MagicAAP Driver: Enhance Your AirPods and Beats Experience on Windows

Warning: Installing the MagicAAP driver is recommended for advanced users only. Incorrect installation may lead to system instability, potentially requiring a Windows reinstallation. Ensure you are comfortable with system-level changes and troubleshooting before proceeding. This driver requires MagicPods version 2.0.72.0 or later.

MagicAAP is a specialized Bluetooth profile driver designed to significantly improve the functionality of AirPods and certain Beats headphones when used with Windows operating systems. By installing this driver, users can unlock near-full support for their Apple and Beats headphones, bringing a more integrated and feature-rich experience to their Windows devices.

Installation Guide for MagicAAP Driver

The MagicAAP driver is currently unsigned. To install it, you will need to enable Test Mode in Windows. This mode allows the installation of drivers that haven’t been digitally signed by Microsoft. A “Test Mode” watermark will appear in the bottom right corner of your screen while this mode is active.

Step 0: Creating a System Restore Point

Before making any system changes, creating a restore point is a crucial safety measure. This allows you to revert your system back to its previous state if any issues arise during or after the MagicAAP driver installation.

1. Click on the Start button and type “Create a restore point” in the search bar.

2. From the search results, select Create a restore point.

3. In the System Properties window, click on the Create… button.

4. Enter a descriptive name for the restore point (e.g., “Pre-MagicAAP Install”) and click Create.

In case of any problems post-installation, you can use this restore point to easily recover your Windows system. If you have BitLocker enabled, ensure you have your recovery key accessible, as it may be required during the system restore process.

Step 1: Backing Up Your BitLocker Recovery Key (If Applicable)

If you are using BitLocker drive encryption, system modifications like installing unsigned drivers can trigger BitLocker to request a recovery key. It is essential to back up your recovery key before proceeding. You might need to enter this key twice during the installation process.

Icon	Description
	BitLocker off
	BitLocker on

1. Open File Explorer (formerly My Computer). Right-click on the BitLocker-encrypted drive (identified by a lock icon) and select Manage BitLocker from the context menu.

2. In the BitLocker Drive Encryption window, click on Back up your recovery key and follow the on-screen instructions to securely back up your key.

3. Repeat this process for every drive that is encrypted with BitLocker.

Store your BitLocker recovery keys safely, ideally in a location accessible from your phone, another computer, or a physical notebook. You might need to input the recovery key before Windows fully boots.

For more detailed instructions on locating your BitLocker recovery key, a helpful Google search query is: BitLocker recovery key.

Step 2: Disabling Secure Boot in BIOS

Secure Boot is a security feature in your computer’s BIOS that may prevent the installation of unsigned drivers. You’ll need to temporarily disable it to install the MagicAAP driver.

1. Access your computer’s BIOS settings. Typically, this involves pressing a specific key (like F1, F2, F12, or Esc) immediately after turning on your computer. The key varies depending on your motherboard manufacturer, so consult your motherboard manual or the startup screen for the correct key.

2. Navigate through the BIOS menus to find the Secure Boot option. It’s usually located under the “Boot,” “Security,” or “Authentication” tabs.

3. Set the Secure Boot option to Disabled.

4. Save the changes you made in BIOS. This is often done by pressing F10 or selecting “Save & Exit.” Your computer will then restart.

5. If BitLocker is enabled, you may be prompted to enter your Recovery key during the boot process.

If you need further guidance on disabling Secure Boot, a useful Google search is: Disable Secure Boot.

Step 3: Enabling Test Mode in Windows

Test Mode allows Windows to load and use drivers that have not been digitally signed. This is necessary for the MagicAAP driver installation.

1. Right-click on the Windows Start Menu icon.

2. From the context menu, select either Terminal (Admin), Windows PowerShell (Admin), or Command Prompt (Admin) to open an administrative command-line interface.

3. Type or paste the following command into the command-line interface and press Enter:

bcdedit /set testsigning ON

4. Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
5. If BitLocker is enabled, you may again be prompted to enter your Recovery key during startup.

After restarting, you should see a “Test mode” watermark on your desktop, confirming that Test Mode is active.

Step 4: Installing the MagicAAP Driver

You can choose between automatic and manual installation methods for the MagicAAP driver.

