Find the cause step by step
- Open Settings › Bluetooth & devices and check that Bluetooth is on. If the option isn’t there, the PC has no Bluetooth: use a USB adapter.
- If the headphones are already listed, click the three dots › Remove device.
- Put the headphones in pairing mode and click Add device › Bluetooth. Turn off Bluetooth on your phone while pairing.
- Connected with no sound? Go to Settings › System › Sound › Output, pick the headphones’ stereo output and play the test above.
Symptom, cause and fix
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No Bluetooth option at all | PC without Bluetooth or a missing driver | USB Bluetooth adapter or install the maker’s driver |
| Headphones don’t show up in the search | Connected to the phone or not in pairing mode | Turn off Bluetooth on the phone and enter pairing mode |
| Connected but no sound | Windows output set to another device | Pick the headphones in System › Sound › Output |
| Muffled, phone-call sound | “Headset” (hands-free) output in use | Pick “Headphones”; hands-free mode turns on when an app uses the headset mic |
| Used to work and stopped | An update or a corrupted pairing | Remove, restart the PC and pair again |
Where to find it on your device
- Windows 11: Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Add device › Bluetooth.
- Windows 10: Settings › Devices › Bluetooth & other devices › Add Bluetooth or other device.
- Mac: System Settings › Bluetooth › Connect next to the headphones.
Related questions
Why does the sound get bad when I open Discord or Teams?
When an app uses the Bluetooth headset’s mic, the headphones switch to hands-free mode, which has phone-call quality. Use the laptop’s mic or a separate mic and keep the headphones as output to keep stereo sound.
Windows says “Connected” but there’s no sound. What now?
Windows connected them but is still sending sound to the speakers. Click the sound icon on the taskbar and choose the headphones as output.
Do I need a driver for my headphones?
No. Windows uses a generic driver for headphones. What needs an up-to-date driver is the computer’s Bluetooth adapter.
My Bluetooth headphones don’t show up on the PC. What should I do?
Put them in pairing mode and, on Windows 11, use Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Add device › Bluetooth. If the PC finds no devices at all, check in Device Manager that it has a working Bluetooth adapter.
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Open the full headphone test →
Updated November 12, 2026.