For **** sake, how do I turn off this HandsFree feature that keeps turning on every single time I plug in my headphones?
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Paweł sad
0
Reputation points
Every time I connect my headphones via Bluetooth, that damn HandsFree feature turns on.
I turned it off in
Control Panel
Devices
I disabled its driver in Device Manager.
But it keeps coming back, and I can't turn it off.
Why the hell do you make something that 100% of people turn off?
It's time to switch system to LINUX.
Windows for home | Windows 11 | Devices and drivers
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MUSTAFA SALAH 1,275 Reputation points2026-03-21T23:42:13.1566667+00:00 Try out the below:
Step 1: Disable the Service (The Global Fix)
Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
Locate Bluetooth Audio Gateway Service.
Right-click it and select Properties.
Change Startup type to Disabled.
Click Stop, then Apply and OK.
Step 2: Uncheck Telephony
Open the Control Panel (search for it in Start).
Go to Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers.
Right-click your headphones and select Properties.
Go to the Services tab.
Uncheck the box for Hands-free Telephony.
Click Apply and OK.
Step 3: Disable the Driver
Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
Find the entry that says [Your Headphone Name] Hands-Free AG or Virtual Handsfree.
Right-click it and select Disable device (Do NOT click uninstall, or Windows will just reinstall it next time you plug it in).
Step 4: Disable via Registry
Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
Navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Bluetooth\Audio\HfpRight-click in the right pane and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Name it
HandsfreeEnable.Double-click it and set the Value data to
0.Restart your computer.
Step 5: Disable the "Audio Gateway" Enumerator
Right-click Start > Device Manager.
Expand System Devices (not Sound).
Locate Microsoft Bluetooth Enumerator and Microsoft Bluetooth LE Enumerator.
If you see Bluetooth Hands-free Audio Gateway, right-click and Disable device.
Note: This specific entry in "System Devices" is what often triggers the re-installation in the "Sound" category.
Step 6: Set Default Communication Device
Press Win + R, type
mmsys.cpl, and press Enter.On the Playback tab, right-click your "Stereo" headphones and select Set as Default Device.
Go to the Recording tab. If you have a separate desk mic, set that as Default. If not, right-click the "Hands-Free" headset and select Disconnect (if possible) or Disable.
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