Windows 10: Airpods input audio format stuck at telephone quality

Whenever I use my AirPod's microphone on my pc the audio quality is horrible. The audio format is stuck at telephone quality and I was wondering how I change it.

:)

 

Why cant i change the input audio format for my Airpods

Whenever I try using the microphone in my AirPods the audio quality is horrible. I tried to fix this issue but the format is stuck on '1 channel, 16 bit, 8000hz (Telephone Quality). The format is stuck at this and it wont let me change it. However, the format for the output audio is '2 channels, 16 bit, 48000hz (DVD Quality). The audio sounds fine when I'm not using the microphone and I think the problem is with the input audio format. All of my Bluetooth drivers are up to date and I have tried almost everything I can I'm not sure what else to do.

 

Why does Windows 11 force Bluetooth headphones (Airpods) input quality to 1 channel, 16bit, 8000hz (Telephone Quality)?

Hi Joey,

I'm Rodrigo and I'll help you.

Unfortunately, this is a limitation of the Bluetooth protocols on computers. When you are using the Bluetooth headset microphone, the audio quality is reduced to handle both audio inputs and outputs. The headset enters in a "call" mode or as you can see on Bluetooth services "hands-free telephony".

This happens with all Bluetooth headsets, not only Airpods.

The only way to have high-quality audio while on a call is by disabling hands-free telephony or disabling the headset microphone, and use another microphone.

 

Why does Windows 11 force Bluetooth headphones (Airpods) input quality to 1 channel, 16bit, 8000hz (Telephone Quality)?

When joining a MS Teams call, using the air pods mic forces ALL sound quality system wide to Telephone Quality.



You have to disable the hands-free service in Bluetooth settings to use the air pods ONLY as speakers, and my laptop mic default to keep sound quality high.

Note that this is a brand-new issue for me as my airpods have worked fine for the last 1.5 years.