How to Fix Bluetooth Audio Not Working on Windows 11
Bluetooth audio devices have been a great alternative to their wired counterparts for quite some time now. Wireless audio accessories embedded with Bluetooth are now more affordable than ever. But some Windows 11 users frequently face audio not working while using their Bluetooth devices.
If you share the problem, then this post will elaborate on the methods to fix the Bluetooth audio not working issue on Windows 11. We will list out all the prospective fixes that it’s possible to try, to get the audio working again on your Windows 11 PC.
How to Fix Bluetooth Audio Not Working Issue on Windows 11
If your Bluetooth audio device isn’t working on Windows 11, try these tricks to get it working again.
1. Restart Your System
Restarting can fix a lot of unintentional problems with your system. It is the oldest trick in the book which may sound unappealing but works most of the time. It is common for a process or a service to encounter a glitch.
Restarting will clear them from the memory and start all the services and processes again. Moreover, it will reload all the drivers including the Bluetooth adapter drivers. Try connecting the Bluetooth device and playing audio using it.
2. Restart Bluetooth on Your System
If you are unable to play audio via your Bluetooth device, try turning off the Bluetooth connection on your system. Go to the system tray icons and click on the Speakers icon. Then, click on the Bluetooth quick setting to turn off the feature. Wait for a few seconds and then click the quick setting again to enable Bluetooth on your Windows PC. Check if your Bluetooth device can play audio now.
3. Inspect the Bluetooth Device for Damage
Bluetooth devices, especially earphones and wireless earbuds are fragile pieces of equipment. An accidental drop, power surge, or unintentional contact with moisture can break them. So, properly inspect your Bluetooth device for signs of damage. Check if it turns on (usually indicated by a LED light).
Another way to check if it’s working is by connecting it to another device. you may try pairing the device with your smartphone and check if it plays audio without any issues.
4. Ensure That the Bluetooth Device Is in Range
Bluetooth has a specific connection range. If you position the device too far from your laptop or PC, it won’t be able to maintain connectivity. The standard range is 10 meters, but devices with newer versions can have a greater range. So, keep the Bluetooth device in range, reconnect, and try playing audio again.
5. Remove and Re-Pair the Bluetooth Device
If the Bluetooth device is working fine on another system, try removing it and re-pairing it with your Windows 11 system. Repeat the following steps:
6. Enable the Bluetooth Adapter in Device Manager
Bluetooth devices won’t work if the Bluetooth adapter embedded in the system is inactive. So, you need to enable it using the device manager.
7. Restart Bluetooth Services
You can consider restarting Bluetooth services to fix the audio playback issue with your Bluetooth device. Sometimes, services can stop automatically due to a glitch and need a restart. Your system won’t be able to connect with other devices if the related services aren’t running.
To restart Bluetooth services, do as follows:
8. Update Your Bluetooth Drivers
Drivers become outdated with time. An outdated driver can pose problems and thus impact the nominal working of the device. So, it is best to update your Bluetooth drivers to the latest version.
To update the Bluetooth drivers, do as follows:
If Windows fails to find any drivers, search on your Bluetooth adapter manufacturer’s website for a new driver.
9. Reinstall Bluetooth Drivers
If updating the Bluetooth driver didn’t fix the problem, you will have to reinstall the drivers. The benefit of this method is that you can remove corrupt drivers from your system. After that, Windows will auto-download and install the befitting drivers.
Here’s how to reinstall the Bluetooth drivers using Device Manager.
10. Configure Bluetooth Audio Device Services
Bluetooth devices offer a number of services ranging from simple playback controls to remote control features and more. Audio sink is one such crucial service that is responsible for audio playback on the device. If it is inactive, your device won’t play audio even if it’s connected to your system.
To enable the Audio Sink service, do as follows:
11. Set the Bluetooth Device as Default for Playing Audio
Bluetooth device may not play audio because it isn’t set as the default device to play audio. So, you need to make it the default choice for playing sound.
Windows Audio Playback Issue: Fixed
These were the methods you could use to fix the audio playback issues on Windows 11. Restarting the system and Bluetooth feature usually resolves the trick. But if it doesn’t, then you can try troubleshooting the drivers, modifying services, and setting it as the default audio device.
It may seem odd that a metered connection will get in the way of your Bluetooth devices, but there’s a very good reason why Windows does this.
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