If you've connected your Bluetooth headset to a Windows PC, you might notice it appears as more than one separate devices in your sound settings (e.g., "Stereo" and "Hands-Free AG") or encounter microphone errors during calls. This is common and relates to how Windows handles different Bluetooth audio profiles.

Here’s a breakdown of the issue and how to resolve it based on your Windows version.

Understanding the Bluetooth Profiles

Your headset uses two primary modes for audio:

1. Stereo (A2DP Profile): Delivers high-quality, one-way audio. It's perfect for listening to music, watching videos, or playing games.

2. Hands-Free / Headset (HFP Profile): Enables two-way communication by activating both your microphone and speakers. To support both input and output simultaneously, the audio quality is lower (mono instead of stereo).

Solution for Windows 11

On Windows 11, the system should ideally manage these profiles automatically, showing you only one device. If you see two separate devices for your speaker or microphone, it's often caused by an outdated Intel® Smart Sound Technology (ISST) audio driver.

To fix this, please follow these steps:

1. Update Drivers: Run Windows Update and also use your computer manufacturer's dedicated support app (e.g., Dell SupportAssist, HP Support Assistant, Lenovo Vantage) to install the latest audio drivers.

2. Unpair Your Headset: Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices, find your headset, click the three dots, and select "Remove device."

3. Repair Your Headset: Put your headset into pairing mode and connect it to your PC again. The system should now apply the updated driver settings correctly.

Guidance for Windows 10

Seeing two distinct audio devices is normal and expected behavior on Windows 10. You will need to manually select the correct device depending on your activity.

• For Listening to Music/Media: Choose the Stereo device as your sound output for the best audio quality.

• For Voice/Video Calls (Teams, Zoom, etc.): You must select the Hands-Free AG or Headset device for both your speaker (output) and microphone (input) inside your calling application's settings.

IMPORTANT: If you select the "Stereo" option as your output during a call, your microphone will not work, and the application may report an error. Always switch to the "Hands-Free AG" profile for calls.