Windows 11 | No Hands free mode for bluetooth earphones

Anonymous
2021-11-04T05:17:20+00:00

Hi,

So, yesterday I upgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 11 and everything seemed to be working fine until I connected my bluetooth earphones.

When you connect your bluetooth earphones you expect to see two output devices, Headset (music) and Hands-Free mode (voice) but I can only see the Headset mode.

I checked the earphone properties from the Device Manager and I can see "Hands-Free telephony" in the Services tab but in the Output Devices, the hands-free mode is not visible at all.

I've tried everything from re-connecting to reinstalling drivers but nothing seems to be working.

This is preventing from attending any Meetings on apps like Google Meet or Microsoft Teams.

Any help would be much appreciated!

Regards,

Kartikey

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Devices and drivers

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

82 answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2022-05-11T21:19:01+00:00

    Hello everyone, I just upgraded and got very frustrated when I couldn't find a hands-free device. I am hard of hearing and this mode helped me a lot. The opened old sound manager helps, but it's not an option in my opinion

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2022-04-26T18:53:17+00:00

    Following up to my earlier post. This is an issue that Microsoft MUST address. This only happens with bluetooth headphones or earbuds when trying to use an alternate microphone. You CANNOT choose an external microphone such as a Blue Yeti or a microphone on a webcam when using bluetooth headphones or earbuds. You will not be able to hear the parties you are talking to in Teams. It worked perfectly in Windows 10 mixing and matching microphones and speakers/headphones. Unfortunately I can't go back to Windows 10 as a CIO of the company I work for. I have to continue testing Windows 11 and so far I am not allowing any of my users to upgrade. This is NOT a small issue Microsoft. Get off your duffs and fix it.

    Was this answer helpful?

    10+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Deleted

    This answer has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The answer was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.

    Comments have been turned off. Learn more

  4. Anonymous
    2022-02-22T13:41:14+00:00

    I have the exact same issue. I will add to it:

    In windows 10 i was able to select my bose headset with stereo audio + an external microphone, so i don't have to endure the TERRIBLE audio quality of the hadsfree setting.

    Since this option is removed in winsows 11 i am not unable to use my headset for audio with an external microphone, because it simply doesn't allow any audio to come through. I can't hear any one on teams anymore, i have to use a speaker....
    This happened in windows 10 too if you selected stereo audio + handsfree mic. This issue is now happening, but in the background and we're unable to change it!

    Would you PLEASE be so kind @microsoft to stop hiding all the options that we need, it's driving me nuts! i didn't even want to upgrade to windows 11, it just happened over night and now i can't use my headset anymore.... I hope some one can help.

    Was this answer helpful?

    10 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2022-02-08T16:40:27+00:00

    It helpful with me :)) Disable headset make sound better. Try it :D

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments