Bluetooth Headphone problems: 5 Most-Common Issues (Solved)

Are you planning on buying Bluetooth headphones? Some people say wired is better, but is that really true?

Here are some of the problems you may encounter with Bluetooth headphones, which can help you make an informed decision before buying.

Check our guide to the best headphones without Bluetooth and wi-fi.

1. My Device Cannot Find Bluetooth Headphones

The first thing you need to do when using Bluetooth headphones is pair them with the device you want to listen to. That means making sure that your device can “find” your Bluetooth headphones.

Note, we have a full guide here on how to pair your wireless Bluetooth headphones.

But suppose your device can’t find your Bluetooth headphones. How do you resolve this?

• The first thing you need to check is if the Bluetooth headphones are on. Some Bluetooth headphones have an automatic off feature if left idle and unpaired for a specific period.
• Once you’ve checked if your Bluetooth headphones are on, you should then check the compatibility of your Bluetooth headphones with the operating system.
  • • For the most part, this won’t be a problem as most of the smartphones that are still operational run at least Android 4.3 (the latest version is already at Android 10) or iOS 7 (the latest being 14.6).
    • The same can be said for computers, as many of the computers now would be running operating systems that are at par with the current Bluetooth standards.
• The next thing to check is the distance between the device and Bluetooth headphones. Although Bluetooth devices have longer ranges, you can get the best result if the headphones and devices you’re pairing are within three feet of each other.
• One thing that many consumers fail to do is check the recommended process for pairing Bluetooth headphones.
  Not all devices have the same process in pairing, which is why you ought to check what the manufacturer suggests to do in pairing your Bluetooth headphones.
• If that does not work, try turning off and on both devices. You might just need a quick reboot.
• Another thing to do would be to stay away from other Bluetooth-enabled devices. Your headphones might be pairing with another device, instead of your phone or computer. If you can, disable Bluetooth on other devices you don’t need for now.
• Lastly, try moving away from the Wi-Fi router. There’s a good chance that your headphones and Wi-Fi router are using the same spectrum, which causes it not to appear in your list of available devices.

2. The Device Cannot Pair with Bluetooth Headphones

Once you manage to find your Bluetooth Headphones in the list of available devices, it’s time to pair it.

But sometimes, the pairing doesn’t happen on the first try. The pairing may seem like it’s taking forever, or you get an error message.

So, how do you solve this pairing issue?

• The first thing to do is remove other Bluetooth connections that you don’t need, especially if you have another pair of Bluetooth headphones or speakers paired to your device. Not all devices can override your existing pairing with new Bluetooth headphones.
• If that does not work, consider restarting both devices and try pairing them after.
• And as noted previously, consider other interferences that may affect the pairing of your devices.

3. Bluetooth headphones keep on disconnecting from my device

It can be quite annoying when after you connect your Bluetooth headphones, they then keep on disconnecting after a while. Sometimes it reconnects automatically, and other times you need to do it yourself.

That really can get on your nerves, especially when you’re in the middle of a video call, or just in the zone to relax.

So how do you deal with this?

• First of all, make sure that your Bluetooth headphones and device are within range. Not all devices have the same Bluetooth range, which is why you need to remain within a certain distance. If you start getting too far away from the device, your connection will start dropping. Just because it’s wireless, it doesn’t mean you can go too far!
• Next, your Bluetooth headphones must have enough power. Remember that electronic devices need power to stay reliable. That’s why the more juice your battery has, the better it can perform. But as a safety precaution, don’t charge and use your Bluetooth headphones at the same time.
• The next thing you can do is unpair and re-pair the Bluetooth headphones.
• If it still doesn’t work, try restarting both devices.
• Lastly, if you have another device or pair of Bluetooth headphones, try pairing them.
• If nothing will pair, check for firmware updates.
• If there is no firmware update available, contact the manufacturer for support. They can point you to any updates that your device may need.

3. Bluetooth Headphones have static

Even as Bluetooth technology has improved over the years, it is still prone to interference.

You may hear some static or cracking sounds on your headphones, which is never a pleasant sound.

So how do you deal with the interference?

• The first thing to do is disable or turn off the Bluetooth function of any unused devices in the area. Having Bluetooth active for idle devices may be causing interference between two devices.
• The second thing to look into is resetting your Bluetooth headphones. The process varies per manufacturer, so it’s best to consult the user manual.
• Third, try turning on your media player then unpair your Bluetooth headphones for 30 seconds. Then try re-pairing them to see if the static goes away.
• Try keeping your device closer to your headphones and see if the static disappears.
• If your Bluetooth headphones have the option for a wired connection, like the Marshall Majors, try connecting via cable.

If the static is still there, it means the headphones have the problem and may need repair by an authorized service center.

4. There’s a delay in sound with Bluetooth headphones

Are you noticing some delay in the sound coming from your Bluetooth headphones? If you’re watching a film, and are trying to get fully immersed into the story, it can be annoying for the audio to be late.

This problem is called latency.

To give you an idea of how “normal” latency is, wired headphone connections have a latency between 5 to 10 ms. On the other hand, the latency of Bluetooth headphones can go from 34 to 300ms (which usually happens for low-quality, true-wireless Bluetooth headsets).

So what if you only use your Bluetooth headphones for listening to music, will it matter? The answer is yes! Latency affects how you hear the very beginning and of a song. You may hear some tracks starting a bit late in the first bar of the song, which is latency at work.

Latency is affected by the following:

• Bluetooth Codecs
• Bluetooth versions
• Interference
• Distance between devices

Latency is a common occurrence, but the intensity is something that can be remedied to unnoticeable levels.

