Bluetooth headphones are super handy because they’re wireless and easy to use. But it’s really annoying when your Bluetooth headphones are connected and you can’t find them in the Playback Devices list on your Windows PC. This problem happens a lot with Windows 11, even though the headphones show up in both Bluetooth and the Device Manager. They just don’t work as an audio source. Let’s figure out why this happens and how to fix it.
Also see: How to correctly connect Bluetooth headphones or speakers to Windows 11
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What is the issue?
This issue is pretty unique. You get your Bluetooth headphones to connect to your Windows 11 or 10 computer, but they’re not recognized as audio devices. They won’t show up in the Playback Devices list. This often happens after updating or resetting your computer.
What’s weird is that Windows knows the headphones are there in the “Device Manager” and confirms they’re connected. However, it doesn’t see them as an audio output device. So, even though they’re connected, you can’t select them to play sound.
Linked issue: Playback Devices Not Showing in Windows 10/11 (Fix)
How to fix Bluetooth headphones connected but not showing in Playback Devices
Here are some steps you can take to try and fix the issue where your Bluetooth headphones are connected but not showing up.
Solution 1: Turn off Handsfree Telephony
If you’re stuck with this problem, a solution could be to change the settings for your Bluetooth headphones. Some folks found that turning off the “Hands Free Telephony” option fixed it.
Here’s how to do it:
- Press Win + i to open Settings.
- Choose Bluetooth & devices from the left side.
- Click on “View more devices“.
- Go to the bottom and click “More devices and printer settings“.
- Right-click your Bluetooth headphones or earphones and click Properties.
- Go to the Services tab.
- Uncheck the “Hands Free Telephony” option.
- Hit Apply and then OK.
Note: This fix might stop your headset or earphones’ microphone from working. This might not be a big deal if your laptop has its own mic, but it’s worth thinking about if you use a desktop without another mic around.
Related resource: How to Reinstall Bluetooth Driver in Windows 11
Solution 2: Turn on all Bluetooth services for your headphones
If your headphones have special features like a virtual assistant, fixing them might require messing with device management settings in the Control Panel.
- Open “Devices and Printers” the same way as in the first solution.
- Right-click on your Bluetooth headphones or speakers and choose “Properties.”
- Find a “Services” tab and make sure all services are on. If you don’t see a “Services” tab, look in the “Hardware” tab for similar options.
This could help your headphones connect properly, especially if they’re trying to use internet features or controls on your headphones.
Solution 3: Turn off the microphone on your Bluetooth speaker
Sometimes, a microphone on your Bluetooth headphones can mess with sound playback. Turning off the microphone might fix it.
- Right-click the speaker icon on your taskbar and choose Open Sound settings.
- Scroll down in the Sound settings and click “More sound settings“.
- Go to the “Recording” tab.
- If you see the microphone from your Bluetooth headphones, right-click it and choose Disable.
Doing this makes sure the microphone doesn’t stop audio from playing back properly.
Relevant problem: Bluetooth Not Detecting Devices in Windows 11
Solution 4: Pair again with the right audio profile
Some Bluetooth headphones have different profiles, like one for listening and one for talking. Sometimes, the computer picks the wrong one. Here’s how to fix that:
- Go to Settings by clicking the Start button and the gear icon.
- Go to Bluetooth & devices and click “Devices“.
- Find your headphones in the list, click on them, and choose Remove device.
- Make sure your headphones are ready to pair again (check the manual if you’re not sure how).
- Back in the Bluetooth & devices menu, click on Add device.
- Choose Bluetooth and wait for your computer to find your headphones.
- When it finds them, click on your headphones to pair and connect.
After doing this, your computer should choose the right profile for your headphones.
Related concern: Bluetooth Remove Failed in Windows 11 / 10
Solution 5: Check if your headphones are working right
Sometimes, the problem might not be your computer but the headphones themselves. Try connecting them to another device like a phone or tablet.
If they work fine there, then your headphones are okay, and the problem is with your Windows 11 computer. If they don’t work on another device, you might need to get them fixed or replaced.
Useful tip: How to Change Output Device For Different Apps on Windows 11
Solution 6: Update your Bluetooth drivers
Old or wrong Bluetooth drivers can make your headphones not connect right. Here’s how to update them:
- Right-click the Start button and choose “Device Manager.“
- Open the “Bluetooth” section.
- Right-click your Bluetooth adapter and pick “Update driver.“
- Select “Search automatically for updated driver software” and follow the steps.
After updating your drivers, see if your headphones show up in the Playback Devices list.
Solution 7: Restart Windows audio service
Sometimes, the Windows Audio service gets stuck and won’t see new audio devices like your Bluetooth headphones. Restarting this service might help. Here’s what to do:
- Open the Run dialog: Press Win + R.
- Open Services.msc: Type
services.mscand press Enter to open the Services window.
- Find Windows Audio: Scroll down to find “Windows Audio” in the list.
- Restart the service: Right-click “Windows Audio” and choose “Restart”.
- Check playback devices: See if your Bluetooth headphones are now listed.
If they’re still not showing, you might need to try something else.
Other issue: Bluetooth Disappeared after Windows 11/10 Update (Fix)
Solution 8: Make sure Bluetooth audio services are on
Windows needs certain audio services to manage Bluetooth audio devices. If these aren’t working right, your headphones might not show up. Here’s how to turn them on:
- Get to the Services window: Press Win + R. Type
services.mscand press Enter. - Find Bluetooth audio services: Look for these services:
- Bluetooth Audio Gateway Service
- Bluetooth Support Service
- Turn them on and set to Automatic: Double-click each service, set “Startup type” to “Automatic,” and start them if they’re not running.
- Apply and OK: Save your changes for each service.
- Restart your PC: This makes sure everything is set right.
After restarting, check if your Bluetooth headphones show up in the Playback Devices list. If not, there might be more steps to try.
Final thoughts
Moving to a new operating system like Windows 11 can bring new problems with drivers and hardware that you didn’t have before with Windows 10. But the good news is there are usually ways to fix these issues. Trying these solutions might help, especially when you’re not sure what else to do.
If you’ve tried everything and still have problems, you might want to talk to the people who made your headphones. They might know about specific issues with your model. If you have more questions or need help, online forums and communities like Reddit are great places to look for advice.
