Windows 10: Phone Link Audio Quality

I am using Phone Link as well as Bluetooth Audio Receiver apps interchangeably to stream audio from my phone to my PC speakers speakers don't have Bluetooth. They both are very choppy. I use a generic Bluetooth 5.0 USB adapter and haven't had any issues with it in the past connecting devices to my computer like earbuds or other peripherals. The audio from my Galaxy S24 is just bad though on my computer and no other devices.

:)

 

Phone Link Audio Quality

Hello,

Before I start, I have already tried everything in MS knowledge and forums...

Just got a new Dell XPS 8960 w/Windows 11 Home/23H2. All updates (Windows and drivers) applied. I am trying to setup the Phone Link with my Google Pixel 6a (Android Phone) running on the Google Fi network. I already have researched the internet for everything posted out there and did everything suggested. Specifically, I have installed/reinstalled all software/updates on PC and Phone. I have gone through all setup instructions with no error/warning messages displayed during setups on either the phone and Windows. Checked and rechecked all permissions/connections on both phone and PC. Here is my problem and current status of operation:







Problem: Audio quality when making/receiving calls...SUCKS!!! Symptoms: phone link makes and receives calls. Very low audio volume heard by caller/receiver. Even with low volume can hear little pops/ticks in the background. Can't say voice is breaking up due to low volume and popping sounds.







Configuration/Operational Status in Phone Link app while running:







1) PC/Phone - Bluetooth and Wireless net connectivity are engaged and displaying they are connected to each other



2) Link to Windows on phone shows connection to PC is there, all permissions for Link to Windows are correct



3) Initiating/Receiving/Disconnecting calls works correctly



4) Text messages and Contacts from phone are downloaded and displayed



5) Sending/Receiving text messages from Phone Link works correctly.



6) Phone notifications are being sent to Phone Link and displaying correctly



7) All microphone and speaker setups are correct on PC/Phone and per tests I ran on PC microphone/speakers. All other multimedia video, audio, recording on PC work correctly.



​



There are two other anomalies I haven't brought up yet and don't know if they are having any impact on this problem:







1) When I attempt to play music from my phone to Phone Link the audio doesn't route to my PC and starts playing from the phone. However, the album art and player controls show up on phone link and work correctly controlling my phone player.



2) I logged into my Microsoft account and went to look at what devices they had recorded for me. They showed my new PC and my Xbox. Under the link to manage Android and iOS devices it doesn't show my phone. I would assume it would have been added when I did the phone link setup. So for whatever reason it isn't listed either under the top level screen or under Android devices. I tried to add it manually but that didn't work either, even though I put in the proper information it asked for.



3) One last thought. Does running on Google Fi network have any impact or the fact that my phone picks up (switches automatically) to running on my house Wi-Fi as the best signal versus my cellular connection? It's my understanding that Phone link is using the Bluetooth connection for initiating and receiving calls as well as call audio and music playing. And uses Wi-Fi for data exchanges of things like call/message logs, notifications, photos, etc.







Any help, knowledge, or suggestions on this would be appreciated!!!



​Regards

 

Garbled Audio Using Phone Link Blue-toothed to Vizio Soundbar

Hi

Welcome to Microsoft community.

It appears that you're encountering audio issues when using Phone Link for phone calls with your new Pixel 7, specifically when connected to your Vizio soundbar or the laptop speakers. This issue seems isolated to Phone Link, as other audio sources work fine with both your soundbar and laptop speakers. Let's explore some troubleshooting steps to help address this problem:

1. Check Phone Link Settings:

• On your laptop, open Phone Link settings and ensure that the audio settings are correctly configured for the soundbar. Confirm that the soundbar is selected as the audio output device for Phone Link.
  

2. Check Sound Settings on Pixel 7:

• On your Pixel 7, navigate to the Bluetooth settings and locate the paired connection with your laptop. Check if there are any specific settings related to call audio routing. Ensure it's set to use the soundbar.
  

3. Update Drivers and Software:

• On your laptop, ensure that your Bluetooth drivers and Phone Link software are up to date. Visit the laptop manufacturer's website and the Phone Link software provider's website to download the latest updates if necessary.
  

4. Test with Other Bluetooth Devices:

• To further isolate the issue, try connecting your Pixel 7 to other Bluetooth audio devices (e.g., headphones, another speaker) and make phone calls to see if the garbled audio issue persists. This can help determine whether the problem is specific to Phone Link or the soundbar.
  

5. Test with a Different Phone:

• If possible, try connecting a different phone to your laptop and soundbar via Phone Link. This can help determine if the issue is indeed related to your Pixel 7 or if it persists across multiple devices.
  

6. Compatibility issue:

• It's possible that there is an incompatibility between the Phone Link feature on your Pixel 7 and the Vizio soundbar. Different devices and software versions can sometimes have compatibility issues, leading to audio problems. In this case, it may be worth checking if there are any firmware updates available for your soundbar or if there are any known compatibility issues between your phone and the soundbar.
  

7. Signal interference:

• Bluetooth signals can be susceptible to interference from other devices or objects. This interference can cause audio quality issues, including garbled sound. Try moving your phone closer to the soundbar or eliminating any potential sources of interference, such as other Bluetooth devices or physical obstructions.
  

8. Bandwidth limitations:

• Bluetooth connections have limited bandwidth, which means they can struggle to handle high-quality audio streams, especially during phone calls. This limitation can result in audio distortion or garbled sound. You can try adjusting the audio quality settings on your phone or soundbar to see if it makes a difference.
  

Please let me know if you need any further assistance. Thank you.

Best regards

Derrick Qian | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

 

Phone Link Audio Quality

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. I have already done everything you identified in your reply (Turn off audio enhancements, phone and computer on same network, etc.).

New data point:

I installed Intel's Unison software and experienced the same results regarding voice quality and behavior!!!

Logic dictates and tells me that the problem is now localized to a software problem in either Windows, Phone Link, Link with Windows or possibly the audio software (Waves - MaxAudio Pro) that came with my new unaltered vanilla computer. Keep in mind, everything else multimedia wise works properly (music playback, Youtube video playback, my voice recording).

I've also played around with rolling back all drivers (Audio and Bluetooth), etc. with no change in results. So that leads me back to thinking there is some compatibility problem between Windows, Phone Link, Link with Windows, or the phone hardware/software. I am skeptical it's the phone or Link with Windows as I am getting the same results with Unison software.

I see you are titled as a Microsoft Community Support Specialist. As a hardware/software engineer myself, I can see this problem is a little more complex than most front line folks have regarding hardware/software data or internals knowledge of. Since this the case, I hope you could get somebody over in Engineering to look at this? I've looked at all available documented/published specs for my hardware (Bluetooth and Audio) and chipsets and can see no incompatibilities. What I don't have visibility into is the software internals that interface with hardware. Obviously, that is Microsoft internal...

Again, thank you for your reply. I hope you can forward this and find someone willing to look at this.

Regards,

Chris