Windows 10 version 1803 April 2018 update broke bluetooth volume control.

Anonymous

My pc automatically updated to the April 2018 update, version 1803.

After restarting my PC I notice my volume control via Bluetooth will not adjust the volume anymore. Speakers are Creative T30

However if I am in WMP or iTunes the slider changes the volume.

If I use my Microsoft keyboard volume keys or the speaker Icon on the taskbar the slider moves but no volume is changed. However if I slide all the way left the volume turns off.

Anyone else having issues.

Any ideas or is a Microsoft patch already required?

I have tried uninstalling driver and rebooting but no change.

Cheers

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Anonymous

Microsoft is aware of reports that the Absolute Volume feature is incompatible with some Bluetooth devices, resulting in the inability to adjust the Bluetooth device’s volume. If you are experiencing this issue, neither the volume slider in the taskbar, nor the device’s volume controls have any effect on volume.

To resolve this issue, first make sure you’ve installed the latest Windows Updates. A solution was included in the October 24, 2018—KB4462933 (OS Build 17134.376) update for Windows 10 version 1803. To check for updates, select the Start button, and then go to Settings> Update & security> Windows Update, and select Check for updates.

Three devices that are known to experience the issue will automatically have the Absolute Volume feature disabled and should no longer experience the issue once you’ve installed KB4462933: Creative T30 Wireless Speakers, Edifier R2000 DB, and the JBL Go.

For other Bluetooth devices, once you’ve installed KB4462933 or once you've installed Windows 10 version 1809, you can resolve the issue by disabling Absolute Volume manually by making a change in the registry. (Warning: Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. For added protection, back up the registry before attempting to modify it.)

To disable the Absolute Volume feature manually:

1. In the Search box, type cmd. Right-click Command Prompt in the Search results and select Run as administrator.

2. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command:

reg add HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Bluetooth\Audio\AVRCP\CT /v DisableAbsoluteVolume /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

To re-enable the Absolute Volume feature:

1. In the Search box, type cmd. Right-click Command Prompt in the Search results and select Run as administrator.

2. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command:

reg add HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Bluetooth\Audio\AVRCP\CT /v DisableAbsoluteVolume /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

You may need to restart Windows for the registry change to take effect.

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Anonymous

Windows bluetooth dev here

If anyone can't control their BT speaker/headphones volume from the PC after the update, can you share a product link to what device you're using?

We added "absolute volume" in the last update which lets the Windows volume slider directly control the local volume of BT speakers/headphones who support it.

Sorry to hear this is happening, I already made a note to look into the Creative T30/T50, Edifier 1700BT, JBL Bar 5.1, we want this to work as best as possible so let me know the devices you're having issues with and we'll look into it.

Thanks guys!

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161 additional answers

Anonymous

2018-08-25T21:14:11+00:00

I still don't see what you mean because even though an OS may be upgraded to take advantage of newer BT Version standards, they're all designed to be backwards compatible.

As an example, take USB version numbers, you can plug USB 1.x devices into a USB 2 or 3 port and it should still work, just at its original slow speed. Why should these Bluetooth Speakers that you say will have problems, not still continue to work as they always have done in their original way provided the PC still complies fully with the BT Standards that its hardware is capable of (although that may require new BT UART drivers to achieve)?

The argument for when legacy support should be dropped from supporting 'older' devices altogether will depend whether trying to maintain that legacy compatibility impacts other features, functions or aspects (such as system security). I think security concerns may have been the reason why Microsoft changed their BT GPS receiver support (temporarily stopping my device from working in Windows 10 until I found the third party 'go between' software. I really need to know what the manufacturers of these BT Speakers that are now supposedly incompatible with the latest Win 10 build have to say about the matter.
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Anonymous

2018-08-25T19:03:55+00:00

Well, that's the problem in the first place - the updates from windows.

As I said, there are numerous bluetooth speakers that do not have this "absolute volume" feature and because of the hardware they have it will not be possible to implement it at all ?!

Therefore, if Windows decides to upgrade the bluetooth to the current standards, I honestly think that Microsoft at least should give us some kind of legacy support or to enable it in some way for older devices (the same way like running an older software in compatibility mode).

I think that's the golden rule in IT development (unless a totally new technology is discovered): you don't cut the compatibility with older stuff.

What am I supposed to do now? Contact Edifier for what? They just made a product with the standards of that time. How are they supposed to "update" it now?

I have two different laptops (Acer and Asus ~2015) and both have now the same problem after 1803 update. I guess it's either Acer/Asus/Edifier problem but not Microsoft, right?

Android did the same with the bluetooth, but at least they let us still use the legacy mode for those who do not want to upgrade their peripherals just because the new standard requires.
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Anonymous

2018-08-25T15:49:52+00:00

Please explain what's wrong. As long as the bt audio hardware makers adhered to the relevant bt standards with the design of their products in the first place, I don't see why a change such as this within the OS should make that hardware 'incompatible' - you're welcome to throw some light on this particularly what you mean wrt "audio brands that did not implement this "absolute volume" feature in the first place" but another OS incorporating 'developer functions' isn't proof enough to me that Microsoft should adopt the same.

I have seen such a change regarding the way GPS Sensor functionality was handled within an OS but that was between whole new OS versions and not just build revisions. My BT GPS receiver that worked with Windows 7 doesn't work with Windows 10 (at least not without intermediary third party software to perform required translation functions).

The 'absolute volume' feature you refer to is a feature within this new build of Windows ie its an OS feature (just as some other OS's may do the same sort of thing). BT Audio hardware is designed to work with Bluetooth standards and not specific Operating Systems. That's why the BT Audio hardware makers don't need to release drivers. Its up to the people writing the BT UART (BT Receiver/Transmitter) drivers that allow the computer to communicate with BT peripherals/accessories to ensure these drivers act to make their hardware work 'according to established BT standards' and this is why I'm suggesting people update these particular drivers where available. Hope that clarifies things for you.
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