Bluetooth audio lag on windows 10 & 11: will it ever be fixed? A discussion

Anonymous
2022-11-23T16:53:12+00:00

The delay/lag is killer. Netflix, Prime, out of sync lip movement with audio. 

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You can install Linux on exactly the same hardware and use the same Bluetooth headphones or earbuds and it completely fixes the delay/lag of up to 500ms. This is not a device or hardware issue.

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Please note this is not a tech support post. It is a discussion about the lack of progress in fixing this issue.

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In a forum post on this from 2016, the post has 1042 votes by people with the same issue: “I have the same question (1042)”. It carried on until sometime in 2020 before it was locked. The issue itself was not fixed & remains for many in Windows 10 & 11. 

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https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/bluetooth-audio-lag-on-windows-10/e09c766b-cac7-42ef-93d8-8328db731b62

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What do you all think about the fact this issue still hasn’t been fixed?

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I want to say that I am a massive fan of Windows. 7 was a masterpiece, 10 was a revolution. It is the great equaliser. Can everyone afford a Mac or run Linux? No. But anyone can run Windows. The issue is, it’s losing some of that efficient powerful function it had during 7. 

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Bluetooth is so infamously broken on Windows that gaming wireless headphone makers for PC sell headphones with their own USB transmitters and proprietary stuff to avoid the lag. They use keywords “eliminate delays” “eliminates lag”. People are using TWS buds with android gaming mode also to get around Windows lag in all scenarios, it’s only meant for lag with gaming. On windows it must be used just to watch a film with no audio delay. Windows does this so badly an entire industry is running around it. You won’t get lag or delay like this on iOS, you won’t get lag like this on Linux, you won’t get lag like this on Mac, you won’t even get lag as bad as this on cheap Android phones - the lag android users complain about is lower than Win11 lag. Maybe 100-150 ms. 

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I spent all day Sunday trying lots of fixes suggested online:

  • Disabling Bluetooth personal area networks
  • Disabling talk mode
  • Restarting over and over
  • Turning Bluetooth off and on again.

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A small amount of quietly raved about doing these, and after i did all that, what did it achieve? Little. Audio still out of sync with lips on TV and Movie shows on my laptop.

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And it’s not just delayed audio. Windows lags so badly with Bluetooth devices that people complain Bluetooth mice stutter around the screen and take almost a second to catch up sometimes.

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What do you all think about the fact this issue still hasn’t been fixed?

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.

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-10-04T17:31:23+00:00

    Thanks for sharing the fix! However, my Bluetooth device doesn't show up as a microphone source in sound settings, any idea how I should proceed? Thanks a lot

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-10-05T21:34:55+00:00

    Thanks for sharing the fix! However, my Bluetooth device doesn't show up as a microphone source in sound settings, any idea how I should proceed? Thanks a lot

    I just got my car to pair to my laptop with both audio and mic input when at first it was audio only. First forget the device from bluetooth devices. Then then go to settings, sound and down to Input. There should be a button for "Pair New Device". Enter the device into pair mode and add it. After doing that, I was able to connect to the device from the Bluetooth Devices menu and it listed Audio and Mic.

    It still didn't fix my lag issues but here's hoping you have success!

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-10-05T21:39:24+00:00

    What's strange about my lag problem is that on my old laptop everything was fine. On my new laptop there is lag while pairing to the same device. In this instance I am pairing to my car, but the lag makes watching YouTube or Netflix impossible.

    The laptops are several years apart in make and I am now on Windows 11 instead of 10, but I cant make heads or tails of it. Unless the new hardware is now incompatible with my older 2011 car. I can pair my new bluetooth headphones no problem and there is no lag. It's a shame because I liked using my car's sound system to watch Netflix while I have down time at work.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-10-19T17:49:13+00:00

    This was an amazing fix for the problem that I had.... You are my hero.

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  5. Anonymous
    2023-11-26T23:46:22+00:00

    I found this little option that might be involved. If you don't show it, maybe it is the driver you are using. I will need to do more research.

    The only place I see this option is on the properties for the headset in the Devices and Printers section. You can get to it uising the Bluetooth & Devices > Devices and the bottom of the page, More devices and printer settings.

    Image

    I am not sure if it has to be on or off in your image. But for me turning it off helped.

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