Can Earbuds Connect to a Laptop and Phone at the Same Time?

Per the makers’ official pages as of October 2026, a laptop and a phone connected at the same time need earbuds with multipoint. Most models take 2 devices; the Technics EAH-AZ60M2, EAH-AZ80 and EAH-AZ100 take up to 3, or 2 with LDAC on. Staying connected to 2 devices at once is multipoint, while switching between Apple devices each time is AirPods auto switching.

Here’s what your two devices need.

• Among the models this article checked, a Windows laptop with an Android phone or an iPhone needs multipoint earbuds. AirPods auto switching won’t work, and Galaxy Buds auto switching only works between Galaxy devices
• 2 devices such as an Android phone and an iPhone, or a Mac and an Android phone, also need multipoint earbuds
• For 2 devices at once, you need multipoint. If the earbuds only need to switch between an iPhone and a Mac (or iPad) each time you use them, AirPods auto switching is enough, but it is not simultaneous connection

What is multipoint, and what happens with a third device?

Per the makers’ official pages, multi-pairing is how many devices the earbuds remember. The Sony WF-1000XM5 remembers up to 8, but only 2 connect at once.

Multipoint lets earbuds stay connected to several devices at once and wait for any of them. Most models take 2, and the Technics EAH-AZ60M2, EAH-AZ80 and EAH-AZ100 take up to 3. If your phone rings while you watch a video on your laptop, you can answer in the earbuds.

Only 1 device plays audio at a time; even with 2 connected, only 1 plays. Whichever device is playing gets priority, so pause one before you play on the other.

With a 2-device model, connecting a third drops one. Sony keeps the device that last played audio; the original Bose QuietComfort Earbuds replace the older connection.

Earbuds that drop multipoint when LDAC or LE Audio is on

Whether LDAC (a high-quality codec used on Android) works with multipoint depends on the model. Anker’s Liberty 5 Pro, Liberty 4 NC and Space A40 drop multipoint when LDAC is on..

Per Microsoft, you can’t count on LDAC on a Windows laptop, because it isn’t on Microsoft’s codec list. LDAC is for the Android side.

LE Audio is the newer Bluetooth audio standard, and some earbuds let you prioritize it in their settings. With it prioritized, the Sony WF-1000XM5 and Technics EAH-AZ100 can’t use multipoint.

In the table, the multipoint column shows how many devices connect at once. “Not confirmed” means the official pages don’t say, so it may or may not work. “Codec list not checked” means that model’s codec list was not reviewed.

Connecting earbuds to a Windows laptop and an Android phone

Three steps:

1. Pair the earbuds with the laptop and with the phone.
2. On models that need it, turn multipoint on in the app.
3. Keep both connected and use them.

Per the makers’ official pages, the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 has multipoint off by default, so you turn it on in the app. The Anker Soundcore Space A40 works the same way.

Swift Pair and Fast Pair ease pairing but are optional.

• On the laptop: Swift Pair on Windows shows a Connect notification when supported earbuds enter pairing mode. It needs Windows 10 version 1803 or later and a compatible Bluetooth radio
• On the phone: Fast Pair works on Android 6.0 or later with Bluetooth and location turned on, and offers to pair when the earbuds are nearby

Per Microsoft, on a classic Bluetooth connection, Windows drops to mono call audio (HFP) once an app uses the earbuds’ mic.

The exception is LE Audio, and the PC and the earbuds each have a condition. The PC needs Windows 11 24H2 or later with factory LE Audio support; the earbuds need LE Audio and stereo playback while the mic is in use. With LE Audio prioritized, the WF-1000XM5 and EAH-AZ100 lose multipoint, so on some models stereo calls and multipoint don’t go together.

The Jabra Elite 10 lists 6 mics and the Elite 4 lists 4. This article doesn’t judge how calls sound, and the mic counts of its picks weren’t checked.

With an iPhone or a Mac

Per Apple, AirPods auto switching works only between Apple devices signed in to the same Apple Account, such as an iPhone, iPad and Mac. Windows laptops and Android phones aren’t included.

