To connect Google Pixel Buds to a computer, put the earbuds in their case, open the lid, and press and hold the pairing button on the back of the case until the status light starts pulsing white. Then open your computer’s Bluetooth settings (on Windows 11: Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Add device > Bluetooth) and select your Pixel Buds from the list.
Pixel Buds work with any computer that has Bluetooth, including Windows PCs, Macs, and Chromebooks. Chromebooks can also pair automatically with Google’s Fast Pair. Below you’ll find steps for each system, how to switch audio to the earbuds, how to use them with a phone and a laptop at once, and fixes for common problems.
Quick Answer
- Place both Pixel Buds in the charging case and open the lid.
- Press and hold the pairing button on the back of the case until the light pulses white.
- On your computer, turn on Bluetooth and choose to add a new device.
- Select your Pixel Buds from the list and confirm.
- If sound still plays from the speakers, choose the Pixel Buds as your audio output.
In This Guide
- Before you start
- Put Pixel Buds in pairing mode
- Connect to a Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC
- Connect to a Mac
- Connect to a Chromebook
- Switch audio to your Pixel Buds
- Use Pixel Buds with a phone and a computer
- Manage Pixel Buds from your computer
- Troubleshooting
- Frequently Asked Questions
Before You Start
This guide covers, as of September 2026, these current Pixel Buds models:
- Pixel Buds Pro 2
- Pixel Buds Pro
- Pixel Buds 2a
- Pixel Buds A-Series
All of them pair the same basic way: a pairing button on the back of the charging case. The original 2017 Pixel Buds use a different case, covered in the FAQ.
You’ll need:
- A computer with Bluetooth. Most laptops have it built in. Many desktop PCs need a USB Bluetooth adapter.
- Earbuds with some charge. If the case is nearly empty, charge it for a few minutes first.
- The computer close by. Keep the case within a few feet of the computer while pairing.
Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) now run until October 12, 2027. The pairing steps still work on Windows 10, but Windows 11 has newer Bluetooth features such as Swift Pair notifications.
How to Put Pixel Buds in Pairing Mode
Pairing mode means the earbuds are advertising themselves so a new device can find them. You need to do this every time you connect to a computer for the first time.
- Put both earbuds in the charging case. They need to stay seated in the case during pairing.
- Open the lid and leave it open.
- Find the pairing button on the back of the case. It’s a small round button.
- Press and hold the button until the status light on the case starts pulsing white. This usually takes a few seconds. Expected result: The pulsing light means the earbuds are ready to pair.
Google’s steps for every model are on its page Set up Pixel Buds. Don’t keep holding the button much longer than needed. Holding it for about 30 seconds starts a factory reset on current models.
How to Connect Pixel Buds to a Windows PC
Windows 11
These steps follow Microsoft’s page Pair a Bluetooth device in Windows.
- Turn on Bluetooth. Select Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices, and make sure the Bluetooth switch is On. If you can’t find the switch, see our guide on turning on Bluetooth in Windows 11.
- Put the Pixel Buds in pairing mode as described above.
- Add the device. On the Bluetooth & devices page, select Add device, then choose Bluetooth. Expected result: Windows starts listing nearby devices.
- Select your Pixel Buds. Choose the entry with your earbuds’ name (for example, it may appear as Pixel Buds Pro 2 or Google Pixel Buds).
- Finish. Select Done when Windows says the device is ready. Expected result: The Pixel Buds show as Connected under your devices.
Shortcut: Select the Network, Sound, or Battery icon on the taskbar, select the Manage Bluetooth devices arrow on the Bluetooth tile, and pick your Pixel Buds under New devices. If Windows shows a Swift Pair pop-up saying a new device was found, you can simply select Connect.
Windows 10
- Select Start > Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices, and turn Bluetooth on.
- Put the Pixel Buds in pairing mode.
- Select Add Bluetooth or other device, then Bluetooth.
- Select your Pixel Buds and wait for the message that the device is ready, then select Done.
Labels can vary slightly depending on your Windows 10 update. Our guide to connecting Bluetooth headphones on Windows 10 has more detail.
