Bluetooth Peripheral Device

princess rondina 0 Reputation points
2026-10-07T22:23:08.5433333+00:00

I have AirPods, and suddenly it stops connecting to my phone as a dual connection. The other pair is connected on my laptop as a Bluetooth peripheral device, only for the mic, not for music and such. I couldn't find out what's happening. Please help me po.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Devices and drivers
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  1. Manoel Barros 22,240 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-10-07T23:56:20.8233333+00:00

    Hi!

    As I understand it, you have two pairs of AirPods? One that stopped connecting to your phone (AirPods 01) and another where only the microphone works on your computer (AirPods 02)?

    If that’s the case, it’s important to ask:

    Do AirPods 01 work normally on the computer?

    Do AirPods 02 work normally on the phone?

    This way, you can determine whether the issue lies with the earbuds themselves or the settings on one of the devices.

    Also, please send me your laptop's make and model, just in case I need them:

    • Press WINDOWS + R > Type "msinfo32" > Send me a screenshot of the System Summary.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-10-07T22:23:26.1666667+00:00

    On the Windows 11 laptop, this usually means the AirPods are connecting only in the hands-free profile instead of the normal audio profile, or the pairing became corrupted. Try these steps in order:

    1. Make sure Bluetooth is on and the AirPods are in pairing mode.
      • Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices.
      • Turn Bluetooth on.
      • Put the AirPods back in pairing mode and keep them close to the PC.
    2. Remove the AirPods from Windows and pair them again.
      • Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices.
      • Select More options (...) for the AirPods > Remove device > Yes.
      • Select Add device and pair the AirPods again. This often fixes cases where the device shows up only as a peripheral or only works for the microphone.
    3. Run the Bluetooth troubleshooter.
      • Go to Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
      • Next to Bluetooth, select Run.
    4. Update the Bluetooth driver.
      • Open Device Manager.
      • Expand Bluetooth.
      • Right-click the Bluetooth adapter and select Update driver > Search automatically for updated driver software.
      • Restart the PC if prompted.
    5. If the driver still seems stuck, reinstall it.
      • In Device Manager, uninstall the Bluetooth adapter.
      • Restart the PC.
      • If Windows does not reinstall it automatically, in Device Manager select Action > Scan for hardware changes.
      • Note: uninstalling the adapter is a higher-impact step because it temporarily removes Bluetooth until Windows reinstalls the driver.
    6. Check the AirPods battery.
      • Charge them fully.
      • Turn them off and back on, then try pairing again.
      • For rechargeable audio devices, leaving them connected to power during pairing can help.
    7. Install Windows updates.
      • Go to Start > Settings > Windows Update.
      • Select Check for updates and install any available updates.
      • Restart the PC.

    If the AirPods connect but audio still does not play correctly, make sure the device is connected and within range, and pause other Bluetooth activity if any is running.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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