- Boosting Your AirPods Pro’s Audio and Microphone Performance on Windows 10
- Update Your Bluetooth Driver
- How to connect AirPods to Windows 10 PC using Bluetooth?
- How to remove AirPods from Windows 10?
- Switch to a Dual-Band Bluetooth Adapter
- Why is my AirPods not working on Windows 10?
- How good is AirPods sound on Windows 10?
- Does Windows 11 support AirPods as a Bluetooth headset?
- Set AirPods Pro to Headphones Mode on Windows
- Disable Hands-Free AG Audio
- How do I Make my AirPods sound better?
- Why is my AirPod pro mic not working?
- How do I enable the AirPods mic when using Windows apps?
- Adjust Your AirPods Pro Microphone Level
- Do AirPods work with iPhone?
- References
Boosting Your AirPods Pro’s Audio and Microphone Performance on Windows 10
It’s no secret that Apple’s AirPods Pro are incredibly popular wireless earbuds. With their noise cancellation, transparency mode, and great sound, they make an excellent companion for iPhones. However, when it comes to using AirPods Pro with Windows 10 PCs, some users report experiencing subpar audio quality and microphone performance compared to iOS.
Fortunately, with a few tweaks and settings changes, you can significantly improve your AirPods Pro’s sound and mic quality when paired to a Windows 10 computer. Let’s examine some tips Windows power users and IT professionals suggest to enhance your AirPods Pro experience on a PC.
Update Your Bluetooth Driver
One straightforward but vital step is ensuring you have the latest Bluetooth driver installed for your PC’s wireless adapter. Like other drivers, Bluetooth drivers undergo routine improvements by their manufacturers to fix bugs, improve compatibility, and enhance performance.
How to connect AirPods to Windows 10 PC using Bluetooth?
Select your AirPods. If your AirPods aren’t showing up, open the lid of the charging case. Once the pairing process begins, press the setup button on the charging case until the process completes. This article explains how to connect AirPods to a Windows 10 PC using Bluetooth .
How to remove AirPods from Windows 10?
If you want to make sure your AirPods automatically connect to your iPhone or other devices first, here’s how to disconnect them from your Windows computer: To disconnect your AirPods from a Windows 10 computer go to Start > Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices. Then click your AirPods and select Remove device.
Outdated Bluetooth drivers can lead to suboptimal audio quality, choppy Bluetooth connections, and other issues like what some users experience with AirPods Pro mic quality on Windows 10. Updating to the newest driver version helps your PC wirelessly communicate with devices like AirPods Pro optimally.
You have several options to update your Bluetooth driver on Windows 10:
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Use Windows Update to automatically download and install newer drivers.
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Manually update the driver via Device Manager by locating your Bluetooth adapter, right-clicking it, selecting "Update driver," and following the prompts.
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Download the newest driver from your Bluetooth adapter manufacturer’s website if available.
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Use third-party driver update utilities to locate and install newer drivers, but exercise caution with unknown software.
After updating your Bluetooth driver, reconnect your AirPods Pro and test if sound or mic quality improves. Keeping your drivers up to date is an essential maintenance step for peak PC performance.
Switch to a Dual-Band Bluetooth Adapter
If you’re still experiencing AirPods Pro audio issues on Windows 10 after updating your drivers, another tip is to use a dual-band Bluetooth adapter. Many newer adapters support both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands. The 5GHz band typically offers faster speeds and lower interference levels than crowded 2.4GHz networks, which can benefit wireless earbuds.
Why is my AirPods not working on Windows 10?
Moreover, the corrupt or incompatible Bluetooth Windows driver may also cause the issue. AirPod Pro Mic not Working on Windows. The issue arises when the user fails to use the AirPod mic on his Windows PC (sometimes after a Windows update and sometimes when trying for the first time), although the AirPods work perfectly as the sound output device.
How good is AirPods sound on Windows 10?
Also on Windows 10 via bluetooth, sound quality is good when using the “Airpods stereo” mode. However, in the headset mode (“Airpods Hands-Free AG Audio”) sound and especially microphone quality is extremely bad. I tried to change the default format (see screenshot, it’s only 8000Hz), but I cannot change it as it’s grey.
Does Windows 11 support AirPods as a Bluetooth headset?
Windows 11 has improved quite well when it comes to managing Airpods as a Bluetooth headset. You no longer have to switch between the headset profile and the stereo audio profile to get the best audio quality. It shows up as a single device however, things are still quite finicky when compared to the macOS or iOS experience.
Upgrading to a dual-band adapter provides you the flexibility to connect your AirPods Pro via 5GHz for potentially superior sound quality less prone to disturbances. When purchasing a new Bluetooth adapter, look for 5GHz or dual-band support to enable this enhanced wireless capability.
Set AirPods Pro to Headphones Mode on Windows
Here’s another simple but effective tweak from Windows experts. In your Windows Sound Control Panel settings (right-click the speaker icon > Open Sound settings), change your AirPods Pro’s mode from "Headset" to "Headphones."
Whereas Headset mode prioritizes microphone function, Headphones mode focuses solely on audio playback quality. Users note this delivers noticeably better sound from AirPods Pro while improving their Windows experience.
Disable Hands-Free AG Audio
If you don’t require microphone support, consider disabling Hands-Free AG Audio for your AirPods Pro in Sound settings. Like Headset mode, Hands-Free prioritizes microphone performance which can reduce audio quality.
By disabling Hands-Free AG Audio, Windows funnels bandwidth solely into playback rather than dividing it between sound and microphone. You’ll lose the ability to use AirPods Pro as a headset, but audio should become richer and more immersive.
How do I Make my AirPods sound better?
GET AN EXTERNAL MIC: Probably the best solution for over-all quality is to use an EXTERNAL microphone and use THAT as your input device. That way, you can disable the microphones on the Airpods as per instructions below, and they will default to great Stereo sound no matter what.
Why is my AirPod pro mic not working?
The AirPod Pro mic might fail to work if essential OS modules (like Bluetooth, audio, etc.) are stuck in operation. In this scenario, running the Windows built-in troubleshooters may clear the glitch and thus solve the problem. Press the Windows key and open Settings.
How do I enable the AirPods mic when using Windows apps?
I fought through this as well. The only way to enable the Airpods mic when using Windows apps (i.e. Teams, Zoom, etc) is to select the Hands-Free AG Audio option: Although this will get the mic working, the sound is pretty terrible. I’ve reverted to using an external mic for speaking and using my Airpods for listening to the meeting audio.
Adjust Your AirPods Pro Microphone Level
For retaining microphone function while improving its quality, try nudging up your AirPods Pro microphone level in Sound settings instead. Increasing the mic volume allotted by Windows can make a surprising difference in voice clarity for calls and recordings.
Just take care not to set the mic level too high, or you risk audio distortion. Make small incremental volume bumps while testing playback to fine-tune voice pickup performance.
Combining these tips from tech-savvy Windows users provides a great starting point for enhancing your AirPods Pro wireless experience. Take time to experiment with different settings to discover the right balance for your needs. With some patient trial-and-error, you can enjoy immersive audio and clear call quality rivaling what Apple and Android offer.
Engaged in your own AirPods Pro adventures on Windows 10? Share any other tips that worked for you in the comments! We’d love to hear your experiences and grow our knowledge base for these popular wireless earbuds.
Do AirPods work with iPhone?
I’ve got my new Airpods Pro, they work well with my iPhone. Also on Windows 10 via bluetooth, sound quality is good when using the “Airpods stereo” mode. However, in the headset mode (“Airpods Hands-Free AG Audio”) sound and especially microphone quality is extremely bad.
