Bluetooth earphones, especially true wireless earbuds, are usually made with smartphones in mind. The idea of it being used with your Windows computer comes as an afterthought for most manufacturers. This is especially true with Samsung’s Galaxy Buds range of products. The official Galaxy Buds app for PC pales in comparison to its Android counterpart.
Fret not, however!
Thanks to a developer named Tim Schneeberger, you can now get full control of your Galaxy Buds on your Windows PC.
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Why Is the Official App Not Good Enough
The Official Galaxy Buds app for PC is a clear example of manufacturers ignoring PC users. The app only provides half of what it offers in the Android version. Basic ANC control, preset EQs, factory reset option, and firmware update are all you get. Users have also reported bugs like connection issues and a frequent “Couldn’t perform this action” error as well.
Another glaring problem is that the official app only supports the latest iterations of Samsung’s TWS devices (namely, Galaxy Buds Live, Galaxy Buds Pro, and Galaxy Buds 2).
Yes, Samsung has forgotten about your perfectly working Galaxy Buds+ and previous devices before that.
Enter, Galaxy Buds Manager Unofficial
What if there is a way to get full control of your Galaxy Buds on PC? The Galaxy Buds Manager application is just that plus more. It supports all the Galaxy buds devices that were released by Samsung ever. It also has all the features that are native to the Android application. Galaxy Buds Manager is also totally free and open-source. The whole source code of the program is available to the public for anyone to take a peek at. Being open-source also means that you can use the program without any fear of security threats and malicious content
Note: While this program is unofficial, it also shouldn’t technically affect your warranty under normal circumstances. It doesn’t make any permanent modifications to the software or hardware of your Galaxy Buds There are, however, options like firmware upgrade and downgrade which may break your device and void the warranty. Use such advanced options at your own risk.
Installing Galaxy Buds Manager Unofficial
1. Boot your Windows PC and open your preferred browser.
2. Go to the official Github page of Galaxy Buds Manager by ThePBONE/Tim Schneeberger.
3. Scroll down until you find the Releases section on the right side of the page. Proceed to click on the latest version available below Releases.
4. On the page that loads, scroll down to find the Assets section and click on the latest Windows 64bit version to download the Installer.
Note: The application is also available for Linux and therefore .bin files are also available in the Assets section. The windows version that we are downloading ends with the .exe extension.
5. Wait for the download to complete and click on it to start the installation process.
6. On the dialogue box that appears, click on next to Continue.
7. On the next dialogue box that appears, check I agree to the terms of the license agreement and proceed to click on Next.
8. In the next dialogue box that appears, you can choose the location that you want the program to be installed at. Proceed to click on Install.
9. After the installation is complete, uncheck Run Galaxy Buds Manager and click on Finish.
Connecting Your Galaxy Buds to Windows
Now let us see how to connect Galaxy Buds with a Windows computer.
1. Click on the quick settings icon on the right side of the Taskbar.
2. Right-click on the Bluetooth button and click on Go to Settings.
3. On the menu that comes up, turn on Bluetooth by clicking on the toggle right next to the Bluetooth option. Proceed to click on Add device.
4. Put your Samsung Galaxy buds in pairing mode by opening up the case.
Note: Different models may have varied pairing methods. Refer to your user manual or the internet to find out how to put your galaxy buds into pairing mode. The device being used here in the guide is a Galaxy Buds+.
5. On the Add a device menu that appears, click on the Bluetooth.
6. Wait for your device to get detected and proceed to click on your device name for the pairing process to complete.
7. After the pairing process is complete, you can see that your Galaxy Buds is connected to your PC.
Using Galaxy Buds Manager Unofficial
1. Open the Galaxy Buds Manager application from your desktop or using the Start menu.
2. The Galaxy Buds Manager application launches into a similar interface to that of the Android version. The battery level of the individual buds, as well as the case, is displayed at the top. It also shows additional stats like temperature and voltage. We can also see the different menus and controls available for your earbuds like in the Galaxy Buds app.
3. Ambient sound menu can be used to control the amount of ambient noise that is let through the earbuds. There is also an Extra-high ambient volume mode to increase the mic sensitivity. For models with ANC support, those options will be accessible as well.
4. Find my earbuds is a feature that is only officially available on the Android version. It can be accessed in the Galaxy Buds Manager. Click on the button inside the menu to make the connected earbuds emit a high-pitched sound. Doing so makes it easier to find the buds when it is still connected to your PC.
5. Equalizer menu provides options to enable and choose between a bunch of preset EQs.
Control PC Keyboard Shortcuts With Your Galaxy Buds
Another cool feature available in the Galaxy Buds Manager is the additional functionality to control the touchpads on both earbuds.
1. In the touchpad menu, select the earbud in which you want to change the function.
2. Among the usual options available, you will also find Custom action.
3. In the custom action menu, you can see various extra options. Press hotkey allows users to assign keyboard hotkey combinations to the long touch gesture of your Galaxy Buds.
For example, entering the keyboard shortcut for the copy command (Ctrl + C) in the Hotkey recorder box lets you use the command with a long press of the touch button.
Start Windows Programs With Your Galaxy Buds
You can also use the touchpads on both earbuds to launch Windows programs.
1. In the touchpad menu, select the earbud in which you want to change the function.
2. Among the usual options available, you can also see an option called Custom action.
3. In the custom action menu, you can see various extra options. Run external applications enable users to assign the long touch gesture of your galaxy buds to launch any executable file.
4. Do remember that the file has to have the .exe extension. After selecting the program, you can use the long-press gesture on the touchpad to execute the assigned .exe file on your Windows PC.
Use Keyboard Hotkeys to Control Your Galaxy Buds
1. In the Advanced settings menu, you shall find features like Resume/start playback if buds are worn. There is also an additional feature that lets you use keyboard shortcuts to control your Galaxy Buds. Click on Keyboard Shortcuts to configure it.
2. Click on Assign new hotkey to start assigning hotkey.
3. In the Hotkey Editor Menu, you can select any Modifier key first and then add to it.
4. Click on the drop-down menu below Action to select the action you want to assign to the hotkey. Click on Apply to set and enable the hotkey. Pressing the Modifier key + the key assigned will let you control the earbud for the Action that you set from then on.
Managing Galaxy Buds on Windows
The Galaxy Buds series by Samsung are one of the best when it comes to wireless audio. The lack of good software stopped it from becoming the ultimate everyday device for many users though. Thanks to Galaxy Buds Manager, you can get all the functionality that the official Galaxy Buds app for PC never provided. As a bonus, here are some excellent tips and tricks to make the most of your Galaxy Buds.