Bluetooth headphones connect but no audio after Windows 11 26H2 update

Vigneshwaran K 0 Reputation points
2026-11-04T17:00:02.66+00:00

I recently updated my PC to Windows 11 version 26H2. After the update, I’m experiencing a Bluetooth audio issue. My Bluetooth headphones successfully pair and show as connected, but no audio is played through the headphones. The same headphones worked normally before the update.

Please investigate whether this is a Windows 11 26H2 Bluetooth audio/driver issue and provide a fix in a future update.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Windows update
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  1. Emma1-N 14,895 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-11-05T00:07:04.8766667+00:00

    Welcome Vigneshwaran K,

    Thank you for posting on Microsoft Q&A. I'm sorry your Bluetooth headphones stopped playing sound after the Windows 11 version 26H2 update. That's frustrating, especially when they worked fine before.

    To narrow this down, could you tell me:

    • What brand and model are your headphones, and what brand and model is your PC (or its Bluetooth adapter)?
    • When audio is playing, does the volume bar for the headphones move in Settings > System > Sound?
    • Does the microphone or call audio work, even if music doesn't?
    • Do other audio devices work normally, such as the built-in speakers, wired headphones or another Bluetooth device?

    In the meantime, please try these steps:

    Step 1: Check the output device

    • Open Settings > System > Sound
    • Under Output, select your headphones. If they appear twice (for example Headphones and Headset or Hands-Free), choose the Headphones (stereo) entry
    • Click the headphones, check that the volume isn't at 0, and try Test

    Step 2: Check the Bluetooth services and pair again

    • Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter
    • Find Bluetooth Support Service and Bluetooth Audio Gateway Service. Right-click each one and select Restart. If a service isn't running, set its Startup type to Automatic and click Start.
    • Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices. Click the three dots next to your headphones and select Remove device
    • Restart your PC, put the headphones in pairing mode, and pair them again.

    Step 4: Update or reinstall the Bluetooth and audio drivers

    • Go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates > Driver updates, and install any Bluetooth or audio drivers listed there
    • If that doesn't help, right-click Start > Device Manager and expand Bluetooth
    • Right-click your Bluetooth adapter (for example Intel, Realtek or Qualcomm) and select Update driver > Search automatically for drivers

    Looking forward to your update.

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