How to Connect Pixel Buds to a Mac
These steps follow Apple’s guide Connect a Bluetooth device with your Mac. They apply to macOS Ventura and later, which use System Settings.
- Put the Pixel Buds in pairing mode.
- Open Bluetooth settings. Choose the Apple menu > System Settings, then click Bluetooth in the sidebar. Make sure Bluetooth is on.
- Find the earbuds. Look for your Pixel Buds in the list of nearby devices.
- Connect. Hold the pointer over the Pixel Buds and click Connect. If asked, click Accept. Expected result: The earbuds move to your list of connected devices.
After the first pairing, you can reconnect quickly from Control Center in the menu bar: click Bluetooth and select the Pixel Buds. On older Macs with System Preferences, the steps are the same, but you’ll open System Preferences > Bluetooth.
How to Connect Pixel Buds to a Chromebook
With Fast Pair
Fast Pair is Google’s quick-connect feature. When you put compatible earbuds in pairing mode near a Chromebook, a notification offers to connect them, and the earbuds are saved to your Google Account.
- Turn on Bluetooth on the Chromebook. Select the time at the bottom right, then the Bluetooth icon.
- Place the case next to the Chromebook with the earbuds inside, open it, and hold the pairing button until the light pulses.
- When a notification appears, select Connect. Expected result: The Pixel Buds connect without opening Settings.
Without Fast Pair
- Select the time at the bottom right, then Settings > Bluetooth.
- Select Pair new device.
- Choose your Pixel Buds from the list and follow any on-screen steps.
Earbuds linked to your account show under Devices saved to your account in Bluetooth settings. Google’s Chromebook Help Center has more details on Bluetooth pairing.
How to Switch Audio to Your Pixel Buds
Most computers switch to new Bluetooth headphones automatically. If sound still plays from the speakers, choose the output yourself.
Windows 11
- Select the speaker icon on the taskbar.
- Select the arrow to the right of the volume slider (Select a sound output).
- Choose your Pixel Buds.
You can also go to Start > Settings > System > Sound and pick the Pixel Buds under Output. On Windows 10, select the speaker icon and use the device list above the volume slider.
Mac
Choose the Apple menu > System Settings > Sound, click Output, and select the Pixel Buds.
Chromebook
Select the time at the bottom right, then the arrow next to the volume slider, and choose the Pixel Buds under the output list.
A note on microphone quality
On many computers, audio quality drops noticeably when the Pixel Buds’ microphone is in use, such as during a video call. That’s a Bluetooth limitation: when the mic is active, the computer often switches to a headset mode that trades sound quality for two-way audio. If music sounds flat or muffled, check whether an app has the mic open. For long calls where quality matters, you can use the computer’s built-in or a USB microphone as the input and keep the Pixel Buds as the output.
How to Use Pixel Buds With a Phone and a Computer
You don’t need to re-pair each time. Once paired, the Pixel Buds remember the computer and reconnect when you select them in Bluetooth settings. Some models can also stay connected to two devices at once with Multipoint.
- Which models: Google’s Multipoint help page lists Pixel Buds Pro and Pixel Buds 2a. If you have Pixel Buds Pro 2, look for the Multipoint setting in your phone’s Pixel Buds settings. The A-Series isn’t listed.
- How many devices: Two at the same time, such as a phone and a laptop.
- Default: Multipoint is off by default.
- How to turn it on: On a Pixel phone, go to Settings > Connected devices and tap the settings icon next to your Pixel Buds. On other Android phones, open the Pixel Buds app, select More settings > Multipoint, and turn on Use Multipoint.
- Switching: Calls take priority over Google Assistant, which takes priority over music and notifications. Music playing on one device won’t be interrupted by the other, so pause it before you start playback on the second device.
Without Multipoint, connect the earbuds to the computer from its Bluetooth settings. They’ll drop the connection to your phone and switch to the computer.
How to Manage Pixel Buds From Your Computer
Google offers a web version of the Pixel Buds app at mypixelbuds.google.com. According to Google’s help page on the web companion app:
- It works with Pixel Buds Pro, Pixel Buds Pro 2, and Pixel Buds 2a.
