Title: Bluetooth Headphones Connected but No Sound on Acer TravelMate (Windows 11)

GAO ZIFENG 0 Reputation points
2026-10-11T10:48:00.75+00:00

I made ai to explain my question briefly

Hi everyone,

I am having an audio issue with my Acer TravelMate laptop running Windows 11. Whenever I connect my HUAWEI FreeBuds SE 2 Bluetooth earbuds, neither the earbuds nor the laptop's built-in speakers produce any sound.

Here are the details of my problem:

  • Laptop: Acer TravelMate

Operating system: Windows 11

Bluetooth earbuds: HUAWEI FreeBuds SE 2

Main issue: The earbuds connect successfully, but no audio can be heard through them.

Troubleshooting steps I have already tried:

Turned off Bluetooth and confirmed that the laptop's built-in speakers work normally.

Checked Windows sound settings and selected the FreeBuds as the audio output device.

Opened the classic Sound Control Panel (mmsys.cpl) and confirmed that the FreeBuds are set as the default playback device.

Checked the volume levels and audio settings.

Set the audio format to 2-channel, 16-bit, 48,000 Hz.

Removed the earbuds from Windows Bluetooth settings and paired them again.

Tested the audio using the Windows Sound Control Panel, but the test sound was completely inaudible.

The earbuds are shown as connected, and Windows recognises them as a playback device. However, they still produce no sound. The laptop's speakers work again when Bluetooth is turned off.

Could anyone suggest what might be causing this issue and how I can fix it? Could it be related to the Bluetooth driver, Windows audio services, or a compatibility issue?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!Title: Bluetooth Headphones Connected but No Sound on Acer TravelMate (Windows 11)

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Performance and system failures
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  1. AI answer

    2026-10-11T10:48:24.53+00:00

    Since the earbuds are already paired, selected as output, set as default, re-paired, and tested at 2 channels, 16 bit, 48000 Hz, the next likely causes are the Bluetooth driver, Windows audio/Bluetooth state, or device compatibility.

    Try this order:

    1. Run the Bluetooth troubleshooter
      • In Windows 11, run the automated Bluetooth troubleshooter in the Get Help app.
      • This checks common Bluetooth audio problems automatically.
    2. Confirm the active output again in Settings
      • Go to Start > Settings > System > Sound.
      • Under Output, make sure the HUAWEI FreeBuds SE 2 is selected.
      • Since the laptop speakers work when Bluetooth is off, this helps confirm Windows is not routing audio to the wrong device.
    3. Update the Bluetooth driver
      • Go to Start > Device Manager.
      • Expand Bluetooth.
      • Right-click the Bluetooth adapter name and select Update driver > Search automatically for updated driver software.
      • Restart the PC after the update.
      • If Windows does not reinstall or refresh the driver correctly, in Device Manager select Action > Scan for hardware changes.
    4. Check for Windows updates
      • Go to Start > Settings > Windows Update.
      • Select Check for updates and install anything available.
      • Restart afterward.
    5. Toggle Bluetooth fully off and back on
      • Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices.
      • Turn Bluetooth off, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on.
      • Reconnect the earbuds and test audio again.
    6. Test with another Bluetooth headset or speaker
      • If another Bluetooth audio device works normally, the FreeBuds are the likely source.
      • If the same no-sound issue happens with multiple Bluetooth audio devices, the problem is more likely on the PC side, such as driver or configuration.
    7. Check A2DP support/compatibility
      • Higher-quality Bluetooth audio playback depends on A2DP support.
      • If calls/connectivity work but media audio does not, that points to a Bluetooth audio profile or compatibility problem.
      • Check the earbuds’ documentation or manufacturer information to confirm A2DP support.
    8. Check whether the audio device is detected correctly
      • Open Device Manager.
      • Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
      • If the audio device is missing, select View > Show hidden devices, then Action > Scan for hardware changes.
      • If needed, install the latest audio driver from the PC or sound card manufacturer and restart.

    Most likely causes in this case:

    • Outdated or incompatible Bluetooth driver
    • Windows update/driver state issue
    • Bluetooth audio profile compatibility issue such as A2DP
    • PC-side audio device detection problem

    If the issue affects only the FreeBuds and another Bluetooth headset works, focus on earbud compatibility or firmware. If all Bluetooth audio devices fail the same way, focus on the Acer Bluetooth and audio drivers first.

    References:

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  2. Kai-H 28,690 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-10-12T10:31:44.0966667+00:00

    Hi, GAO ZIFENG

    Thanks for explaining what you’ve already tried. I wouldn’t assume the earbuds are incompatible yet; there are a couple of different checks worth trying.

    Here are some suggestions you can try:

    Open Settings > System > Sound, select the FreeBuds, and set Audio enhancements to Off, if available. Test again afterward. Audio enhancements can interfere with playback, so this is a useful check before making bigger changes.

    If that doesn’t help, it is suggested that you try temporarily disabling Intel(R) Smart Sound Technology for Bluetooth(R) Audio, but only if that exact entry appears under Device Manager > Sound, video and game controllers. Right-click it and choose Disable device, then test the earbuds. Don’t uninstall it or disable unrelated Intel/Realtek entries. Re-enable it if there’s no improvement.

    If neither helps, please share your exact TravelMate model and Windows version from winver, without posting your serial number.

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