, your headphones will reconnect on their own when you turn them on, as long as Bluetooth is enabled on your PC.
  • If your headphones do not appear in the list, restart them, restart your computer's Bluetooth, or check the headphone manual for the correct pairing button.

How to connect Bluetooth headphones on Windows 10 or 11

Start by putting your headphones into pairing mode. Look for a power button or a separate Bluetooth button on the headphones. Press and hold it for three to five seconds. You should see a light blink (often blue or white) or hear a beep or voice prompt saying "pairing mode" or "ready to connect." If you are not sure which button to press, check the manual that came with your headphones or look up the model number online.

Once your headphones are in pairing mode, open Settings on your Windows PC. Click the Start button, type "Settings," and open the app. Go to Bluetooth & devices on the left side. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on — you should see a toggle switch at the top. Wait a few seconds, and your headphones should appear in the list below. Click on them, then click the Pair button. Windows will confirm the connection, and you should hear audio through your headphones.

If your headphones do not show up in the list after 30 seconds, restart them by turning them off and on again, then put them back into pairing mode. If they still do not appear, restart your computer's Bluetooth by toggling it off and on in the same Bluetooth & devices menu.

How to connect Bluetooth headphones on Mac

Put your headphones into pairing mode using the same method as Windows: hold down the power or Bluetooth button for three to five seconds until you see a blinking light or hear a tone. Then open System Settings on your Mac. You can do this by clicking the Apple menu in the top left corner and selecting System Settings, or by clicking the System Settings icon in your Dock if it is there.

In System Settings, click Bluetooth in the left sidebar. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on — you should see a toggle at the top. Wait a few seconds for your headphones to appear in the list of available devices. When they do, click on them, then click Connect. Mac will pair with your headphones, and you should be able to hear audio through them right away.

If your headphones do not appear after 30 seconds, turn them off completely, wait five seconds, turn them back on, and put them into pairing mode again. Then check the Bluetooth menu again. If they still do not show up, restart your Mac and try once more.

What to do if your headphones connect but produce no sound

Sometimes your PC will pair with your headphones successfully, but no sound comes through. This usually means your computer is set to play audio through a different device. On Windows, right-click the volume icon in the bottom right corner of your screen and select Open Volume mixer. Look for your headphones in the list of devices and make sure they are set as the default output. If they are not, click on them and select Set as default device.

On Mac, open System Settings, click Sound, and look at the Output tab. Your headphones should be listed there. Click on them to select them as the output device. If you do not see them in the list, go back to Bluetooth settings and make sure they are still connected.

If you have set your headphones as the default output and still hear nothing, check the volume on both your headphones and your computer. Some headphones have their own volume control, and it may be turned all the way down. Also check whether your headphones are muted — many have a mute button or switch.

How to disconnect or forget Bluetooth headphones

If you want to stop using your headphones with your PC, you can simply turn off the headphones or move them out of range. Your computer will not automatically reconnect them the next time you turn them on if you have forgotten them from your Bluetooth settings.

To forget your headphones on Windows, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices, find your headphones in the list, click on them, and select Remove device. On Mac, open System Settings > Bluetooth, find your headphones, click the X or the information icon next to them, and select Remove. After you forget them, they will not reconnect automatically, and you will need to pair them again the next time you want to use them.

Troubleshooting when your headphones will not connect

If your headphones refuse to connect, start with the simplest fixes. Make sure your headphones are charged — many Bluetooth headphones will not enter pairing mode if the battery is too low. Charge them for at least 15 minutes, then try again. Also check that Bluetooth is actually turned on in your PC settings. It is easy to forget that you turned it off earlier.

If your headphones have connected to other devices before, they may be trying to reconnect to those devices instead of your PC. Put your headphones into pairing mode and keep them there for at least 30 seconds while your PC searches. If that does not work, check the headphone manual to see if there is a way to clear all previous pairings and start fresh. Some headphones require you to hold down a button for 10 seconds or longer to do this.

Restart both your headphones and your computer. Turn off your headphones completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn them back on. Then restart your PC. After both devices have restarted, put your headphones into pairing mode and try connecting again. This fixes most connection problems that are caused by temporary software glitches.

Why your Bluetooth headphones keep disconnecting

If your headphones connect fine but then drop the connection after a few minutes or hours, the problem is usually interference or distance. Bluetooth works best when your headphones are within 30 feet of your PC and there are no thick walls or metal objects between them. If you are sitting far from your computer or in a different room, move closer and try again. If the connection stays stable, distance was the issue.

Interference from other wireless devices can also cause disconnections. Microwaves, Wi-Fi routers, and other Bluetooth devices in your home can interfere with your headphones. Try moving your PC and headphones away from these devices, or turn off other Bluetooth devices nearby and see if the connection improves.

If your headphones disconnect even when they are close to your PC and there is no obvious interference, the problem may be outdated drivers on your computer. On Windows, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting it from the menu. Look for Bluetooth in the list, click on it to expand it, and right-click on your Bluetooth adapter. Select Update driver and let Windows search for the latest version. On Mac, these updates usually come through System Updates, so make sure your Mac is fully updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pair my headphones every time I use them?

No. After you pair your headphones once, your PC remembers them. The next time you turn on your headphones near your computer, they should connect automatically as long as Bluetooth is enabled. You only need to pair them again if you forget them from your settings or if you pair them with a different device and want to switch back.

Can I connect multiple pairs of headphones to my PC at the same time?

You can pair multiple headphones to your PC, but you can only listen through one pair at a time. Your computer will play audio through whichever headphones you set as the default output device. If you want to switch to a different pair, you need to change the default output in your sound settings.

Why does my PC not see my headphones even though they are in pairing mode?

Make sure your headphones are actually in pairing mode — the light should be blinking noticeably, not just on steady. Also check that Bluetooth is turned on in your PC settings. If both are true and your headphones still do not appear, restart your headphones and your computer, then try again. If the problem continues, check the headphone manual to see if there is a specific pairing procedure for your model.

What if my headphones were paired with my phone and now will not connect to my PC?

Your headphones probably reconnected to your phone instead of pairing with your PC. Turn off Bluetooth on your phone, put your headphones into pairing mode, and then try to connect them to your PC. Once they are connected to your PC, you can turn Bluetooth back on your phone — your headphones will usually remember both devices and connect to whichever one is closest or was used most recently.

Can I use Bluetooth headphones while my PC is in sleep mode?

No. When your PC is in sleep mode, Bluetooth is turned off. Your headphones will not connect until you wake up your computer. If you want to use your headphones, you need to wake your PC first by moving the mouse, pressing a key, or pressing the power button.