So how do we solve latency issues?

Pick the best codec to match your smartphone or computer

Each device uses a particular codec, and it would be good to find a Bluetooth headphone that matches these codecs.

To give you an idea of the codec, you’re going to encounter the following codecs:

• aptX
• aptX HD
• aptX LL
• LDAC (Sony codec)
• LC3
• Samsung Scalable (Samsung’s codec)

Look for a Bluetooth headphone that matches these codecs to get the best results. These codecs are way better compared to SBC, which is almost 20 years old.

Match Bluetooth versions

Ensuring that your Bluetooth versions match means better latency. Using two versions only gives you the effectiveness of the older version.

Thus, if you want to lower latency, make sure that your Bluetooth versions match, and make sure you go for the higher version, especially if you use Bluetooth 5.0, which has improved connectivity.

If these fixes don’t work, let’s dive into the specific fixes per platform.

Fixing Bluetooth issues on Windows

If you’re having latency (or other Bluetooth-related issues) with Windows, the first thing you should do is reset your Bluetooth headphones.

• Resetting disconnects all other pairings you may have with your headphones. It gives your Bluetooth headphones a clean slate to start with.
• Latency is also caused by outdated drivers. You should keep the Bluetooth drivers of your Windows computer updated to ensure a smoother performance.
• You can update the Bluetooth drivers by going to the Device Manager and right-clicking the arrow beside Bluetooth. Look for your headphone name, right-click, then click on Update Driver. Follow the prompts to proceed.

Use the Windows Audio Playback Troubleshooter

If you use Windows 10, there’s a built-in troubleshooter that can fix common problems, including Bluetooth connectivity. Here’s how to use it.

• Right-click the speaker icon in the lower right corner of the taskbar and click on the Troubleshoot Sound Problems.
• Choose your Bluetooth headphones in the list that appears.
• Follow the prompt to initiate the troubleshooting.

Rebooting the Windows Audio Service

The last option for troubleshooting Bluetooth issues on Windows is restarting the Windows Audio Service.

The Windows Audio Service handles all audio-related playback and output for your computer.

If you want to restart it:

• Hold the Windows key on your keyboard and press R to launch the Run dialog box.
• Input services.msc and click enter.
• Look for Windows Audio in the Window, then right-click and open Properties.
• Go to the General tab then click Automatic.
• Click on the Recovery tab then select Restart the Service for First Failure and Second Failure.
• Repeat these steps for the Windows Audio Endpoint Builder
• Restart your computer then re-pair your Bluetooth headphones.

Fixing Bluetooth Latency on Mac computers

For those who use the Mac OSX, here are your options to fix latency and other Bluetooth audio-related issues.

Delete old Bluetooth Files

Some old Bluetooth files can cause connectivity issues with your audio devices. They may be corrupted already, which causes these issues.

You can delete these files to resolve latency and other Bluetooth-related problems.

• On the Finder, click Go and choose Go to Folder.
• Type /Library/Preferences then click Go.
• In the window that appears, look for com.apple.Bluetooth.plist then right-click and select Move to Trash.
• Repeat this process, but instead, type ~/Library/Preferences/ByHost after selecting Go to Folder.
• Look for the file com.apple.Bluetooth.xxxxxxxx, where “xxxxxxxx” is a unique alpha-numeric code that differs from each computer and Move to Trash.
• After deleting the file, restart your Mac and try re-pairing your Bluetooth Headphones.

Mac Bluetooth Module Reset

Here’s another option for fixing Bluetooth-related issues for Mac computers.

• Press and hold the Shift and Option keys at the same time. The Menu bar will appear with the Bluetooth menu.
• Click on Debug then select Remove all Devices to unpair Bluetooth devices currently paired with your Mac.
• Repeat the process, but instead of clicking Remove All Devices, select Reset Bluetooth Module.
• Try re-pairing your Bluetooth headphones and other devices.

Android and iOS devices

For mobile devices, the best way to fix latency would be to use Bluetooth headphones that support the audio codecs of your devices.

For instance, Apple devices stand to benefit from Bluetooth headphones that are compatible with the AAC codec, which is Apple’s preferred codec. Android, meanwhile, would have better results from using Bluetooth headphones that are compatible with aptX LL and aptX HD codecs.

For manufacturer-specific codecs, check if these codecs are activated and get a Bluetooth headphone that supports them.

General Pros and Cons of Bluetooth Headphones

No need for any dongles to connect

Unlike other wireless devices, Bluetooth headphones can pair quickly with your computer or smartphone. You don’t have to worry about forgetting unplugging or damaging any dongles.

Just a few taps and you’re connected.

No need to worry about damaged cables.

One of the things that break frequently on headphones is the cables. They get tangled and pulled, which can render them useless.

With Bluetooth, you don’t need to worry about the potential damage.

Bluetooth headphones are easy to store

Since you don’t have any cables to worry about, it’s easy to store Bluetooth headphones. A snug pouch will suffice.

Bluetooth headphones provide hands-free control

You can find the basic buttons you need, without having to mess with controls on your phone or computer.

You get volume control, skip track, and a reject or accept call button in one device.

And because everything is consolidated, you can do other chores while keeping your phone in your pocket.

Disadvantages of Bluetooth Headphones

• They rely on battery life.
• Not all Bluetooth headphones have the option for wired control.
• They generally cost more than wired headphones.

 

Sources:

Common problems and solutions for wireless Bluetooth headphones

How to Fix Sound Delay in Bluetooth Headphones