windows 11 does not recognize my bluetooth speaker as an audio device

I have the exact same problem and it can not be solved reliably.

The BT device will connect, but Windows will refuse to set up an audio device. The headset shows up as connected in the BT device settings of Windows.

I can also see the charge percentage. But no audio device in Windows becomes available. Neither Microphone nor speaker. When i forget the device, pair it again and reinstall the bluetooth audio devices in device manager it works for this session. Next time Windows is rebooted, it's back to square one: The device connects, but audio devices are not being created. Windows is fully updated and i have the most recent drivers installed.

To make matters worse, this isn't even a one-off problem. It can be reproduced on multiple computers. I am working as a systems administrator and have access to a good dozen of notebooks made by HP and most of them have this problem right after Windows 11 is set up.

Thanks a lot for sharing this. This works on my machine :) I'm using a Boat Bluetooth headset with Lenovo Windows 11 laptop.

It took a while to understand the line - "Open Devices and Printers, More Devices and Printer Settings, go to Sound, audio,controllers and uninstall all 3 of them. Restart. Open the same option again, and then just click on Scan for Hardware changes.".

This is what I did...

1. Unpair the already connected headset.
2. Uninstalled the below mentioned three drivers from Device Manager > Sound, video and game controllers. Remember to check "Attempt to remove the driver from this device."
3. Restart machine.
4. Check if those three drivers are installed again, if not click Scan for Hardware Changes.
5. Pair the Bluetooth audio device again.

P.S.: Several hours before this, I had also uninstalled Bluetooth drivers and installed drivers downloaded from Lenovo website. It didn't make any difference. Calling out just in case the above didn't work for you and you'd like to try this too if you're on a Lenovo.

I hope this works for you!

Here is how I fixed this issue on my laptop. I believe the 'Intel Smart Sound Technology drive is the culprit for this issue.

• Intel Smart Sound Technology for Bluetooth Audio
• Intel Smart Sound Technology for Digital Microphones
• Intel Smart Sound Technology for USB Audio

Open Devices and Printers, More Devices and Printer Settings, go to Sound, audio,controllers and uninstall all 3 of them. Restart.
Open the same option again, and then just click on Scan for Hardware changes.

These items will reinstall themselves after you do a 'Scan for hardware changes' so don't worry about uninstalling them. Restart your Windows If you get a prompt for that.

Check your sound setting, and you're done.

I tried literally everything on the internet, right from reddit to quora to other forums. This fixed my issue and is the only fix that worked on my Acer Laptop. let me know if it worked for you.

Thanks for the reply! I had high hopes this would do it - but it did not.

I owe you a gigantic STEAK DINNER....... I've been fooling around with this for 2 years - zero answers from MSI either - my gaming laptop support.

Your steps indeed fixed the problem!!!!! Thank you so much my friend!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have the same issue with Marshall Major IV

For me the following works:

Go to Device Manager expand Bluetooth and click uninstall on your Bluetooth device(along with the driver)

Restart PC

go to the Intell website and install the latest driver(https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000005489/wireless.html)

Restart PC

The device appears on a list now. So, I can select device output and play sound there. What remains there is that I can't increase the volume with headphones controls. But it's not so annoying as an issue that headphones are in Bluetooth but not in audio devices.