Windows 11 (Bluetooth headsets)
Fix Bluetooth Headset Mic Not Working on Windows 11
Make sure Windows is using the headset microphone (hands-free), then fix permissions and app device selection so people can hear you.
Keep Mic Test open while you adjust Windows + app settings so you can confirm the meter responds immediately.
Bluetooth headsets often “work” for listening while the microphone fails due to the wrong input device, a stuck pairing profile, or Windows privacy blocks. This guide uses a test → fix → re-test loop so you can see exactly what changed.
What this guide covers
- Your Bluetooth headset mic works on your phone but not on Windows 11
- Windows 11 shows the headset mic but call apps can't hear you
- Audio quality drops or switches to hands-free mode when you enable the mic
Quick wins (2 minutes)
- Turn the headset off/on, then disconnect/reconnect it in Windows Bluetooth.
- Settings -> System -> Sound -> Input: pick the headset mic and confirm the Windows input meter moves.
- If you see both “Headphones” and “Headset / Hands‑Free,” use the hands‑free device for the mic (input).
- Settings -> Privacy & security -> Microphone: enable access for apps and desktop apps.
- Close Zoom/Teams/Meet, Discord, OBS, and other tabs that might be holding the mic.
- Rejoin the call after switching devices; many apps don’t switch cleanly mid-call.
Step-by-step fix
- Run Device Check to confirm the headset appears as an input device, then open the DevicePrep Mic Test and select the headset microphone.
- Settings -> System -> Sound -> Input -> choose the headset microphone and set input volume around 70; speak and confirm the Windows input meter moves.
- If Windows meter moves but Mic Test is flat, fix browser permission blocks (site-level mic permissions) and re-run Mic Test.
- Settings -> Bluetooth & devices -> Devices -> remove the headset, then pair it again if the mic disappears or won’t activate.
- Settings -> Privacy & security -> Microphone -> enable “Microphone access” and “Let apps access your microphone,” including desktop apps.
- In Zoom/Teams/Meet, pick the headset mic by name (avoid “Default” while debugging) and restart the app so it reloads devices.
- If enabling the mic makes audio quality drop, that’s Bluetooth hands‑free mode. For important calls, use wired audio or a separate USB mic.
- Restart Windows and retest. If results still flip/flop, test the headset on another computer to confirm whether it’s pairing/profile or hardware.
Deep fixes
Decision tree: where the signal breaks
Start with Device Check to see whether Windows exposes the headset mic to the browser. Then use the DevicePrep Mic Test to verify a live input meter. If the Windows input meter moves but Mic Test is flat, your browser is blocked (site permissions or a managed policy). If Mic Test moves but Zoom/Teams can’t hear you, the app is listening to a different device—select the mic by name and restart the app.
Pick the correct input in Windows 11
Go to Settings -> System -> Sound -> Input and select the headset microphone. Many headsets show multiple names; pick the entry that says Headset or Hands-Free for the mic. Speak and watch the input meter; if it never moves, raise Input volume, toggle the headset mute button, and confirm you did not pick the laptop mic by mistake.
Fix Bluetooth pairing and profile issues
If the headset mic does not show up or keeps disappearing, remove the device in Settings -> Bluetooth & devices and pair it again. Pairing resets the Bluetooth profiles Windows uses for calls. After re-pairing, set the headset microphone as the default input again, then rerun the Mic Test to confirm the meter returns.
Check privacy settings and app device pickers
Windows can block microphones at the OS level even when the headset is connected. Turn on Settings -> Privacy & security -> Microphone toggles, then restart the calling app. In Zoom, Teams, or Meet, open audio settings and select the same headset mic by name so the app does not follow the wrong default device.
Know when Bluetooth is the limiting factor
When you enable the mic, Bluetooth often switches to call audio mode, which can sound thin or delayed. That is normal. If you need clean audio for interviews, training, or streaming, use a wired headset or keep Bluetooth for listening and use a separate USB microphone for speaking.
Quick checklist
- Headset mic appears in Device Check
- Headset mic selected in Mic Test and the meter moves
- Windows input meter moves while speaking
- Microphone privacy toggles enabled (apps + desktop apps)
- Same mic selected inside the calling app (not “Default”)
- Call participants can hear you clearly
FAQs
Why does Windows show two devices for one headset?
Many Bluetooth headsets expose stereo "Headphones" for listening and a separate "Headset" hands-free mode for the microphone. Pick the headset mic for input when you need to speak.
Why does the audio sound worse when the mic is on?
Bluetooth switches into a hands-free call mode when the mic is active. That mode trades audio quality for two-way audio. Use wired audio or a separate mic if you need high-quality sound while talking.
The mic works in the Mic Test but not in Zoom or Teams. Why?
The app is likely using a different input device. Open the app audio settings, pick the same mic by name, then restart the app so it reloads the device list.
Do I need a driver or "Bluetooth audio" app?
Most headsets work with built-in Windows drivers. Update Bluetooth and audio drivers only if the mic never appears or disconnects constantly.
Sources
Documentation referenced while maintaining this guide.
Wrap up
Keep the DevicePrep Mic Test open while you change settings so you can see the meter respond right away. Once your headset mic works, run the Pre-Call Test to confirm camera, speakers, and network too.