Your AirPods will soon sound better on Windows 10 with AAC codec support

Microsoft's Windows 10 has added support for the AAC codec on its latest Insider Preview Build, so your AirPods should work better on a Windows computer.

Windows 10 has added support for the AAC codec on its latest Insider Preview Build, so your AirPods should work better on a Windows computer.  (Unsplash)

Microsoft is gearing up to release the first major update for its Windows 10 operating system for the year, also known as the Windows 21H1 update. The update which is expected to arrive later this month is likely to bring improvements for Windows Hello, Microsoft Defender, Windows Search, and much more. In the latest Windows 10 Insider Preview build, the company has now added several improvements to Bluetooth audio experience.

We'd previously reported that the upcoming Windows 10 update would break tradition and deliver fewer changes to the operating system, with a larger update coming later this year. Microsoft usually delivers the larger update in the first half of the year, but this time it is likely to issue more refinements to the operating system as many people are still working remotely. The latest Insider Preview now works better with Apple's AirPods and other devices that rely on the AAC Bluetooth codec.

In a post on the Windows Blog, the company announced the release of Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 21370 on Friday, Windows Insiders testers on the Dev Channel. The first major addition to the upcoming Windows 10 release is likely to be the Advanced Audio Codec or AAC, which is used to stream audio on Apple and Android devices, similar to the MP3 codec. The AAC codec is supported by several wireless Bluetooth headsets from Samsung, Sennheiser and LG — as well as Apple's AirPods.

Instead of multiple options, Windows 10 will only show one entry per device on the Bluetooth menu.  (Microsoft)

Instead of multiple options, Windows 10 will only show one entry per device on the Bluetooth menu.  (Microsoft)

Microsoft is gearing up to release the first major update for its Windows 10 operating system for the year, also known as the Windows 21H1 update. The update which is expected to arrive later this month is likely to bring improvements for Windows Hello, Microsoft Defender, Windows Search, and much more. In the latest Windows 10 Insider Preview build, the company has now added several improvements to Bluetooth audio experience.

We'd previously reported that the upcoming Windows 10 update would break tradition and deliver fewer changes to the operating system, with a larger update coming later this year. Microsoft usually delivers the larger update in the first half of the year, but this time it is likely to issue more refinements to the operating system as many people are still working remotely. The latest Insider Preview now works better with Apple's AirPods and other devices that rely on the AAC Bluetooth codec.

In a post on the Windows Blog, the company announced the release of Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 21370 on Friday, Windows Insiders testers on the Dev Channel. The first major addition to the upcoming Windows 10 release is likely to be the Advanced Audio Codec or AAC, which is used to stream audio on Apple and Android devices, similar to the MP3 codec. The AAC codec is supported by several wireless Bluetooth headsets from Samsung, Sennheiser and LG — as well as Apple's AirPods.|#+|

In addition to better audio quality on wireless audio devices that support the AAC audio codec, Microsoft has also unified the audio endpoint for Bluetooth audio devices on Windows 10 – this means users will only see one entry per wireless audio device, instead of two options for stereo and handsfree operation. Google says Windows will automatically select the correct one and switch automatically and allow for direct volume control. The features are live on the latest Windows 10 Insider Preview Build, but regular users are advised to wait until the Windows 10 21H1 update is released later this month.