AirPods Pro 3 Not Working on Windows 11? 7 Fixes (Teams Too)

Your AirPods work on your iPhone, then go silent when you open your laptop. Sound familiar? AirPods Pro 3 not working on Windows 11 can involve an old pairing, the wrong audio device or a Bluetooth driver problem, so start by pairing again, checking your sound choices and running the troubleshooter before changing drivers.

You see, “connected” doesn’t always mean you can hear anything. And getting music to play doesn’t guarantee your microphone will work in a call. Use your symptom to choose where to begin.

Symptom	Likely cause	Try this first
AirPods don’t appear for pairing	Pairing mode or Bluetooth discovery options	Get the case light flashing white
Connected, but you hear nothing	Windows has another output selected	Choose AirPods under Output
Microphone isn’t detected	Input selection or user-reported driver trouble	Check the microphone under Input
Teams calls sound quiet or produce static	Call-mode limitations or user-reported driver trouble	Check your speaker and microphone choices
They stopped working after an update	A driver change, according to user reports	Ask your PC maker about a previous driver

Why AirPods Pro 3 Act Up on a Windows 11 PC

Your AirPods can play sound and handle conversations through a non-Apple Bluetooth connection. That doesn’t give your PC every feature you get on an Apple device, though. Here are four reasons your experience can differ.

• Some features need Apple devices. Siri isn’t available through a non-Apple connection. Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness and Apple’s Voice Isolation require compatible Apple hardware and software.
• Music and microphone use different profiles. AirPods Pro 3 use Bluetooth 5.3. Stereo playback uses A2DP, while microphone use involves a hands-free profile with lower playback quality.
• Driver trouble has been reported. In early 2026, community users described failures after Bluetooth-related driver updates. Those are user reports, with no confirmed bug or official fix from Microsoft or Intel.
• Your PC hardware matters. Windows relies on a Bluetooth adapter and its driver to connect your earbuds. Microsoft recommends checking for a driver supplied by your computer’s manufacturer.

Before You Start, Check These 4 Things

Before removing devices or replacing drivers, cover the basics. It’s frustrating to work through several fixes when Bluetooth was off all along, right? Check these four things first.

• Bluetooth on, Airplane mode off. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices and confirm Bluetooth is enabled. Make sure Airplane mode is disabled too.
• Earbuds charged and nearby. Check their charge, put both earbuds in the case and keep them close to your PC.
• Nearby Apple devices disconnected. Check whether your iPhone or iPad still has an active connection. Disconnect it before trying the PC again, without treating this check as a confirmed fix.
• Windows updated and restarted. Open Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. Install available updates and restart, while remembering that community users have also reported trouble following driver changes.

How to Fix AirPods Pro 3 Not Working on Windows 11

Start with pairing and audio selection, then move through Windows troubleshooting and driver checks. The two driver-related community workarounds below have limits, so read those before trying them. Work through these seven fixes in order.

1. Remove Them and Pair Again the Right Way

Still trying to find a button on the back of the case? AirPods Pro 3 enter pairing mode through taps on the front. Use Apple’s instructions for this model when rebuilding the Windows connection.

1. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices.
2. Find your AirPods, open More options and select Remove device. Confirm with Yes.
3. With both earbuds inside the case, lift the lid and keep it beside your PC.
4. Tap the case front twice until you see a blinking white light.
5. In Windows, select Add device and choose your AirPods when they appear. Complete any prompts.

2. Choose the Right Output and Input Device

Your PC may show a connection while sending sound somewhere else. You may also see separate stereo and hands-free entries, depending on how Windows presents the device. Check playback and microphone choices separately.

1. Select the taskbar Sound icon and choose your AirPods for playback.
2. Open Settings > System > Sound and confirm the AirPods under Output.
3. Under Input, choose the AirPods microphone if it appears.
4. For music, use the stereo entry when available. The hands-free entry handles microphone use, with reduced playback quality.
5. While connected, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices, select the AirPods and open Advanced sound properties.
6. If available, select the DVD-quality format with two channels, 16-bit audio and a 48 kHz sample rate.

Choosing a playback format doesn’t remove the hands-free profile’s limitations. Music and a microphone call are different jobs.

3. Run the Bluetooth Troubleshooter

Sometimes Windows needs to check the connection itself. Microsoft recommends its Bluetooth troubleshooter, so give it a turn before changing drivers. You can launch it through either of these routes.

1. Open Get Help and run the Bluetooth troubleshooter.
2. Alternatively, open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
3. Select Run beside Bluetooth and follow the instructions.

4. Turn On Advanced Bluetooth Discovery

Your AirPods are flashing white, but Windows still lists nothing. What next? Microsoft recommends the Advanced discovery option when a Bluetooth device is missing from the pairing list.

1. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices.
2. Scroll down the Devices page and find Bluetooth devices discovery.
3. Select Advanced, then look for your AirPods again while they remain in pairing mode.

5. Uninstall the AirPods Entry in Device Manager

This is a community workaround, not an official fix. A March 2026 user report described removing the AirPods audio entry to recover playback, but the microphone remained unusable. The poster also needed to repeat it each morning.

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Expand Sound, video, and game controllers.
3. Right-click the AirPods Pro 3 entry and select Uninstall device.
4. Confirm with Uninstall, then restart your PC.

If sound returns, check the microphone separately. That user report supports a temporary playback workaround, not a complete repair.

