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

It's utter madness, isn't it?!

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.

Yeah that does not work for me either. I've always been able to connect my external bluetooth speaker with no problem.....but it ends there. Never shows up as an alternate sound output..... only Realtek shows up. I've pretty much given up at this point..... tired of it driving me crazy.

I spent last 3 days looking through the net to find an answer for that... In short - my bluetooth device was connecting to PC, it was visible under Bluetooth devices as connected, with the green dot and all that, but it wasn't listed as an Audio Output device, and it was not possible to "Enable" it in the oldschool audio "playback and input" menu. I have bought new soundbar, because i thought something broke with my previous BT speakers (although those were working absolutely fine with both Android and Apple devices)... Nevertheless, try this:

Go to Settings -> Bluetooth and devices -> (all the way down) More devices and printer setting

Your BT audio output device (soundbar, headphones etc) should be listed there. Right click on it -> Properties -> Hardware tab

In there click on the line which contain "AVRCP" mentioned somewhere within (might need to enlarge column to see it) -> click Properties

In the "general tab" of this new window click -> Change settings

Go to "Driver tab" and choose -> update Driver, then -> Browse my computer for drivers -> Let me pick from a list of available drivers -> AND THEN, choose this exact one -> "Microsoft Bluetooth AVRCP Transport Driver.

Reconnect the device if needed.

It takes around 2 minutes to do all this, hopefully this helps!

Worked for me.

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!!!!!!!!!!!!