Windows 10: Is there a way to fix airpods working with mono audio off?

I recently started having a problem with my airpods when id use them with my windows 11 laptop. The sound would stop playing completely if i had my airpods connected unless i had the mono audio setting on in settings. I did a sound test but no sound was being produced at all. Does anyone know how to fix this as id rather use spatial audio for games and other things.

:)

 

AirPods not working in stereo mode. Hands-Free works but very poor quality.

Hi Kayla. I'm Greg, an installation specialist, 10 years awarded Windows MVP, and Volunteer Moderator, here to help you.

See fixes for Airpods microphone and Stereo mode:

https://www.reddit.com/r/airpods/comments/f7jpj...

https://www.idownloadblog.com/2019/02/20/why-an...

https://9to5mac.com/2019/02/20/enable-mono-audi...

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and keep me posted. If you'll wait to rate whether my post resolved your problem, I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

______________________________________________

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Mono audio (ease of access) plus Listen to Microphone (audio control)

I find that if I set mono, then restart, then test as I posted, it's mono.

This suggests another snaglet in 2004/20H2.

Another option for you might be to use the bat file in the tutorial and run that at startup.
Turn On or Off Mono Audio in Windows 10

I've asked about 20H2 after that tutorial for you.
Turn On or Off Mono Audio in Windows 10

 

Mono audio (ease of access) plus Listen to Microphone (audio control)

I wish to have my Windows 10 (20H2) machine listen to microphone (relay audio from sound input device to sound output device) and be in Mono audio mode (combine left and right input sound streams and send the combined result to both left and right output sound stream) at start-up.

The "Turn on Mono" setting does not appear to take effect until after an (any?) application using windows sound is started. The "listen to microphone" setting IS in effect at start-up (however, the audio flow is still stereo, which is not intended.)

Here is the step-by-step:

1. Start Windows 10, no audio-based application running
2. Ease of Access > Audio > Turn on Mono
3. Sound Control Panel > Recording > (double click on) Microphone > Listen > [x] Listen to this Device

4. Reboot.

5. At this point, the "Turn on Mono" setting does not appear to be in effect (left and right audio channels are still distinct)

6. Start (any) windows sound application

7. At this point, the "Turn on Mono" setting DOES appear to be in effect (left and right channels are merged at input, and the merged audio is presented to both left and right audio outputs)

8. Stop the windows sound application

9. At this point, the "Turn on Mono" setting DOES appear to be in effect (left and right channels are merged at input, and the merged audio is presented to both left and right audio outputs)

Repeatable beginning at step 4.

I imagine this is not intended behavior, and I'm wondering if it's an oversight in Windows 10?

Thanks for any advice or attempts to duplicate this sequence.

Dave