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

The solution works!

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

should be removed

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.

Hi Mostafa,

My thanks for this but I still have the same sort of issue. Windows 11 (Professional Edition) sees both my BT headphones and external BT speaker as "hands free audio headsets" - call centre type telephone headsets. I have removed the BT headphones and seperate speaker, repaired them, same result. I've tried uninstalling Bluetooth, rebooted and re-paired, same result. The LE Wire headphones does have a microphone in it but under Windows 10, it was seem as headPHONES, not a headSET. The Wonderboom 2 does NOT have a microphone but it is also seen as a headset. I have tried using onboard BT (now disabled) and two different manufacturers of BT dongles, same result every time.

If they connect and correctly pair, sometimes I cannot select them as an Output Device in the Sound output as they are not listed. The Wonderboom conencts and becomes available and is seen as Headphones (Hands Free audio) by the Sound output. However, it does not play properly, chopping the music into sound bites. So far, my only fix appears to be reinstalling Windows 10 on my PC.

It works, Luis. Thank you :)

Thank you so much, this works !!

for me, i have done the steps two times till my blutooth speakers works again

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!