Solved All bluetooth headphones are being set as headsets

bensimpson1981 · Mar 19, 2023

SlicEnDicE said:
Another method:
Go to Control Panel --> Hardware and Sound --> Devices and Printers
Find your BT headset --> select Properties
In Properties window navigate to Services TAB and disable Hands-Free Telephony

Try to reconnect to the headset

To use the mic in conferencing, you have to re-enable this service.

Tried that too still will not connect to the headphones.

SlicEnDicE · Mar 19, 2023

BTW, I am using the exact same Intel driver on my laptop, on an bit older Intel card than yours, as I just posted. It works great. So it is not a Windows 11/BT driver issue. It must have to do with your BT mic audio routing...or something. Your system, for some reason, is trying to always use Hands-free mode. I don't have this issue...but if I recall correctly, I have ran into this sort of stuff before...

SlicEnDicE · Mar 19, 2023

bensimpson1981 said:
Tried that too still will not connect to the headphones.

This is really weird. Maybe your BT module is broken...

SlicEnDicE · Mar 19, 2023

Can you connect to the headset at all after disabling the hands-free service?

Edwin · Mar 19, 2023

Bluetooth is still horrendously finicky!
There are so many different devices and controllers with different capabilities.
I've tried so many different devices on my laptop..., then, miraculously, my Jabra Earbuds were the only ones to connect properly as soon as I take them out of the case, so I Disabled the rest.

Works flawlessly now! Gotta play around with it a lot.

SlicEnDicE · Mar 19, 2023

Edwin said:
Gotta play around with it a lot.

I agree

Edwin · Mar 19, 2023

I've had all kinds of weird connection issues with other devices, but, with the Jabra's, I got lucky!
I did set them as Default Device as soon as they made connection, and checked Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device, after that, they cooperate flawlessly so I left it the hell alone!
Other devices, not so lucky! Whaddaya gonna do!?

SlicEnDicE · Mar 19, 2023

Ok, I just paired my Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds to my Windows 11 laptop and it works flawlessly.
Started playing audio in Spotify and it was full DVD audio quality. Went into Sound Setting in control panel and checked which playback device was used. It was indeed connected as headphones. Then I switched to the Recording tab and the audio switched straight away to HF mode (conferencing mode). Which was expected. Went back to Playback tab and audio went back to full DVD quality.

I get exact same behavior using my Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones, which I have been using for years.

Edwin · Mar 19, 2023

SlicEnDicE said:
... Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds

Damn it! I came this

close to buying those yesterday! Couldn't do it!

They are the best!

My apologies for hijacking the thread momentarily!

SlicEnDicE · Mar 19, 2023

bensimpson1981 said:
Tried that too still will not connect to the headphones.

You still have not responded to this. Did it connect at all, or still connecting in HF mode?

SlicEnDicE · Mar 19, 2023

Edwin said:
Damn it! I came this close to buying those yesterday! Couldn't do it!

View attachment 55739

lol, they are a bit pricey. I closed my eyes and pressed BUY, and then never looked back. Same situation when I paid 350€ for my XM3

Bastet · Mar 19, 2023

When the same happened to me with my Beats headphones I tried everything (updating drivers, rolling back drivers, restoring an 11 image to before I noticed the problem, removing the headphones from BT) including pairing other headphones. I had to return to Windows 10 (via image) then upgrade to 11 again before they would work. Others have said they noticed the problem after using CCleaner to update the BT driver but I hadn’t used this.

Winuser · Mar 19, 2023

Edwin said:
Bluetooth is still horrendously finicky!
There are so many different devices and controllers with different capabilities.
I've tried so many different devices on my laptop..., then, miraculously, my Jabra Earbuds were the only ones to connect properly as soon as I take them out of the case, so I Disabled the rest.
Works flawlessly now! Gotta play around with it a lot.

View attachment 55734

My Bose Soundbar works too good with my desktop. I had to unpair them from my computer. Every time I started my computer they would disconnect from the TV and connect to the computer.

spapakons · Mar 19, 2023

To the OP: Disable Bluetooth from the switch or key combination if any. If you have neither, disable it from Settings. Then go at Device Manager, reveal hidden devices and uninstall ALL Bluetooth devices, including speakers, earphones, services, everything. Restart the computer. Go to Device Manager again and confirm there is no Bluetooth devices (if switched off by switch or key combination). If you had disabled from Settings, Windows might have installed it again. Test to see if it works properly. If it was disabled by switch or key combination, enable it again and let Windows install drivers. See if it works properly. Next you can install the official manufacturer drivers and check functionality again.

bensimpson1981 · Mar 19, 2023

SlicEnDicE said:
This is really weird. Maybe your BT module is broken...

SlicEnDicE said:
Can you connect to the headset at all after disabling the hands-free service?

SlicEnDicE said:
You still have not responded to this. Did it connect at all, or still connecting in HF mode?

spapakons said:
To the OP: Disable Bluetooth from the switch or key combination if any. If you have neither, disable it from Settings. Then go at Device Manager, reveal hidden devices and uninstall ALL Bluetooth devices, including speakers, earphones, services, everything. Restart the computer. Go to Device Manager again and confirm there is no Bluetooth devices (if switched off by switch or key combination). If you had disabled from Settings, Windows might have installed it again. Test to see if it works properly. If it was disabled by switch or key combination, enable it again and let Windows install drivers. See if it works properly. Next you can install the official manufacturer drivers and check functionality again.

If it were the Bluetooth module being broken than disabling in bios and installing the addon Bluetooth adapter should have fixed it but it did not.

No they still don’t connect to headphones after handsfree has been disconnected.

And tried that last recommendation as well no luck.

Edwin · Mar 19, 2023

I just got lucky pairing my Jabra cans as well. When I take them off and fold them, they disconnect and shut off, then Windows switches to speakers (as Default) automatically and back.
And, I didn't even need to enable HandsFree mode on the Recording Tab.
@bensimpson1981 Maybe check with the headset manufacturer to see if they're defective.

badrobot · Mar 19, 2023

This is really a weird issue.
Is it possible that you have one bluetooth device connected to your PC that messes up with all the other bluetooth? Have you tried disconnecting all your bluetooth devices and just connect one headphone?

bensimpson1981 · Mar 19, 2023

Edwin said:
I just got lucky pairing my Jabra cans as well. When I take them off and fold them, they disconnect and shut off, then Windows switches to speakers (as Default) automatically and back.
And, I didn't even need to enable HandsFree mode on the Recording Tab.
@bensimpson1981 Maybe check with the headset manufacturer to see if they're defective.

View attachment 55810

badrobot said:
This is really a weird issue.
Is it possible that you have one bluetooth device connected to your PC that messes up with all the other bluetooth? Have you tried disconnecting all your bluetooth devices and just connect one headphone?

All six headphone tried work flawlessly on any other pc. It is not the headphones.

Yeah I have tried disconnecting absolutely but the headphone with no luck, still run into the same problem. It is really weird.

Edwin · Mar 19, 2023

bensimpson1981 said:
All six headphone tried work flawlessly on any other pc. It is not the headphones.

Yeah I have tried disconnecting absolutely but the headphone with no luck, still run into the same problem. It is really weird.

I'm at a loss! Sorry chief, keep pluggin away at it, you'll sort it eventually!

badrobot · Mar 19, 2023

bensimpson1981 said:
It is not the headphones.

I am not just referring to bluetooth headphones. Any other bluetooth device that you might have connected as well. Maybe a mouse or keyboard. I don't know. Just wondering if you have any other bluetooth devices besides headphones.