Bluetooth headphones buzzes and microphone doesn't work

Question

Bluetooth headphones buzzes and microphone doesn't work

Hoà Lê 0

I know my question looks identical to a lot of questions in the past, but they only had a problem with either the sound or the microphone, but not both at the same time. So I hope that my question isn't a duplicate.

Usually, I can listen to audio on my Windows 11 PC clearly with my Bluetooth headphones. But when I need to use the microphone of the headphones (for Google Meet, Facebook voice clip, some random mic test websites, etc.), the headphones starts buzzing with static noise and the microphone doesn't work at the same time.

I face this problem with different websites, so websites aren't the cause.

Switching internet browsers doesn't fix it, so browser isn't the cause.

Switching headphones doesn't fix it, so headphones aren't the cause.

This doesn't happen on my Android phone, so I think this is OS-related and has to do with Windows 11. Any help is appreciated.

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2 answers

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Answer 1

This behavior matches a common Bluetooth headset limitation in Windows: Bluetooth headsets typically use two different modes.

Stereo (A2DP): better audio quality, no microphone
Hands-Free (HFP/HSP / AG Audio): microphone enabled, lower-quality audio

When Windows switches the headset into the hands-free profile for microphone use, audio quality can degrade, and in some cases the mic profile may fail or behave badly. That fits the symptoms described: clear playback normally, but buzzing/static and no working mic when an app tries to use the headset microphone.

Try these steps in order:

Confirm the headset is selected as the input device
- Go to Start > Settings > System > Sound.
- Under Input, select the Bluetooth headset microphone if it appears.
- Open the device properties and run Start test under Microphone test.
- If the mic does not appear at all, continue with the next steps.
Check microphone privacy permissions
- Go to Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone.
- Turn on Microphone access.
- Turn on Let apps access your microphone.
- If the issue happens in a specific app, make sure that app is allowed there.
- For desktop apps, also turn on Let desktop apps access your microphone.
Make sure Bluetooth is on and the headset is properly connected
- Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices and confirm Bluetooth is turned on.
- If needed, remove and pair the headset again.
Run Windows troubleshooters
- For Bluetooth: run the Bluetooth troubleshooter in the Get Help app.
- For sound input: go to Settings > System > Sound and use the troubleshooting options under Advanced for sound devices.
Reinstall audio devices and drivers If Windows is not detecting the microphone correctly:
- Right-click Start > Device Manager.
- Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
- Right-click each audio device related to the headset and choose Uninstall device.
- If available, check Attempt to remove the driver for this device.
- Restart the PC.
- After restart, return to Device Manager and, if needed, use Scan for hardware changes.
- Then right-click the audio driver and choose Update driver.
Remove old Bluetooth audio entries if the headset mic never appears A moderator-recommended fix for a similar Windows 11 Bluetooth mic issue was:
- Remove saved Bluetooth devices from the PC.
- In Device Manager, remove Bluetooth-related entries under Audio inputs and outputs.
- Restart the PC.
- Pair the headset again and check whether it now shows as connected for mic/audio.
If the headset works only in stereo mode Windows may be using only the stereo profile and not successfully creating the hands-free microphone profile. In that case, a practical workaround is to use:
- the headset for audio output only, and
- a separate microphone for input.

If the headset microphone works on other devices but consistently fails only on Windows 11 when the hands-free profile is needed, that points to a Windows Bluetooth profile/driver issue rather than a browser or website issue.

Answer 2

Clary-N 16,580 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi Hoà Lê,

Thanks for all the testing you’ve already done. There are a couple of things I’d check next that should help narrow down whether this is happening at the Windows audio level or specifically when the Bluetooth microphone mode kicks in.

First, please try the headset with Sound Recorder:

Open Start, search for Sound Recorder and open it.
With the Bluetooth headphones connected, start a short recording.
Speak into the headset microphone for a few seconds, then stop the recording and play it back.

Does the buzzing start there as well and does the recording pick up your voice?

I’d also like to know which Windows build and Bluetooth adapter you have:

Press Windows + R, type winver and press Enter. Please share the version and OS build shown.
Right-click Start > Device Manager, expand Bluetooth and share the name of the Bluetooth adapter listed there.
If you remember, did this start after any Windows or driver update?

One more setting is worth checking:

Open Settings > System > Sound.
Under Output, select your Bluetooth headphones.
Expand Output settings > Format.
If Format when microphone is active is available and currently says Stereo, change it to Mono temporarily and test again.

If you don’t see that option, that’s fine. Not every PC/headset combination exposes it.

You can also select the headset microphone under Settings > System > Sound > Input and temporarily set Audio enhancements to Off, if that option appears.

Please let me know what happens with the Sound Recorder test and what you find under the microphone-active format setting. That should help narrow this down further without repeating the troubleshooting you’ve already done.