- It works best in Chrome or Edge on Windows 11, macOS Sonoma (14) or later, and ChromeOS 128 or later.
- You can check battery life, adjust audio settings, and update firmware.
- Pair the earbuds with the computer over Bluetooth first. The site then asks your browser for permission to talk to the earbuds.
- It connects to one pair of Pixel Buds at a time.
| Computer | Easiest way to pair | Extra options |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 | Swift Pair pop-up or Add device | Web app for Pro, Pro 2, 2a |
| Windows 10 | Add Bluetooth or other device | Web app not listed as supported |
| Mac | System Settings > Bluetooth | Web app on macOS 14 or later |
| Chromebook | Fast Pair notification | Saved to your Google Account; web app on ChromeOS 128 or later |
Troubleshooting
The Pixel Buds don’t appear in the list
Make sure the earbuds are in the open case and the light is pulsing white. If the light stopped pulsing, hold the pairing button again. On Windows 11, Microsoft notes you may need to change Bluetooth devices discovery to Advanced in Bluetooth settings so more devices show up.
They connect, but there’s no sound
Choose the Pixel Buds as the output device, as shown in the audio section. Also check the volume on both the computer and the app you’re using. Our guide on fixing audio on Windows covers more causes.
Sound is choppy or keeps cutting out
Move closer to the computer and away from other wireless gear. On desktop PCs, a USB Bluetooth adapter plugged into the back of the computer may have poor range. Try a front port or a short USB extension cable.
Audio sounds muffled on calls
That’s the headset-mode limitation described above. Set a different microphone as the input in your call app if you want the earbuds to keep full audio quality.
Pairing keeps failing
Remove the Pixel Buds from the computer’s Bluetooth list (on a Mac, Control-click and choose Forget), restart the computer, and pair again. If that doesn’t work, reset the earbuds using Google’s reset steps:
- Forget the Pixel Buds in each device’s Bluetooth settings.
- Plug the case into power with a USB-C cable.
- Put the earbuds in the case and leave the lid open.
- Press and hold the pairing button for about 30 seconds, until the status light stops and turns off, then release.
- When the light pulses white again, the reset is done and you can pair from scratch.
Warning: A reset removes the earbuds from every device they were paired with, so you’ll need to pair your phone again too.
Chromebook won’t connect
Check for ChromeOS updates, turn Bluetooth off and on again, and restart the Chromebook.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Pixel Buds work with Windows and Mac?
Yes. They work as standard Bluetooth earbuds with any computer that has Bluetooth. Some extra features, like the web app, only work with certain models and systems.
Do I need the Pixel Buds app on my computer?
No. You only need Bluetooth to listen. The web app at mypixelbuds.google.com is optional and adds settings and firmware updates for supported models.
Can I connect Pixel Buds to a computer without Bluetooth?
Not directly. Pixel Buds are wireless only. Add a USB Bluetooth adapter to the computer, then pair as usual.
How do I pair the original 2017 Pixel Buds?
With the earbuds in the case, hold the case button for about 3 seconds until the white light pulses, then select them in the computer’s Bluetooth settings.
Why do my Pixel Buds keep switching back to my phone?
If Multipoint or audio switching is on, the earbuds may move to whichever device starts a call or media. Pause playback on the phone, or turn off Multipoint while you use the computer.
Will pairing with my computer unpair my phone?
No. The earbuds remember both. Without Multipoint, they connect to one at a time, and you pick which one from its Bluetooth settings.
Summary
- Put the Pixel Buds in the case, open the lid, and hold the back button until the light pulses white.
- On Windows 11, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Add device > Bluetooth.
- On a Mac, go to System Settings > Bluetooth and click Connect.
- On a Chromebook, accept the Fast Pair notification or use Pair new device.
- Choose the Pixel Buds as the audio output if sound stays on the speakers.
- Turn on Multipoint on supported models to stay connected to a phone and a computer.
Next step: Pair your Pixel Buds with your computer now, then play a short video to confirm the sound comes through the earbuds.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.