Pixel Buds Pro - Audio but no Voice

I have a set of Pixel Bud Pro's that I'd like to use with my personal PC running Windows 11 Pro. That PC was just upgraded from Windows 10 Pro.

On both operating systems, the device will not be found while pairing when using the onboard (to my MoBo) BT (Intel Wireless Bluetooth). However, if I plug in my Asus USB-BT500 dongle, I'm able to pair and connect however I only get audio and can't use the buds for calls.

The same buds work fine on my company provided Windows 11 laptop. The interesting thing is that laptop also has Intel Wireless Bluetooth. It also worked on my previous W10 work laptop.

Bump? Is there anything I can try or do to get this resolved?

I have an MSI motherboard iwth Killer Wi-Fi and BT, now owned by Intel.

My Buds Pro work perfectly fine for audio. I've not tried a call, because, well, I don't make calls from my PC.

How are you making calls from your PC?

johnlgalt said:

I have an MSI motherboard iwth Killer Wi-Fi and BT, now owned by Intel.

My Buds Pro work perfectly fine for audio. I've not tried a call, because, well, I don't make calls from my PC.

How are you making calls from your PC?

Click to expand...

I'm not even trying to do calls. I'm using the microphone test or sound record app to just record myself before I even bother trying to use the buds as a voice device while playing video games (what I really intend to do with it, not calls).

Ahhh. Interesting, as voice tests work for me just fine.

As for why it won't work for voice via the dongle - assuming you've checked for driver updates for that dongle (manually, not through Windows Updates)?

Also, when you look at the Windows Sound settings, what device is the mic set to? I've had to manually set the voice input before because I have multiple input devices, and my Logitech Brio sometimes likes to force using its mic even though I'm using a bi-directional headset.

Connect the Buds Pro, then go to

Windows Settings --> System --> Sound --> Input section

Verify thjat the Buds show up there. If they show up and are not selected, select them.

If they do not show up, scroll down to Advanced section, and then click on that Input devices link, and it will list all the input devices - see if the Buds are there and disabled.

So the device shows fine and I have selected it fine, but when I go to actually give them some sound to do their input function on, nothing is detected.

Yes, I have updated the ASUS USB-BT500 drivers with what the latest is on ASUS' site and not what WU wants me to use.

And it is not muted in Settings, right? Is it also set as default audio for communications?

Yes, also set as default in settings. I've done and checked everything I can think of (I'm a 20yr IT veteran, the first 5-6yrs of my career spent in Help Desk/Desktop Support). My hope was maybe getting a registry hack or some 'black market' (if you will) driver recommendation or something - otherwise I've exhausted my knowledge of Windows and device management for this issue.

OK, cool, I can talk on the same level then, 40+ years here.

I can't understand why a dongle won't allow for input connectivity, unless it does not support BT 4.x or higher. I suspect that is not the case. But, when you pair the Buds Pro, at least when I did, I was asked 2 prompts - the first to accept the Pairing, and the second prompt was allow (contact and message) sharing and such for calls. Do you recall getting that second prompt (I suspect it actually doesn't matter, but I'm curious).

I'm wondering if you may need to disable the onboard BT for the dongle to fully work, that should *not* be the case, but maybe, just maybe, Windows is getting confrused by having both of them there.

Also, long shot - but even though it works on the work lapto pas is with native BT, does the dongle exhibit the same behavior when used on the work laptop?

The ASUS USB-BT500 is a BT5 device that should be backwards compatible, so should be good. As you surmised correctly, I did need to disable the onboard Intel BT in order for the ASUS to work but the ear buds behave the same with both onboard and USB BT. It'll pair okay, I can listen to music fine, but no ability to input my voice to any applications or games.

I have not tried the dongle on the laptop but that is a good idea! I'll test that theory and see what happens!

Cool. Also, when you connect the Buds to the laptop without the dongle, notice that there are separate output and input devices, and each has to be selected. Try to take screenshots or pictures using a phone, and seeing if there is a discrepancy between the input when the Buds are connected to the work laptop and when it is connected to your personal machine, either internal or with the dongle.

Also, I thought you were not able to connect using the native BT because the Buds Pro could not be found, I didn't realize that it does connect but gives the same issue - I really think there is an input device that is locking things up and not letting go of the microphone - any webcams to streaming devices?

Small update: not sure if a recent Windows update has helped but while I couldn't record myself using my Pixel Bud Pro's in the "Sound Recorder" app or using Adobe Audition, I was able to record myself using Audacity. No other changes have been made. Seems to be at least software specific now vs system wide.

I have same problem with windows phone, I can hear the other person but they can't hear me.
A solution that temporarily works is to remove paired devices on both endpoints, restart PC and then pair them again from zero.
It seems to be some issue around BT.

And recoding your voice with microphone, you want to set it to 100% and disable other microphones if there are others.
Settings -> System -> Sound -> More sound settings

Here under recording disable all microphones except the one you'll be using.
Click the one you'll be using and click Properties
Here under "Levels" tab set Microphone boost to 100%

Microphone should be connected to correct jack which is red Mic-In jack, not blue Line-In or Green Line-Out.