How to check your own pair of devices

Start by checking the earbuds’ official page for multipoint support.

1. On the earbuds’ official page, look for “multipoint”.
2. If you want LDAC, look for LDAC and multipoint listed as working together.
3. If you’ll take calls too, decide whether mono audio on a Windows laptop is acceptable.
4. Pick your two devices and what matters most in the tool below.

In the calculator, pick your two devices and what matters most, and it shows the feature you need, the caveats and the models whose official specs fit.

Picks by situation

Each pick is the cheapest Amazon.com listing among the models this article checked that fits the situation and meets three conditions. They are 100 or more ratings, 4.0 stars or higher, and sold by Amazon or the maker. Ratings may be combined across color variants.

LDAC on Android, too

Technics’ FAQ says this model keeps LDAC with 2 devices connected (in the 2-device setting; LDAC doesn’t work in the 3-device setting). It also has noise canceling.

Whether the rating count is shared with other models on the listing wasn't checked.

Multipoint on a budget

Multipoint is documented, but turning LDAC on switches multipoint off. Pick it for an iPhone or for use without LDAC.

Sold by AnkerDirect (official Anker store).

Auto switching between Apple devices, not simultaneous connection

Pick this if taking turns is enough. It was the only Apple model compared, so it is not a cheapest pick. For 2 devices at once, use a multipoint model.

How this was researched, and sources

This was checked in October 2026 against the official pages of each maker and operating system. No earbuds were tested in person.

• Sources: Sony WF-1000XM5 help guide, Google Pixel Buds Help
• Sources: Microsoft Learn: Bluetooth audio, Microsoft Learn: Swift Pair
• Sources: Android Help: Fast Pair

FAQ

Can earbuds connect to a laptop and phone at the same time?

Yes. Per the makers’ official pages as of October 2026, a laptop and a phone connected at the same time need earbuds with multipoint.

Most models take 2 devices; the Technics EAH-AZ60M2, EAH-AZ80 and EAH-AZ100 take up to 3, or 2 with LDAC on. If either device is a Windows laptop or an Android phone, pick a model with multipoint.

Do both devices play sound at once when connected?

Only 1 device plays audio at a time; even with 2 connected, only 1 plays. Call handling depends on the model.

When a call comes in, Sony earbuds keep both of the 2 connected devices on standby and ring in the earbuds; other makers differ by model.

What happens when you connect a third device?

With a 2-device model, connecting a third drops one. Sony keeps the device that last played audio; the original Bose QuietComfort Earbuds replace the older connection.

Can you use LDAC and multipoint together?

Confirmed with LDAC and multipoint together: the Technics EAH-AZ80 and EAH-AZ60M2 in their 2-device setting, and the EAH-AZ100 with up to 2 devices. Anker’s Liberty 5 Pro, Liberty 4 NC and Space A40 drop multipoint when LDAC is on.

Do AirPods and Galaxy Buds switch automatically on a Windows laptop?

AirPods: no. Per Apple as of October 2026, AirPods auto switching works only between Apple devices signed in to the same Apple Account, such as an iPhone, iPad and Mac.

Windows laptops and Android phones aren’t included. Galaxy Buds: Per Samsung as of October 2026, auto switching on the Galaxy Buds4 Pro works only between Galaxy devices on the same Samsung account.

That covers Galaxy phones, tablets, Galaxy Book laptops (2020 or later) and Samsung TVs; other Windows laptops and iPhones are not on that list.

Why does sound get worse when you take a call on Windows?

During a call, Windows switches from stereo music audio to the mono call profile (HFP). The exception is LE Audio, and the PC and the earbuds each have a condition.

The PC needs Windows 11 24H2 or later with factory LE Audio support; the earbuds need LE Audio and stereo playback while the mic is in use. With LE Audio prioritized, the WF-1000XM5 and EAH-AZ100 lose multipoint, so on some models stereo calls and multipoint don’t go together.