How to Connect the Pixel Buds to a Computer, iPhone, or Any Android Device

The new Google Pixel Buds make it pretty easy to connect to a Pixel phone. You open the case next to the Pixel with Bluetooth on, open the Bluetooth menu, and it pops up at the very top asking if you want to connect. You make a few taps after that and you’re done.

But what if you wanted to connect them to say a computer? Or maybe an iPhone? Or maybe the notification to connect isn’t popping up so how do you manually connect to them? In any of these scenarios, it might not be that apparent how to do so.

Since I myself had to figure it out, I figured I’d write it down for anyone else trying to connect their Pixel Buds to a computer, iPhone, or any other non-Pixel device.

Connect Pixel Buds to Your Computer

First, here’s how to connect the Pixel Buds to a computer.

1. If the Pixel Buds are already connected to a device, you’ll need to disconnect them (as they won’t be able to pair with a new device while connected to another). No need to unpair them, though, just need them to be not connected at the moment. The easiest way to do this is to just turn off Bluetooth on whatever device they are connected to for while we pair and you can turn it back on after.
   
2. Open the Pixel Buds case with the Pixel Buds inside near your computer.
   
3. Tap and hold the button on the small button on the back of the case for about 3 seconds until the LED on the front starts to blink (this indicates they are in pairing mode).
   
4. Now, on your Windows computer, click on the search box at the bottom left and type in Bluetooth.
   
5. Click on Bluetooth and other device settings.
   
6. Click on Add Bluetooth or other devices.
   
7. Click on Bluetooth device.
   
8. You should see the Pixel Buds in the list there, click them to pair.
   
9. You’ll now need to just wait until Windows gives you a notification saying that the Pixel Buds have been set up and are ready to use.
   

Connect Pixel Buds to any Android Device

Next, let’s show how you connect them to another Android device in case you don’t get the popup asking you to connect.

1. If the Pixel Buds are already connected to a device, you’ll need to disconnect them (as they won’t be able to pair with a new device while connected to another). No need to unpair them, though, just need them to be not connected at the moment. The easiest way to do this is to just turn off Bluetooth on whatever device they are connected to for while we pair and you can turn it back on after.
   
2. Open the Pixel Buds case with the Pixel Buds inside near your phone.
   
3. Tap and hold the button on the small button on the back of the case for about 3 seconds until the LED on the front starts to blink (this indicates they are in pairing mode).
   
4. Now, on your Android phone, pull down the notification shade, turn on Bluetooth if it isn’t on already, and tap and hold on the Bluetooth icon to get to Bluetooth settings.
   
5. Tap on the Pixel Buds in the list of available devices to pair to them.
   
6. Then tap OK.
   
7. And you should see them connected for audio after that in Bluetooth.
   
8. You can also listen to the notification and install the Pixel Buds app from the Play Store (or manually go to the Play Store to do so) to customize features.
   

Connect Pixel Buds to an iPhone

And finally, here’s how to connect the Pixel Buds to an iPhone.

1. If the Pixel Buds are already connected to a device, you’ll need to disconnect them (as they won’t be able to pair with a new device while connected to another). No need to unpair them, though, just need them to be not connected at the moment. The easiest way to do this is to just turn off Bluetooth on whatever device they are connected to for while we pair and you can turn it back on after.
   
2. Open the Pixel Buds case with the Pixel Buds inside near your iPhone.
   
3. Tap and hold the button on the small button on the back of the case for about 3 seconds until the LED on the front starts to blink (this indicates they are in pairing mode).
   
4. Now, on your iPhone, open Settings.
   
5. Tap on Bluetooth.
   
6. You should see the Galaxy Buds in the list there, tap them to pair.
   
7. Once tapped, they should be ready to go.
   

There you go! I hope that helps someone out that was looking for this like I was. Let me know how it goes and if you have issues below in the comments and don’t forget to subscribe to the weekly email newsletter for more tips, tricks, videos, etc delivered every Sunday.