Windows 10: Bluetooth headphones can't use stereo, only hands free audio

Hello there!I recently bought new headphones. I never had Bluetooth headphones before so I also had to buy a usb bluetooth dongle.I can connect my headphones but if I connect them, I can only use them with hands free audio and not with stereo audio. In the bluetooth settings they also only show up as "voice connected" and not "voice and audio connected". I do have audio though but it's really bad because it's only the hands free audio. There is no possibility for me to select them as stereo audio because it just doesn't exist. I have already tried everything but I didn't find any solution so f

:)

 

Stereo Bluetooth Headphones do not reproduce stereo sound

Bluetooth 4.x headsets (headphones with microphone) have two modes:
1. Stereo headset speakers with NO microphone
2. Mono headset speakers with microphone

I see in the listing for your headphones it shows a microphone. Make sure your the audio is configured correctly so that you have stereo headphone speakers.

With your headphones connected with Bluetooth

Left-click on little speaker (bottom right on desktop)





You should see current speaker for computer
In this example headphones in stereo is selected





If you click on Headphones you will bring up all options





To see more…
Right-click on little speaker (bottom right on desktop)





Select Sounds from list





If you want Stereo Headphones but NO microphone

Select Playback tab
Make sure Headphones is the current playback device





Select Recording tab
Make sure Microphone array (or similar) is the current recording device

 

Computer Won't Use Headphone Mic

Are you using a wired or wireless connection?

If you are using Bluetooth you will find there is a gotcha when using a headset with a microphone. With Bluetooth 4.x there is not enough bandwidth for both the headset's stereo speakers and the microphone at the same time. If the headset's speakers are used in mono mode then the microphone will work. Here is the information from my computer:
I I left-click on speaker icon on taskbar tray I see my options for the speakers:

• Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio) = Laptops built-in speakers
• Headphones (Arctis 3 Bluetooth Stereo) = Headphones stereo mode
• Headphones (Arctis 3 Bluetooth Hands-Free AG Audio) = Headphones mono mode

I found out that if I select "Headphones (Arctis 3 Bluetooth Hands-Free AG Audio)" the headset microphone will work.




However, I found that next time the computer might choose "Headphones (Arctis 3 Bluetooth Stereo)". Then the headset speakers will work but the the headset microphone will not work.

To ensure that the right selection is always done automatically I have to go further and set the default to "Headphones (Arctis 3 Bluetooth Hands-Free AG Audio)".
Note I can always override this at any time. To do this...
I right-click on speaker icon on taskbar tray and left-click on Sounds




The first tab Playback is for the speakers

• Headset = Headphones mono mode
• Headphones = Headphones stereo mode
• Speakers = Laptops built-in speakers

The second tab Recording is for the microphone

• Headset = Headset's microphone
• Microphone Array = Laptop's built-in microphone
• Stereo Mix = N/A

To ensure that both the headset speakers and microphone work at the same time I set the default playback to Headset. This will put the headset in mono mode and allow the microphone to work. Note that if I disconnect the headset the computer will automatically revert back to using the built-in speakers and microphone.

 

Surface Headphones will not switch Bluetooth profiles from Hands-Free to Stereo

Hello,

I am using the Surface Headphones for both music and softphone applications such as dialpad and shoretel connect. When the headphones are initially turned on, the stereo audio (headphones profile) is playing and is great. However, if I need to jump onto
a call, the application will switch to hands-free mode. This is fine and is to be expected, but when I am done with the call, the profile will STAY in handsfree mode. To revert back to my headphones stereo audio, I need to manually navigate to the Sounds and
disconnect the Headset.

I've confirmed that all of my bluetooth drivers are update to date via the device manager and have also tried to uninstall/reinstall the bluetooth drivers. Additionally, my Surface headphones are update to date as per the Cortana Devices app.

Is this something that Windows supports? I would imagine that bluetooth devices should be able to automatically switch between the "Headphones" and "Handsfree" profile.

Thanks,

Ben