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Bluetooth headphones stop working when I go fullscreen on any game

Anonymous
2024-06-02T19:59:30+00:00

Hi everyone,

I'm experiencing an issue with my Bluetooth headphones when running any game on my PC. I hope someone here can help me out.

Whenever I launch any game, my Bluetooth headphones work fine initially. I can hear the game audio perfectly when the game is loading and when I have other windows in focus. However, as soon as I click on the game window and it comes into focus, the audio through my Bluetooth headphones stops working. The issue persists even if I switch focus to another window; the PC stops recognizing the headphones entirely. Despite this, the headphones seem to remain connected as I do not hear the usual "disconnected" sound that occurs when they lose connection. Here is what I've tried so far:

  1. Updated Bluetooth and Audio Drivers: Ensured all drivers are up to date.
  2. Set Headphones as Default Device: Made sure my Bluetooth headphones are set as the default audio device.
  3. Disabled Exclusive Mode: Disabled the "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device" option.
  4. Changed Bluetooth Services Settings: Ensured Bluetooth services are set to automatic.
  • My Bluetooth adapter is an Intel model, and I'm using an AMD CPU. I'm not sure if this could be a compatibility issue.
  • The problem is not specific to one game; it happens with any game I try to play.
  • When the issue occurs, the PC stops recognizing the headphones completely, but the headphones do not give a "disconnected" sound, indicating they are still paired.

I'm really at a loss for what else to try. If anyone has experienced a similar issue or has any suggestions (even if it's just to know how to troubleshoot the problem), I would greatly appreciate your help.

Thanks in advance!

-Seiji

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Devices and drivers

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  1. Munkhu 2,690 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2024-06-02T21:36:50+00:00

    Thank you very much for reaching out! As an Independent Advisor and fellow Microsoft user, I'm more than happy to assist you.

    It sounds like you're experiencing a frustrating issue with your Bluetooth headphones when playing games in fullscreen mode. Here are some potential solutions and troubleshooting steps you can try:

    1. Disable Exclusive Mode

    Ensure that the "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device" option is disabled. This can prevent conflicts where a game might try to take exclusive control of the audio device.

    1. Right-click the speaker icon in the system tray and select "Sounds."
    2. Go to the "Playback" tab, select your Bluetooth headphones, and click "Properties."
    3. Navigate to the "Advanced" tab and uncheck "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device."
    4. Click "Apply" and "OK."

    2. Set Communications to "Do Nothing"

    Windows might be reducing or muting the audio when it detects communication activity. Change this setting to prevent it.

    1. Open Control Panel and go to "Hardware and Sound."
    2. Click on "Sound" and then go to the "Communications" tab.
    3. Select "Do nothing" and click "Apply" and "OK."

    3. Disable Hands-Free Telephony

    Bluetooth headphones often have two modes: stereo (high-quality audio) and hands-free (low-quality audio with mic). Disabling the hands-free mode can prevent the system from switching modes.

    1. Open Control Panel and go to "Devices and Printers."
    2. Right-click your Bluetooth headphones and select "Properties."
    3. Go to the "Services" tab and uncheck "Handsfree Telephony."
    4. Click "Apply" and "OK."

    4. Update Bluetooth and Audio Drivers

    Ensure that all your drivers are up to date. Sometimes, outdated drivers can cause compatibility issues.

    1. Open Device Manager.
    2. Expand the "Bluetooth" and "Sound, video and game controllers" sections.
    3. Right-click each device and select "Update driver."

    5. Disable Radeon ReLive (if applicable)

    If you have an AMD graphics card, the Radeon ReLive feature might be causing issues. Disabling it has resolved similar problems for other users.

    1. Open AMD Radeon Settings.
    2. Go to the "ReLive" tab and disable it.

    6. Check for Software Conflicts

    Certain software might interfere with Bluetooth audio. Try disabling or uninstalling recently installed software to see if it resolves the issue.

    7. Adjust Bluetooth Services

    Ensure that Bluetooth services are set to start automatically.

    1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
    2. Find "Bluetooth Support Service," right-click it, and select "Properties."
    3. Set the "Startup type" to "Automatic" and click "Start" if the service is not running.
    4. Click "Apply" and "OK."

    Use a Different Bluetooth Adapter

    If possible, try using a different Bluetooth adapter to see if the issue persists. Sometimes, the built-in Bluetooth adapter might have compatibility issues.

    Check for Game-Specific Settings

    Some games might have specific audio settings that could interfere with Bluetooth audio. Check the audio settings within the game and ensure they are configured correctly.

    Please feel free to reach out if you require any additional assistance. I'm here to help!

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