How to Connect Wireless Headphones on PC or Mac

Last Updated: July 28, 2022

Using Windows

|

Using a Mac

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Tips

Today most wireless headphones connect to other devices using Bluetooth. To connect a Bluetooth device to a computer, you need to pair it with the computer. The way you pair wireless headphones varies depending on the make and model of the headphones. This wikiHow teaches you how to connect wireless headphones using Bluetooth on PC and Mac.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Windows

1
Turn on your wireless headphones. Press the Power button on your wireless headphones to turn them on.
- Make sure your wireless headphones are fully charged before attempting to pair them with Bluetooth.
2
Click the Start button
. It is the button with the Windows logo in the lower-left corner of the taskbar. Click the Windows Start button to display the Windows Start menu.

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3
Click the Settings icon
. The Settings menu is the icon that resembles a gear. It's in the left-most column of the Windows Start sidebar.
4
Click Devices. It's the second option in the Settings menu. It has an icon that resembles an iPod and a keyboard.
5
Click Bluetooth & other devices. It's the first option in the sidebar menu below "Devices".
6
Ensure Bluetooth is turned on. The toggle switch at the top of the "Bluetooth & other devices" menu should be colored blue and say "On" to the right. If it is not, click the toggle switch to ensure Bluetooth is turned on.
7
Click + Add Bluetooth or other device. It's the first option in the Bluetooth & Other Devices menu.
8
Click Bluetooth. It's the first option in the "Add a device" popup. Your computer will start searching for nearby Bluetooth devices.
9
Put Bluetooth headphones in pairing mode. The way you do this is different from one brand and model of wireless headphones to another. Consult the user's manual or manufacturer's website to see how you put your wireless headphones in pairing mode. On most headphones, you either press and hold the Power button or a dedicated Bluetooth pairing button to put your headphones in pairing mode.^{[1]
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- Make sure your wireless headphones are no more than 3 feet apart from your computer when attempting to pair them. This will ensure a stronger Bluetooth signal and make it easier to connect them.
10
Click your wireless headphones. As soon as the wireless headphones appear in the "Add a device" menu. Click on them to add them. Once they are successfully paired, you can use your wireless headphones on your PC.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using a Mac

1
Turn on your wireless headphones. Press the Power button on your wireless headphones to turn them on.
- Make sure your wireless headphones are fully charged before attempting to pair them with Bluetooth.
2
Click the Apple icon
. It's the icon that resembles the Apple logo. It's in the upper-right corner of the menu bar at the top.
3
Click System Preferences. It's in the menu that appears when you click the Apple icon in the menu bar.
4
Click the Bluetooth icon
. It's the blue icon that has a symbol that resembles a jagged "B" with a bracket behind it. This displays your Bluetooth preferences.
- Alternatively, you can click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar at the top, and then click Open Bluetooth Preferences.
5
Ensure Bluetooth is turned on. It should say "Bluetooth: On" below the Bluetooth icon to the left in the Bluetooth preferences menu. If it does not, click Turn Bluetooth On below the Bluetooth icon to turn Bluetooth on.
6
Put Bluetooth headphones in pairing mode. The way you do this is different from one brand and model of wireless headphones to another. Consult the user's manual or manufacturer's website to see how you put your wireless headphones in pairing mode. On most headphones, you either press and hold the Power button or a dedicated Bluetooth pairing button to put your headphones in pairing mode.
- Make sure your wireless headphones are no more than 3 feet apart from your computer when attempting to pair them. This will ensure a stronger Bluetooth signal and make it easier to connect them.
7
Click your Bluetooth headphones. When your Mac discovers your Bluetooth headphones, they will appear in the list of available devices. Clicking the device highlights it in the list of devices.
8
Click Connect. It's next to the Bluetooth headphones in the list of devices. This connects the headphones to your Mac.^{[2]
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