6. Update or Roll Back the Bluetooth Driver

If the problem began after an update, the driver deserves attention. Microsoft recommends updating it or obtaining one from your PC maker. Returning to an older version has helped in a user report, but that result came from specific hardware.

1. Open Device Manager and expand Bluetooth.
2. Right-click your Bluetooth adapter and select Update driver.
3. Choose the automatic search option, or get the driver from your PC manufacturer.
4. For a downloaded driver, use Browse my computer for drivers.
5. If a newer version preceded the failure, ask your PC maker which earlier driver is suitable.

In an Intel Community user report, an HP EliteBook regained both microphone and playback functions with Intel Bluetooth 23.60.0.1 Rev.P. Update tools later replaced that version, and the user installed it again. Treat the version as community evidence for that laptop, not a universal download recommendation. Windows Update changes more than drivers, so it’s worth reading about the Windows Update certificate expiration too.

7. Reset Your AirPods Pro 3

Still stuck after those checks? Apple documents a reset sequence using three rounds of double-taps on the case front. Watch the light between each round, because the timing matters.

1. Place both earbuds inside, shut the lid and leave it closed for 30 seconds.
2. If paired with an iPhone or iPad, open Settings > Bluetooth, tap the information button beside the AirPods and select Forget This Device.
3. Lift the lid, then tap the case front twice while its status light is illuminated.
4. Repeat the double-tap when the light begins blinking white.
5. Double-tap once more when the blinking speeds up.
6. An amber flash followed by white signals that the reset has finished. Reconnect your AirPods.

If white never appears, shut the lid for 20 seconds before repeating the tap sequence. Then pair with Windows again and check playback and microphone input separately.

AirPods Pro 3 Not Working With Teams? Fix Calls and the Mic

Music plays, then your call starts and everything changes. User reports describe quiet audio, static and missing microphones in Teams, even when other playback works. Start by checking what Teams is using.

Pick the AirPods in Teams Device Options

Teams gives you separate choices for playback and microphone input. Check both before your next meeting. Pairing earbuds with other hardware follows similar rules, as our guide to connecting Bluetooth headphones to a PS5 shows.

1. Open Settings and more > Settings > Devices.
2. Choose your AirPods under Speaker and Microphone, where available.
3. Select Make a test call to check the result.
4. During a meeting, use the arrow beside Mic to change devices.

Why Teams Calls Sound Worse

You see, stereo playback and microphone use place different demands on Bluetooth. The hands-free profile has less room for playback quality while carrying your voice, so calls can sound worse than music.

In the community discussion accompanying a user report of loud static, a Microsoft Q&A moderator said AirPods weren’t Teams-certified on Windows. That statement came from a community response, not official certification documentation. Users in the thread also disputed the explanation for their failures.

Split the Job Between Two Devices

Try AirPods (Stereo) for Speaker and your laptop microphone or a USB microphone for Microphone. This was suggested in a community response, but one user report said a separate microphone didn’t solve the problem.

Teams also offers Background noise only to reduce surrounding noise and Voice isolation to filter other voices. Voice isolation requires a voice profile when you aren’t using a headset.

Mic Still Silent? Test It in Windows First

Is the microphone failing in Teams alone, or can Windows not record it either? A Windows recording test lets you check outside the meeting app. Here’s how to test your input.

1. Open Settings > System > Sound.
2. Under Input, select your AirPods microphone and open Properties using its arrow.
3. Select Start test and speak.
4. Choose Stop test, then Play to hear the recording.
5. Adjust Input volume if needed and test again.

Can You Update AirPods Pro 3 Firmware From Windows?

Apple provides no Windows method for installing AirPods firmware. Its documented routes use an iPhone, iPad or Mac, with 9A348 listed for AirPods Pro 3 on its September 17, 2026 page. Here are your available routes.

Updates arrive automatically through a connected Apple device. Apple’s update procedure involves current software, Wi-Fi, a powered case with its lid closed and at least 30 minutes within range. Without an Apple device, you can arrange an appointment with an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider.

What to Do If Nothing Works

Still getting nowhere? After the earlier checks, choose your next step based on whether the failure stays with your PC or follows the earbuds. These are the remaining options.

• Ask your PC maker. Request the Bluetooth driver recommended for your exact computer.
• Consider a USB adapter. A user report involving other earbuds and a Qualcomm adapter described success with a USB Bluetooth dongle. It wasn’t a confirmed AirPods Pro 3 fix.
• Use another headset for calls. A wired headset or Teams-certified model was suggested in the community response.
• Keep a backup pair. If you want a second option for calls, our best noise cancelling earbuds roundup is a good place to start.
• Contact Apple Support. If your AirPods also fail with Apple devices, take that information to Apple.

How to Keep Them Working on Your PC

Once you find a working setup, keep a record of it. That gives you something concrete to compare if trouble returns. Keep these habits in mind.

• Record working drivers. Note the version that supports playback and your microphone.
• Check after updates. User reports show update tools replacing an older working driver.
• Maintain firmware. Use a compatible Apple device for AirPods updates.
• Check your phone connection. Disconnect nearby Apple devices before trying PC calls.

FAQs

Final Word

Start your next call with a Windows microphone test and a Teams test call. If either still fails, use those results when contacting your PC maker or Apple. You’ll have a clearer next step, and another microphone or headset remains an option while you get help.