One of the reasons why your Bluetooth headphones keep cutting out on Windows 11 can be audio interference. You might also experience this issue if your Bluetooth device’s battery is running low. So, to resolve this and more, here are 7 easy ways to fix audio on Bluetooth headphones stuttering on Windows 11.
1. Turn Off PC’s Bluetooth and Back On
One of the most basic yet effective ways to solve any audio issues on your Bluetooth device is by turning the Bluetooth off and then on. This can help fix any pairing-related issues that might have previously occurred. To do this, open Settings on Windows 11 and select ‘Bluetooth & devices’. Then, turn off the Bluetooth toggle. Now, toggle it on again to turn on Bluetooth on Windows 11. Now, wait for your earphones to pair and check if they’re working as expected. If not, move on to the next fix.
2. Check the Headphones’ Battery
A low battery can be one of the major reasons for devices not performing as expected. So, as the battery levels of your Bluetooth headphones keep going down, they become more susceptible to stuttering. Additionally, this can also be one of the reasons why your Bluetooth headphones or earbuds keep disconnecting. So, it is always recommended to check your device’s battery levels. Here’s how to do it. Step 1: Go to the taskbar and click on the network, sound, or battery icon to open the Quick Settings menu. Step 2: Here, click on the arrow in front of the Bluetooth icon. Tip: Check out our guide on how to use Windows 11 Quick Settings if you’re unable to find the Bluetooth icon. Step 3: Here, you should be able to see the battery percentage for the currently connected device. Step 4: However, in case it is not visible, click on ‘More Bluetooth settings’. Step 5: Once the Settings window opens, check the connected device tile. If the battery percentage is indeed low, disconnect the device and charge it before using it again. However, if the battery levels are showing fine, continue with the next troubleshooting option.
3. Unpair Similar Devices
While there’s nothing wrong with having multiple devices on your previously connected devices page, Bluetooth might try to connect to similar devices from the list instead of the one you’re currently using. This might cause disruption when using Bluetooth audio. To make sure this doesn’t happen, you can go ahead and unpair similar devices from the Bluetooth settings menu. Here’s how. Step 1: Use the Windows + I key to open the Settings menu. Step 2: Here, click on ‘Bluetooth & devices’. Step 3: Then, scroll down and click on Devices. Step 4: Go through the list of available devices on your desktop and locate the device name that looks similar to your current one. Step 5: Then, click on the three-dot icon in front of that device. Step 6: Here, click on Remove device. Step 7: Click on Yes. Once the device is removed from the list, try using your headphones again. If Bluetooth audio is still stuttering, move on to the next fix. You can also check our other article if you’re unable to remove a Bluetooth device from Windows 11.
4. Check for Interference
Signal interference can be anything from the concrete walls in your house to the microwave kept in your kitchen. All of these can cause issues with your Bluetooth signal by limiting or disrupting it. To ensure this doesn’t happen, try staying near your Windows device or shift to a room with limited interference. If the issue persists, move on to the next method.
5. Disable Audio Enhancements
As the name suggests, Windows audio enhancements help in enhancing the audio depending on the type of audio output device. However, if these enhancements are not supported, it might cause your earphones to stutter and not work properly. To make sure this does not happen, use the Windows settings menu and disable audio enhancements. Follow the below steps to do it. Step 1: Open Settings using the Windows + I keys. Step 2: Then, from the menu options, click on System. Step 3: Here, click on Sound. Step 4: Scroll down and click on ‘All sound devices’. Step 5: From the list of Output devices, click on the device you’re experiencing issues with. Step 6: Click on the Audio enhancements drop-down and click on Off. Step 7: Also, check Spatial audio is set to Off. Additionally, you can also change your Bluetooth device’s audio profile from this page. To do this, go to Format and use the drop-down to change the audio output stream for your device. Now, try playing audio through your headphones again to see if the issue has been fixed.
6. Set Bluetooth Services to Automatic
The Windows Services menu holds several important background processes that help our devices in functioning properly. So, if Bluetooth is not working as expected when pairing headphones, there might be a chance that your Bluetooth Services are not running properly. If this happens, you can open the Services menu and set Bluetooth Services to start automatically. Here’s how. Step 1: Go to Search and type Services. Then, open the app from the search results. Step 2: Here, locate ‘Bluetooth Support Service’ and right-click on it. Step 3: Then, click on Properties. Step 4: Go to the Startup type drop-down and select Automatic. Step 5: Then, click on Apply and OK. This will ensure Bluetooth services automatically start on system startup.
7. Uninstall and Reinstall Bluetooth Driver
If you’re still facing issues with Bluetooth audio stuttering on Windows 11, uninstalling the Bluetooth driver might help in fixing it. Then, restart your Windows device to install a fresh copy of the driver. Doing this will resolve issues relating to any previous driver updates or settings. Here’s a step-by-step look at how to do it. Step 1: Right-click on the Start icon and click on Device Manager. Step 2: Here, click on Bluetooth. Step 3: Then, right-click on your Bluetooth device. Step 4: Click on Uninstall device. Step 5: Then, select Uninstall to confirm. Once the uninstallation is completed, restart your device to reinstall the driver. Then, connect your Bluetooth headphones and check if they’re working properly. If nothing works, the problem might be with your headphones and not the Windows system. So, we recommend you exchange the product if it’s in replacement or get new headphones.
Enjoy Bluetooth Audio on Windows 11
Stuttering audio in headphones can easily be classified as a headache-inducing issue. So, we hope that our article helped solve the mystery of ‘why my Bluetooth headphones keep cutting out’ when connected to Windows 11. Do let us know in the comments which fix worked for you! The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.
