Windows 11 | No Hands free mode for bluetooth earphones

Hello Kartikey,

I had the exact same issue as you described. I use Teams a lot for work and have a custom setup (Headphones for Output, Separate Mic for Input).

After around 2 hours of searching, I found a temporary solution! https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/report-an-issue/bluetooth-devices-have-less-audio-options-bad-audio-quality-win/m-p/2831911 

Hope that helps.

Best wishes

Jamie

hi mate, I'm having this problem with a user at my company but I cannot access the link you mentioned. Do you mind sharing the steps or instructions? Thanks.

I have disabled the Bluetooth audio gateway service from the services to fix my issue. Only stereo connects now. Make sure to delete the headphones from the bluetooth and pair them again! Hope this helps!

My issue:

• Samsung Buds 2 worked as output on Windows 11 (Lenovo Thinkpad) but not as input/no microphone. Buds 2 would show as an input option but failed to work when testing system sounds and on Zoom, Teams, etc.
• Buds 2 worked perfectly fine as output and input on my phone.

My fix:

• Device Manager > Sound, video and game controllers > Intel Smart Sound Technology for Bluetooth Audio Properties > Driver tab > Roll Back Driver.
• The above rolled me back to the Driver version 10.29.8.8050 (dated 9/13/22)

Before the above fix, I tried to remove/forget Buds 2 device, updated Bluetooth and Buds 2 drivers and software, factory reset Buds 2, and restarted computer.

Hi,

I sadly have to say I have the "Audio Only" issue.

My Bluetoth Devices are: Anker Soundcore Life Q30 and the Redmi Buds Pro 4. And I have the Realtek Bluetoth Devices in my HP Laptop.

Both these devices connect in Stereo Mode only and cannot be switched to use the Mic in Zoom Calls.

This really needs some fixing.

This is extremely annoying. I've read through this entire thread (and pretty much all Bing can offer) and I'm still boggling at how I'm meant to get this to work.

I have two devices which I absolutely need to operate in the Hands Free AG mode - one is a Sabinetech Smartmike+. We use these for training customers.

I use an MDR-1000X set of headphones which I use in the Stereo ('music') mode to get high quality stereo audio from Zoom, Teams and Slack huddles. But I like my flexibility, when I don't want to grab my lav mike for a quick Slack huddle or Teams call, I just put my headphones on. But, you know.. I can live with it only operating as headphones.

It's absolutely essential that we can use the microphone on the abovementioned lav mic, but it doesn't show up in a way that lets it work as a device:

Zoom lets me pick my microphone, as does Teams, as does every other bit of audio software and if Windows is "hiding" the Handsfree AG audio from me to make my "user experience" less confusing then it is doing an absolutely abominable job of it. How am I supposed to select my device as a microphone, which should make my headset turn into Handsfree mode, if it's not giving apps the correct list of microphones?

• I have MDR-1000X "Connected music", Smartmike+ "Connected music" in Bluetooth Devices,
• I go into the audio control panel and look in the recording tab and neither are present.
• I set either one to Default Communications Device, nothing changes
• WIN+R and used Control Printers to get to the devices, right clicked them:
  • enabled all Bluetooth Services (handsfree was already checked, as was Headset for the Smartmike+)
  • Confirmed I see "MDR-1000X Hands-Free AG" and "Smartmike+ Hands-Free AG" in the Bluetooth "Device Functions" panel
• Went to Services.msc and confirmed the Bluetooth Audio Gateway service is actually running

Is there any way I can force Windows 10 to show me these devices in a list of Microphones?