Bluetooth audio stuttering and lagging

Anonymous
2020-11-27T23:17:25+00:00

This issue has persisted for 5 months now. I am unable to use bluetooth headphones with my Dell XPS 15 9550 because audio and video is constantly interrupted with static. I am able to properly connect and pair my device to the laptop but for example youtube videos lag down and stutter almost like .5x speed. There is a constant interference and so the audio ends up choppy in songs or videos. I have done all troubleshooting with the headphones and audio and bluetooth settings. My Bose QC 35s also are able to connect and function with any other device except my laptop. I suspect it had something to do with a windows update I did over the summer but i am not sure

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Performance and system failures

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Anonymous
2020-12-03T19:13:14+00:00

I have the same issue on a Dell Inspiron 7460. It started after the last Windows 10 update in November, Windows 10 version 20H2.  And my headphones are Sony WH-1000XM4.

The headphones always worked very well, now it stuttering and don't stop, becoming terrible to listen to anything. 

The suggestions made here did not work. 

I found a solution on the web, if you would like to try, but this fix disable the option to use the headphones as headset:

"Press the Windows key and start typing "control panel" to find the icon to open the Control Panel. (As of the time of writing, Windows 10 does not have a way to change this setting via the new 'Settings' interface.)

  1. Find 'Devices and Printers' and double-click it.
  2. Find your paired headphones. The icon may not look like your headphones, but hopefully you should be able to find it.
  3. Right-click the icon and select 'Properties'.
  4. Select the 'Services' tab at the top.
  5. Under 'Bluetooth Services', if 'Hands-free Telephony' is checked, uncheck it.
  6. Click OK.

The audio may cut out as it saves the new settings (you may need to adjust your volumes in the Volume Mixer)"

For me is working fine after I made this change. Hope you find a solution.

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-03-30T10:30:01+00:00

    This is 100% a Microsoft problem and has been for YEARS! Just fix it already Microsoft! This happens to me on both my Windows 10 desktop and laptop! I even bought a new USB bluetooth dongle, and yes, you've guessed it, still the same problems! 

    I also decided to make my desktop computer dual boot with Ubuntu and Windows 10. Guess what!? Bluetooth audio works fine in Ubuntu, on the same hardware!

    Microsoft FIX IT! It's been YEARS!

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-03-27T20:20:00+00:00

    Thank you ScottEJacobson

    I never had a single problem with Broadcom DW1830 3x3 802.11ac 2.4/5GHz + Bluetooth 4.1 on my XPS 15 9550, and my setup worked flawless for years. It was just the W10 Pro 20H2 update that ruined my Bluetooth.

    So after doing some searching, reading here and in the Dell forums about all the problems and finding no solution, I'm just thinking about reverting W10 20H2 update.

    I could buy an Intel AX200NGW - Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), 2x2, Bluetooth® 5.1, M.2 2230 adapter, but I would loose WiFi performance with no warranty about fixing the BT problem.

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-03-27T18:03:05+00:00

    The problem seems to be with the Broadcom drivers for the Dell 1830 WiFi BT card. I have the XPS 15 9550 and had a lot of troubles with this card and the Dell Thunderbolt docking station. With the Windows update to 20H2 I immediately had the stuttering problem with BT audio. I had an Intel 8265 WiFi BT card laying around and installed it, as I had seen many people say that the Dell 1830 card has all types connection problems. After installing the Intel 8265 and downloading the Intel Bluetooth drivers, the problem is solved.

    The Intel 8265 is single WiFi antenna card, where the Dell 1830 had two antenna connections. I just  tucked the extra antenna wire out of the way. I do not know if there is another compatible Intel card with two antennas.

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-03-25T22:10:15+00:00

    DELL XPS 15 9550 with wireless 1830 BT 4.1 LE adapter, and I got the same problem after updating to W10 Pro 20H2, just weeks ago.

    I tried everything, and of course I deinstalled all BT devices and adpaters, visible and hidden, deleted BT software and drivers, cleaned the registry, and installed again.

    And all that I got after the W10 20H2 update from my BT audio devices (two handsfree sets and one JBL speaker), is some crappy delayed noise that keeps stuttering all the time.

    I have had to switch to my smartphone for video meetings while I wait for some wired handsfree kit to arrive. This is more than annoying!  :-(

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