The basic steps to pair Bluetooth headphones with Windows or a Mac

Connecting Bluetooth headphones to your PC takes three steps: put your headphones in pairing mode, open your PC's Bluetooth settings, and select the headphones from the list that appears. The whole process usually takes under two minutes. After that first pairing, your headphones will reconnect automatically when you turn them on and your PC's Bluetooth is active.

The exact steps differ slightly between Windows and Mac, but the principle is the same on both. Your PC has a Bluetooth radio built in (or you can add one with a USB adapter if yours doesn't), and your headphones broadcast a signal that your PC can detect and lock onto.

Key Takeaways

  • Put your headphones into pairing mode first — usually by holding the power button for three to five seconds until a light blinks or you hear a tone.
  • On Windows, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Bluetooth, then click "Add device" and select your headphones from the list.
  • On Mac, go to System Settings > Bluetooth, then click the plus button and select your headphones when they appear.
  • Once paired, your headphones will reconnect on their own each time you turn them on, as long as Bluetooth is enabled on your PC.
  • If your PC does not have built-in Bluetooth, a USB Bluetooth adapter costs $15 to $30 and works with both Windows and Mac.

How to put your headphones in pairing mode

Before your PC can see your headphones, the headphones must broadcast a pairing signal. This is called pairing mode, and it tells nearby devices "I am ready to connect to something new." Most headphones enter pairing mode when you hold down the power button for three to five seconds. You will usually see a blinking light (often blue or white) or hear a tone that repeats every few seconds.

Check your headphones' manual or the manufacturer's website if you are not sure how to trigger pairing mode — some models use a dedicated pairing button instead of the power button, and a few require you to hold two buttons at once. Leave your headphones in pairing mode while you move to your PC's settings; pairing mode usually stays active for two to three minutes, which is plenty of time.

Connecting on Windows 10 or Windows 11

Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings," then click the Settings icon. Once Settings opens, click Bluetooth & devices on the left side (in Windows 11) or Devices (in Windows 10). Make sure the Bluetooth toggle is switched on — it should be blue and say "On."

Click the Add device button near the top of the window. A small window will pop up asking what type of device you want to add; click Bluetooth. Your PC will now search for devices in pairing mode. Your headphones should appear in the list within a few seconds. Click on them, and Windows will complete the pairing automatically. You may see a prompt asking you to confirm the connection — click Done or Yes if one appears.

Once pairing is complete, your headphones will appear in the Bluetooth & devices list with a status that says "Connected." You can now use them to play audio from your PC. If you ever want to disconnect them, click on the headphones' name in this same list and select Disconnect.

Connecting on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions). In the sidebar, click Bluetooth. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on — you should see a toggle switch at the top that says "On."

Click the plus button (or Add Device button, depending on your macOS version) to start searching for devices. Your headphones should appear in the list within a few seconds. Click on them once to select them, then click Connect. macOS will pair with your headphones and show their status as "Connected" in the Bluetooth list.

On a Mac, your headphones will stay in the Bluetooth list even after you disconnect them, so reconnecting in the future is as straightforward as turning your headphones on — they will pair automatically if Bluetooth is enabled on your Mac.

What to do if your PC does not have Bluetooth

Older desktop PCs and some laptops do not have Bluetooth built in. You can add Bluetooth to any PC with a USB Bluetooth adapter, which is a small dongle that plugs into a USB port on your computer. These adapters cost between $15 and $30 and work with both Windows and Mac without any special software in most cases.

Plug the adapter into an open USB port on your PC. Windows or Mac will recognize it automatically and install any necessary drivers. Once the adapter is installed, follow the same pairing steps above — your PC will treat the adapter's Bluetooth radio as if it were built in. If your PC does not recognize the adapter, check the manufacturer's website for driver downloads specific to your operating system.

Troubleshooting when headphones will not pair

If your headphones do not appear in the Bluetooth list, try these steps in order. First, make sure your headphones are actually in pairing mode — the light should be blinking or you should hear a repeating tone. If you are not sure, turn the headphones off and on again while holding the power button longer than usual (five to ten seconds). Second, move your headphones closer to your PC; Bluetooth works best within 30 feet but can be blocked by walls or metal objects.

Third, restart your PC's Bluetooth. On Windows, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices, toggle Bluetooth off, wait five seconds, and toggle it back on. On Mac, click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar and select "Turn Bluetooth Off," wait five seconds, then turn it back on. If your headphones still do not appear, restart your PC entirely — this clears out any stuck Bluetooth connections.

If pairing succeeds but your headphones connect but produce no sound, check that they are set as your default audio output. On Windows, right-click the volume icon in the system tray, select Open Volume mixer, and look for your headphones in the list — if they are there but muted or set to zero volume, adjust the slider. On Mac, go to System Settings > Sound and select your headphones from the "Output" list.

How to disconnect or forget your headphones

If you want to temporarily stop using your headphones but keep them paired, straightforward turn the headphones off. They will stay in your PC's Bluetooth list and reconnect the next time you turn them on. You do not need to unpair them.

If you want to completely remove your headphones from your PC's Bluetooth list — for example, if you are selling them or pairing them with a different device — you can "forget" them. On Windows, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices, find your headphones in the list, click on them, and select Remove device. On Mac, go to System Settings > Bluetooth, find your headphones, click the X button next to their name, and confirm. After you forget them, you will need to pair them again from scratch the next time you want to use them with that PC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my headphones keep disconnecting from my PC?

Bluetooth disconnections usually happen because of interference from other wireless devices (like Wi-Fi routers or microwaves), low battery in your headphones, or a weak Bluetooth signal due to distance. Try moving closer to your PC, charging your headphones fully, and turning off other wireless devices nearby. If disconnections continue, try forgetting and re-pairing your headphones.

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

You can pair multiple headphones to your PC, but only one can play audio at a time. Your PC will send sound to whichever headphones are set as the default audio output. You can switch between them by changing the default in your sound settings, but you cannot split audio between two pairs simultaneously.

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

No. Once you pair your headphones with your PC, they stay paired permanently until you forget them. The next time you turn on your headphones and enable Bluetooth on your PC, they will reconnect automatically without any extra steps.

What if my headphones are paired but my PC does not play sound through them?

Check that your headphones are set as the default audio output device. On Windows, right-click the volume icon in the system tray and select your headphones from the list. On Mac, go to System Settings > Sound and choose your headphones under "Output." Also make sure the volume is not muted or set to zero on either your PC or your headphones.

Can I use Bluetooth headphones with both my PC and my phone at the same time?

Most headphones can pair with multiple devices but only connect to one at a time. If your headphones are connected to your phone, they will not connect to your PC until you disconnect them from your phone. Some newer headphones support "multipoint" pairing, which lets them stay connected to two devices and switch between them automatically, but this is less common and requires checking your headphones' manual.