Hoà Lê 0 Reputation points

2026-09-29T13:25:36.8933333+00:00

Hi @Clary-N ,

The buzzing started as soon as I started recording. Sound recorder was stuck at 0:00 and couldn't capture my voice. Interestingly, at that moment, the music I was listening to on my PC stopped transmitting to my headphones even though the music player was still playing it. I then stopped recording. The buzzing stopped and I could hear the music again.

This problem did not start after any Windows or driver update.

Windows version 24H2, OS build 26100.9550.

Bluetooth adapter: Generic Bluetooth Adapter. Driver provider: Microsoft. Driver date: 6/21/2006 (my PC is an old laptop).

If by stereo and mono, you mean 2 and 1 channel(s), then the buzzing persisted with both choices. The 1-channel format said "We were not able to set format." The test button didn't emit any sound. I could only hear buzzing. By the way, the input format was "1 channel, 16 bit, 16000 Hz (Tape Recorder Quality)". Audio enhancement of the Output was off during my testing.

Thank you for your assistance!
Clary-N 16,580 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-09-30T08:25:44.32+00:00

Hi Hoà Lê,

Thanks for the detailed results. The Sound Recorder test is particularly helpful because it reproduces the same behavior outside the browser: as soon as the microphone is activated, the buzzing starts, recording stays at 0:00 and normal headphone audio returns when recording stops.

Could you share the manufacturer and exact model of the laptop? Since Device Manager only identifies the adapter as "Generic Bluetooth Adapter," I'd like to check whether the laptop manufacturer provides a Bluetooth/WLAN driver specifically for that model rather than relying on the generic driver currently in use.

One small note: the 6/21/2006 date shown for the Microsoft driver doesn't necessarily mean the Bluetooth hardware is using a driver that old, so I wouldn't use the date alone as an indication that the driver is outdated.
Hoà Lê 0 Reputation points

2026-09-30T08:57:22.6233333+00:00

Hi @Clary-N ,

My laptop is Acer Aspire F5-571-55EJ.
Clary-N 16,580 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-10-01T08:16:51.92+00:00

Hi Hoà Lê,

Thanks for confirming the model. Please visit Acer’s support website and look up the Aspire F5-571 using your laptop’s serial number or SNID. Check for the Bluetooth and wireless LAN drivers Acer provides for your exact configuration and Windows version, then install the applicable updates and restart the laptop.

For privacy, please enter the serial number or SNID only on Acer’s website and don’t post it here publicly.

After restarting, reconnect the headphones and test the microphone again in Sound Recorder. If the same buzzing and 0:00 recording behavior continues, a clean boot would be a reasonable next test to check for interference from third-party software.
Hoà Lê 0 Reputation points

2026-10-02T04:36:10.87+00:00

Hi @Clary-N ,

Acer doesn't provide Bluetooth driver downloads for my laptop on their support page anymore because my model is outdated. Third-party websites hosted three vendors for the bluetooth driver, and I don't know which one is the right one for my laptop.

Their tech support personnel said that if my bluetooth headphones can hear audio, then the bluetooth is working. Probably the problem is that the laptop bluetooth hardware is outdated, so it couldn't meet the newer bluetooth standard of my headphones.
Clary-N 16,580 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-10-02T09:11:22.1333333+00:00
Hi Hoà Lê,

Thanks for checking with Acer and letting me know what they said. Since the correct Bluetooth driver is no longer available from Acer, I wouldn’t recommend taking a chance on drivers from third-party download sites.

I’d try a clean boot next and test the microphone again in Sound Recorder. If it works normally during the clean boot, that would point more toward a background program or service interfering with it.

*Disclaimer: A "clean boot" starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. It helps to determine whether a background service is interfering with your game or program and to isolate the cause of a problem.

These steps of "clean boot" might look complicated at first glance. However, to avoid any trouble for you, please follow them in order and step-by-step so that it will help you get back on track.

If nothing changes and you still get the buzzing with a 0:00 recording, the next option I’d consider is an in-place repair upgrade of Windows. It reinstalls the Windows system files while giving you the option to keep your personal files and installed applications. Before doing the repair upgrade, please back up anything important as a precaution:

Back up anything important first.

Download the correct Windows ISO from Microsoft.

Right-click the downloaded ISO and select Mount.

Open the new mounted drive and run setup.exe.

Select Change what to keep > Keep personal files and apps.

Continue with Install and allow the computer to restart as needed.

Once you’re back in Windows, reconnect the headphones and give the microphone another test.
Clary-N 16,580 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-10-06T08:01:30.3566667+00:00

Hi Hoà Lê,

May I know if you have got any chance to check my answer?

I am glad to help if you have any other questions.
Hoà Lê 0 Reputation points

2026-10-07T01:19:40.58+00:00

Hi @Clary-N ,

I haven't checked your answer yet because I've been very busy lately. I will follow your suggestion and reply to you later. Best regards!
Clary-N 16,580 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-10-07T07:50:51.2033333+00:00

Hi Hoà Lê,

No problem at all. Please take your time, and whenever you have a chance to try the suggestion, feel free to let me know how it goes. I’ll be happy to continue from there if you still need help.

Best regards!