how to connect ear buds to my computer

My JBL BT earbuds are connected to my Dell laptop, yet sound on YT and other videos plays thru my Dell laptop speakers. The Sound settings output dropdown menu ("Choose where to play sound") does not give me an option for my BT earbuds. Pls advise.

Hello, jack dewitt1

Welcome to the Microsoft community.

Thank you for your feedback. To connect your headphones (earphones) to a computer running Windows 11, here are some suggestions:

1. Connect your headset via Bluetooth

Turn on your Bluetooth headset: make sure your headset is in pairing mode. Most Bluetooth headsets will have a dedicated pairing button, or press and hold the power button for a few seconds with the headset turned off until the indicator light blinks (Bluetooth pairing mode).

Turn on Bluetooth on your computer:

Click on the bottom right corner of the taskbar where the “Network, Sound, Power” icons are located, a quick settings panel will pop up.

Click on the Bluetooth icon, or if you don't see the Bluetooth icon, click on the “▲” icon to enter all settings.

Turn on the Bluetooth switch.

Pair the headset:

Open the “Settings” app (either from the Start menu or by pressing Win + I).

Select “Devices” (or “Bluetooth and other devices”).

Click the “Add Bluetooth or other device” button and select “Bluetooth”.

Your computer will start searching for nearby Bluetooth devices, select your headset for pairing and follow the prompts to complete the pairing process.

Connect the headset:

When pairing is complete, the headset will automatically connect. If it doesn't connect automatically, go back to “Bluetooth and Other Devices” settings page, find the paired headset, click it and select “Connect”.

Connecting your headset via the 3.5mm audio jack

If your headset is wired or has a 3.5mm jack:

Plug in your headset.

Plug your headphones into the headphone jack on your computer (usually the small hole labeled with the headphone icon or green).

Set default audio device:

Right-click on the volume icon at the bottom right corner of the taskbar and select “Sound Settings” or “Open Sound Settings”.

In the “Output” section, you will see a drop-down menu to select your headphones as the default output device.

Connecting your headset via USB

If your headset supports connection via USB:

Plug into the USB port:

Insert the headset's USB plug into the USB port on your computer.

Device driver installation:

Windows usually recognizes and installs the necessary drivers automatically. If not, follow the instructions in the headset's user manual to install the drivers.

Setting the default audio device:

Right-click the volume icon at the bottom right corner of the taskbar and select “Sound Settings” or “Open Sound Settings”.

In the “Output” section, select your headphones as the default output device.

With these steps, you can successfully connect your headset to your Windows 11 computer and start using it. If you still have problems, we suggest you check the user manual of the headset or the official website for more help.

I look forward to your feedback.

Best Regards,

Aaron| Microsoft Community Support Specialist

I am not able to connect my earbuds