Before proceeding, you can optionally verify the integrity of the downloaded driver file using its SHA256 hash:

SHA256 E16A8F1C6052432A388D33FDD4AC6D4F3CA909CF4C3DD37A152DB0E9342B66C2

Automatic Driver Installation

This is the simpler and recommended method for most users.

1. Download the MagicAAP driver.

2. Locate the downloaded ZIP archive, extract its contents, and navigate to the extracted driver folder.

3. Inside the driver folder, find the MagicAAP.inf file. Right-click on this file and select Install from the context menu.

4. Windows will display a security warning as the driver is unsigned. Click on Install this driver software anyway to proceed with the installation.

Manual Driver Installation

Use this method if automatic installation fails or if you prefer a more controlled installation process.

1. Download the MagicAAP driver.

2. Extract the contents of the downloaded ZIP archive to a location you can easily access.

3. Press Start and type “Device Manager” in the search box.

4. Select Device Manager from the search results to open it.

5. In Device Manager, look for Aap Server listed under the Other devices category. It may appear with a warning icon indicating that the driver is not installed.

6. Right-click on AAP Server and select Update driver from the context menu.

7. In the Update Drivers window, choose Browse my computer for drivers. Then, click Browse… and navigate to the folder where you extracted the MagicAAP driver files.

8. Click Next. Windows will now install the MagicAAP driver from the specified location.

9. If you see multiple entries for AAP Server in Device Manager, repeat steps 5-8 for each of them.

Once the installation is complete, you are ready to use MagicAAP. Launch the MagicPods application, connect your AirPods or compatible Beats headphones, and explore the expanded settings, mirroring the familiar iOS-like controls.

Uninstalling the MagicAAP Driver

To uninstall the MagicAAP driver and revert Windows to its normal operating state, follow these steps in reverse order of the installation process.

Step 1: Backing Up Your BitLocker Recovery Key (Again, If Applicable)

Similar to the installation process, uninstalling the MagicAAP driver involves system changes that might trigger BitLocker. Ensure your recovery key is backed up before proceeding.

Icon	Description
	BitLocker off
	BitLocker on

1. Open File Explorer. Right-click on the BitLocker-encrypted drive and select Manage BitLocker.

2. Click on Back up your recovery key and follow the prompts to back up your key.

3. Repeat for all BitLocker-encrypted drives.

Keep your recovery keys accessible as you might need them during the uninstallation and system recovery steps.

For detailed instructions on finding your BitLocker recovery key, use the Google search query: BitLocker recovery key.

Step 2: Uninstalling the MagicAAP Driver

This step removes the MagicAAP driver software from your system.

1. Press Start and type “Device Manager”.

2. Select Device Manager from the results.

3. In Device Manager, expand the Bluetooth category. Locate MagicAAP within the list of Bluetooth devices.

4. Right-click on MagicAAP and select Uninstall device from the context menu.

5. In the Uninstall Device confirmation dialog, check the box Attempt to remove the driver for this device. and click Uninstall.

6. If you previously had multiple AAP Server devices during installation, ensure you repeat steps 3-5 for all instances of MagicAAP or AAP Server that might remain in Device Manager, potentially under “Other devices” again after uninstalling from Bluetooth section.

Step 3: Disabling Test Mode in Windows

Reverting Windows to normal mode disables the test signing feature.

1. Right-click on the Windows Start Menu icon.

2. Open Terminal (Admin), PowerShell (Admin), or Command Prompt (Admin) as administrator.

3. Enter the following command and press Enter:

bcdedit /set testsigning OFF

4. Restart your computer.
5. If BitLocker is enabled, you might need to enter your Recovery key upon reboot.

The “Test mode” watermark should no longer be visible after restarting.

Step 4: Enabling Secure Boot in BIOS

Finally, re-enable Secure Boot in your computer’s BIOS to restore the default security settings.

1. Enter your computer’s BIOS settings again, usually by pressing F1, F2, F12, or Esc during startup.

2. Find the Secure Boot option in the BIOS menus.

3. Set Secure Boot to Enabled.

4. Save the changes and restart your computer.

5. If prompted by BitLocker, enter your Recovery key.

Your system should now be running in normal mode, and the MagicAAP driver will be completely uninstalled. The “Test mode” watermark will be gone, and your system will be running with Secure Boot enabled.