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Bluetooth headphone cannot be a sound output device

noel lapin 306 Reputation points
2021-07-29T13:46:25.037+00:00

Hello. This is not an urgent problem.

Several months ago, a Bluetooth headset could be used as a speaker and a mic.
But now the headset does not appear as a sound device even connected.

I bought a Bluetooth dongle, connect it to the sound jacks and there is no problem.
But I hope to know the cause.
Anyone experienced the same thing?

The headset was v4 and I tried another v5 headset but in vain.
Both become "connected" but do not appear in the sound device page of the Windows Settings as before.
Windows 10 HOME 21H1, desktop PC.
Chkdsk, dism, sfc reported nothing.
The sound devices and Bluetooth devices are once uninstalled and reinstalled via PC reboot.

I will appreciate any suggestions.
Thank you for having read.

Windows 10
Windows 10
A Microsoft operating system that runs on personal computers and tablets.
11,197 questions
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  1. noel lapin 306 Reputation points
    2021-08-07T00:43:47.8+00:00

    2nd report, maybe final.

    Conclusion: I couldn't find the cause.
    Remedy: Fresh re-install Windows, but I think it's not cost-effective.

    To fresh install, you need an iso file.
    Download the iso file to C: drive, right-click it and select "Mount", double-click the setup.exe.

    There are three options when fresh install:
    (A) with old data and programs
    (B) with old data
    (C) with nothing

    The headset worked in (B) and (C), not in (A).

    In (A), Windows is mostly intact, but Firefox was removed, and the default language was changed from English to German somehow.
    In (B), start menu had many holes.

    In (B) and (C), when the headset connected, in the registry, there appeared some entries in
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MMDevices\Audio\Render]

    These entries do not appear in (A) and my current environment.

    I tried to uninstall many programs but in vain.

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  1. Reza-Ameri 16,866 Reputation points
    2021-07-29T15:35:18.33+00:00

    Take a look at:
    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/fix-sound-problems-in-windows-10-73025246-b61c-40fb-671a-2535c7cd56c8
    Follow all steps there and in case problem persist, report it through the Feedback Hub app.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
  2. Jenny Feng 14,101 Reputation points
    2021-07-30T06:52:18.427+00:00

    @noel lapin
    Hi,
    The problem may be with your driver.
    It may be incapable of functioning as a playback device. Search for the right software, or contact the Support of the manufacturer.
    Fix connections to Bluetooth audio devices
    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/fix-connections-to-bluetooth-audio-devices-09ba2fb1-9472-9259-bd05-9306dd839f21

    Also, you could try the following steps:

    1. In Start , search for "devices and printers", found your device (speaker)
    2. Right click to show properties, under Services, check "audio sink", click "apply" then the speaker works.

    Hope above information can help you.

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    1 person found this answer helpful.
  3. noel lapin 306 Reputation points
    2021-07-31T07:21:46.227+00:00

    A progress report. I reinstalled fresh 21H1 and the old Bluetooth headset worked fine as in months ago.

    During these months, I applied 1)a BIOS firmware update, 2)Windows updates, and 3)software updates, where 1) and 2) are excluded now. I will post any findings.