If you’re encountering the AirPods connected but no sound issue, you’re alone. Many Windows 10 & 11 users complained that when they connected the AirPods to a computer, the sound comes from the speakers or there’s no sound at all. Don’t worry. We’ve put together several fixes for you to bring your earbuds back to normal.

Before getting started:

Before trying anything more complicated, you can go through the steps below to rule out some common causes.

  • First, make sure your AirPods are not physically damaged and fully charged. You can simply test the hardware with a mobile phone or another Windows computer.
  • Remove AirPods and pair them again.
  • Restart your computer to resolve the temporary system glitch.
  • Disconnect other audio devices from your PC to avoid potential interference.

Try these fixes:

If the basic troubleshooting doesn’t help, you may need to work on more advanced methods. You don’t have to try them all. Just work your way down the list until you find the one that does the trick.

  1. Check for Windows updates
  2. Set your AirPods as the default device
  3. Restart the Bluetooth Support service
  4. Update your Bluetooth driver
The screenshots are from Windows 10, but the fixes also apply to Windows 7, 8 and 11.

Fix 1 – Check for Windows updates

When your devices start to malfunction on PC all of a sudden, there may be something wrong with your operating system. Windows regularly push patches for new features and bug fixes. To keep your computer in a tip-top condition, it’s a good idea to install the latest updates.

  1. On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and I at the same time to open the Settings menu. Then click Update & Security.
  2. Click Check for updates.

If there are available updates, the download and installation will automatically initiate. After the process completes, restart your computer to test the issue. If it persists, move on to the second solution.

Fix 2 – Set your AirPods as the default device

To make sure your AirPods work properly on Windows, you should set them as the default device. Follow the instruction to configure the settings correctly.

  1. Type control panel in the Windows search box and select Control Panel.
  2. Select Small icons next to View by, and click Sound.
  3. Under the Playback tab, make sure your AirPods are enabled (there should be a green checkmark). Then click the AirPods and click Set as default.
  4. Navigate to the Recording tab and set your AirPods headset as the default device as well.
  5. Click OK to save the changes.

If the AirPods no sound issue only occurs in specific programs, you should check the in-app settings and ensure your earbuds are chosen as the primary device for both audio input and output.

Fix 3 – Restart the Bluetooth Support service

A Bluetooth headphone like AirPods will require certain services to work on your Windows PC. If the service isn’t started or running properly, there will be various problems when you’re using it.

  1. On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and R at the same time to invoke the Run box. Then, type services.msc, and click OK.
  2. Right-click Bluetooth Support Service. If it isn’t running, click Start; if it’s already running, click Restart.
  3. After the service restarts, right-click it again and click Properties.
  4. Set the Startup type to Automatic, and click OK.

See if your AirPods play sound as normal now. If no, the problem may be caused by the device drivers.

Fix 4 – Update your Bluetooth driver

Most device glitches indicate the driver issue. If you’re using an outdated or faulty Bluetooth driver, the AirPods may not produce sound and act up randomly. You can install the latest Bluetooth driver to see if that helps your case.

There are two ways you can update the Bluetooth driver: manually or automatically.

If you’re familiar with computer hardware, first identify the manufacturer of the Bluetooth adapter, such as Intel, Qualcomm or Realtek, and visit their official websites. Then find the latest Bluetooth driver corresponding with your specific flavor of Windows version, download and install it manually.

If you don’t have the time, patience or computer skills to update your Bluetooth driver manually, you can, instead, do it automatically with Driver Easy. Driver Easy will automatically recognize your system and find the correct driver for your exact Bluetooth adapter, and your Windows version, and it will download and install it correctly:

  1. Download and install Driver Easy.
  2. Run Driver Easy and click the Scan Now button. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem drivers.
  3. Click the Update button next to the flagged Bluetooth driver to automatically download the correct version of that driver, then you can manually install it (you can do this with the FREE version).

    Or click Update All to automatically download and install the correct version of all the drivers that are missing or out of date on your system. (This requires the Pro version which comes with full support and a 30-day money back guarantee. You’ll be prompted to upgrade when you click Update All.)
The Pro version of Driver Easy comes with full technical support.
If you need assistance, please contact Driver Easy’s support team at support@drivereasy.com.

Test your AirPods again. A driver update should recover the sound for your headphones and keep your devices in the best status.

So these are all the simple fixes for AirPods connected but no sound issue. Hopefully you’ll find them useful. If you have further questions or suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment below.

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