Bluetooth Headset Causes Game Crashes on Windows 11

Riften Ratt 20 Reputation points
2025-09-07T13:29:57+00:00

When using a Bluetooth headset or earbuds while gaming, the game either freezes or crashes if the headset dies or turns off mid-game.

Various troubleshooting steps have been attempted, including reinstalling devices, updating drivers, disabling exclusivity, and changing the default output device, but the issue persists.

System Information:

  • Feature Version: Windows 11, version 24H2
  • Quality Update: 2025-08 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5063878) (26100.4946)

Any assistance with this problem would be greatly appreciated.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Gaming
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
IGYQ 22,320 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2025-09-07T14:14:46.03+00:00

Hi!

This is a known issue in Windows 11 24H2 where Bluetooth audio stack handoff crashes or freezes apps/games when the audio device disappears mid-session.(Microsoft is aware of this issue and this is included to get a hotfix in a future cumulative update)

For now you can do this workaround.

  1. Enable Stereo Mix

Open Sound Settings → More sound settings → Recording tab.

  • Right-click → enable Stereo Mix.
  • Set it as Default Recording Device (Make sure it’s always enabled). This keeps an audio endpoint alive so Windows has something to fall back to when the headset disconnects.
  1. Switch Default Audio Device to Wired/Fixed Device
  • Set your speakers (or another non-Bluetooth device) as the system default playback device.

In your game, manually select the Bluetooth headset as the output. This way, if the headset drops, the game still sees the “default” device alive.

Was this answer helpful?

0 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.