Bluetooth Headset cannot be used as both headphones and speakers

Hi David. I'm Greg, an installation specialist and 10 year Windows MVP here to help you.

I will give you everything that's working for others with the known issues with Bluetooth and headsets:

First HEADSET:

Right click Volume icon in System Tray at right end of task bar, Open Sound Settings, in dropdown menus at top make sure Headphones are selected.

If not choose Troubleshoot.

Also try the Hardware Troubleshooter at Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.

Go to the Device Manager reached by right clicking the Start button, choose Sound controller device, on Driver tab choose Roll back or Uninstall, restart PC using keyboard to Ctrl Alt Del, on blue screen tab to Power Icon in bottom right, press Enter, arrow down to Restart, press Enter to restart to reinstall the driver.

Do the same for the headset device and/or it's microphone.

Update the Sound driver from the PC or Device maker's Support downloads web page. While there also check that the Chipset, BIOS, Display, USB, Network and all other drivers are the most current.

BLUETOOTH Troubleshooting:

See Fixes here:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/14169/...

http://superuser.com/questions/823894/how-to-ma...

Try the Bluetooth troubleshooter at Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.

Try turning off Fast Startup at Settings > System > Power & Sleep > Additional Power Settings > Choose what Power buttons do > Change settings that are unavailable > uncheck Fast Startup.

Try Updating the Bluetooth driver from the PC maker's Support Downloads webpage for your exact model. Install it even if it's the same or newer than the one in Device Manager reached by right clicking the Start button.

Right click Start button to access Device Manager, locate Bluetooth device (if necessary from View tab Show Hidden Devices), on Driver tab see if Roll Back is available, if not try Update Driver, first automatically, then Browse, then Let Me Pick to try all previously installed Drivers.

If these fail try to Uninstall the Driver, restart PC to reinstall.

Then try pairing again, if necessary run the Bluetooth Troubleshooter again.

If this was caused by Windows Updates then you can check which were installed at Settings>Update & Security>Windows Update under Installed Updates, then uninstall them from the link there, and hide with the Hide Updates tool downloaded from here: http://download.microsoft.com/download/f/2/2/f2...

You can also use System Restore to get before the problem began, then check for Updates with the Hide Update tool and hide them: http://home.bt.com/tech-gadgets/computing/how-t...

Go over this checklist to make sure the install is set up correctly, optimized for best performance, and any needed repairs get done: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

Start with Step 4 to turn off Startup freeloaders which can conflict and cause issues, then Step 7 to check for infection the most thorough way, then step 10 to check for damaged System Files. Then continue with the other steps to go over your install most thoroughly.

If nothing else helps you can run a Repair Install by installing the Media Creation Tool and choosing from it to Upgrade Now. This reinstalls Windows in about an hour while saving your files, apps and most settings, solves many problems while also bringing it up to the latest version 1903 which you need anyway and by the most stable method. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m...

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and keep me posted. If you'll wait to rate whether my post helped you, I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

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*** This method does not work for me as the Hands-Free is still disabled, and unable to detect. The message keeps saying "no audio is plugged in". What should I do here? Thank you!

I have the same set of earphones and had the same issue as well. Try and do what Miron95 suggested. It worked for me.

Same issue was with me also. What i have done is, just rests  my windows 10 from recovery option and updates my pc. Now it is working smoothly

If it muted other sound while communicating, did you try this setting?

Go to Control panel then choose the small icons view

Find "Sound"

Go to "Communication" tab

choose "Do nothing" instead of other 3 options.

tried this.... once the mic is turned on, all other audio turns off.  Once the mic is turned off, all of the audio returns.  So, no go.

Dear Greg,

I use an HP laptop, with windows 10 1909 and I have the same problem. I have to use my laptop Microphone  in order to make the Bluetooth headphones work, and its really annoying that all the steps given above have been done at least 2 times each. NO change at all.

Now I am Not sure whether it is because of the fact that My headphones use Bluetooth 2.1 (which I KNOW IS OLD) but then it works fine with android!

I even did a bios update and a system restore to default drivers, but no difference.

Th reason why I hate this is because of the fact that laptop microphones tend to pick up too much noise, while the mic in my headphone has a noise reduction feature (which I so do need).

I even went to HP support page and reinstalled every single driver including my display driver.

However when I tried to update windows to the latest version it always fails (I do not Know why)

NOW, please do tell me whether its because of my headphone using Bluetooth 2.1 or the fact that my Bluetooth 4.5 chip is not good enough?

I do think that the Realtek chip That came with my laptop is not very good.

I have tried everything and I have even thought of buying a new MacBook, since the OS does not have these kind of issues.

My wifi chip is 1x1 so it is not great either.

And the fact that I listen to the audio from games and voice chat at the same time is really pissing me off.

And by the looks of it, a lot of people have an issue like this.

please do tell Microsoft to give us the perfect answer instead of just beating around the bush and telling us to reinstall windows.

The reason why we even come here to ask for help is because even after doing reinstall of the drivers, it does not work.

And reinstalling the entire operating system to just fix this issue?  Wow Microsoft you better work hard and fix these small issues that make life hard for normal users like us.