How can I play music on two Bluetooth devices Android 13?

Bluetooth is a short-range wireless communication technology that allows devices to connect and exchange data wirelessly within a distance of about 10 meters. It uses radio waves operating at 2.4 to 2.485 GHz to transmit data between devices ^[1]. With Bluetooth, devices can connect wirelessly to exchange information and stream audio without requiring cables or special setup.

Some key features of Bluetooth technology include:

Allows wireless connections between smartphones, speakers, headphones, cars, and other devices

Enables wireless stereo audio streaming between devices like smartphones and wireless headphones or speakers
Allows data transfer between devices like file sharing between phones or transmitting contacts
Operates in the globally available 2.4GHz frequency band so works worldwide

Uses advanced encryption for secure connections between devices

Bluetooth has become an ubiquitous technology embedded in billions of devices globally. It provides a standardized way for devices to discover, connect, and communicate wirelessly.

Pairing Multiple Bluetooth Devices

To pair multiple Bluetooth devices to an Android phone running Android 13, start by going into your phone’s Settings and selecting Bluetooth. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on. Then, put the first Bluetooth device like headphones or a speaker into pairing mode and select it from the Available Devices list. The device will connect.

Next, put the second Bluetooth device into pairing mode. Go back to Available Devices in Bluetooth settings and select the second device. Your phone will now connect to both Bluetooth devices. However, audio will only play through one device at a time by default. You can switch between which device plays audio by going into Bluetooth settings and selecting your preferred audio device.

According to Google support (source), Android can remember multiple Bluetooth pairings and connect to several devices at the same time or individually. The key is pairing each device with your phone initially before attempting to use them together.

Switching Audio Output

One of the easiest ways to switch audio output between different Bluetooth devices on Android 13 is by using the Bluetooth menu. To change which device is handling your audio playback:

First, ensure the devices you want to switch between are already paired and connected to your Android phone. You can view paired devices by going to Settings > Connected Devices > Bluetooth.

Once your devices are paired, start playing audio from one Bluetooth device (such as wireless headphones). While the audio is playing, swipe down from the top of your screen to open the Quick Settings panel. Look for the small media playback icon in your notifications – this will show the currently connected Bluetooth device.

Tap on this icon to open an Audio Output menu. This will display all available Bluetooth devices that audio can be routed to. Simply tap on the device you want to switch the audio to from this list.

The audio playback will automatically switch over to the newly selected Bluetooth device. You can use this method to seamlessly toggle audio between different wireless speakers, headphones, car systems and more as needed.[1]

Using Bluetooth Advanced Features

Android includes advanced Bluetooth features that allow you to connect to multiple audio devices simultaneously. This is enabled through the Dual audio option in Developer options. Here’s how to enable it:

Go to Settings > System > Developer options. Scroll down and enable the “Bluetooth Audio Codec” and “Bluetooth Audio Sample Rate” options. This allows you to select high quality audio codecs like LDAC for improved audio quality over Bluetooth.

Further down in Developer options, toggle on the “Enable Bluetooth dual audio” feature. This allows your device to connect to two Bluetooth audio devices at once so you can play audio over both devices simultaneously. For example, you could pair two Bluetooth speakers or headphones and have the audio play over both.

According to the Android developer documentation, the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) is what enables high quality audio streaming from one device to another over Bluetooth. The dual audio feature utilizes this to transmit audio to two sinks at once.

With dual audio enabled, you can select which device handles media audio output and switch seamlessly between them from the Bluetooth settings screen.

Limitations

There are some limitations when streaming audio over Bluetooth that are good to be aware of. Bluetooth audio is limited in bandwidth and audio quality compared to wired connections, which can affect the listening experience.

Most Bluetooth audio codecs max out at around 300-500 kbps bitrate for streaming audio data, with the exception of more advanced codecs like LDAC that can do up to 990 kbps (but require special hardware support). This is much lower than the bitrates of lossless audio files or wired connections, which can be 1400+ kbps. So there is an inherent loss of audio quality and resolution when streaming over Bluetooth versus wired.

Bluetooth also only allows connecting to one audio output device at a time. You cannot stream audio to two Bluetooth speakers or headphones simultaneously from a single phone. The phone can only maintain one high quality audio Bluetooth connection at once. Some workarounds exist like special splitter dongles, but in general streaming to multiple outputs is limited.

Sources:

https://www.bowerswilkins.com/en-us/blog/sound-lab/is-bluetooth-audio-worse.html

https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/2023/03/bluetooth-sound-quality-guide-what-are-the-codecs-and-how-do-they-work.html

Troubleshooting Tips

Here are some tips for troubleshooting Bluetooth audio issues on Android 13 devices when trying to play audio to multiple devices:

– Check that both Bluetooth devices are properly paired with your Android phone. Go to Settings > Connected devices > Bluetooth and ensure all devices show as “Connected”. Re-pair devices if needed. See this Google support article for help pairing devices.

– Verify the volume is turned up on both your phone and the Bluetooth accessories. An easy mistake is having the volume muted on one end.

– Try disconnecting other Bluetooth devices that aren’t being used. Having multiple paired devices connected can cause interference.

– Disable phone audio on accessory devices you only want handling music/media. See this guide on toggling phone audio.

– Restart your Android device and Bluetooth accessories if connections seem glitchy. This can clear up problem pairings.

– As a last resort, reset network settings on your Android phone to wipe all Bluetooth pairings. You will have to re-pair accessories after this.

Following basic troubleshooting steps can often resolve quirky dual audio issues on Android 13 devices. Check connections, toggle options, restart devices, and reset Bluetooth as needed.

Optimizing Bluetooth Connections

There are a few things you can do to optimize Bluetooth connections when streaming audio to multiple devices on Android 13:

Use Bluetooth 5.0 or higher – Bluetooth 5.0 introduced the ability for devices to connect to multiple endpoints simultaneously through Bluetooth multipoint. This allows seamless streaming to multiple speakers or headphones.
Minimize obstacles and interference – Keep Bluetooth devices within 30 feet and clear of obstructions for best connectivity. Avoid potential sources of interference like microwaves and wireless routers.

Update firmware – Check for and install the latest firmware updates for your Bluetooth speakers, headphones, and Android device. Updates often improve connectivity and stability.
Reset network settings – Go to Settings > System > Reset options > Reset network settings on your Android device to wipe out existing Bluetooth pairings and start fresh.
Disable WiFi and cellular data – Temporarily turning off other wireless radios can allow your device to focus connectivity on Bluetooth.

Optimizing your environment, devices, and settings in this manner can help enable smooth simultaneous Bluetooth audio streaming across multiple endpoints. If issues persist, investigate the specific Bluetooth profiles supported by your accessories to ensure compatibility.

Alternative Options

While Bluetooth is convenient for wirelessly streaming audio to multiple devices, it does have some limitations in terms of audio quality and connectivity. There are some alternative wireless options that can provide higher fidelity audio streaming across multiple devices:

WiFi streaming allows you to connect multiple devices on the same wireless network to stream audio in sync. This provides CD-quality lossless audio and avoids the limited range and potential interference of Bluetooth. Popular WiFi streaming systems like Sonos allow you to group multiple speakers in different rooms with synchronized playback.

Other advanced wireless protocols like aptX HD and LDAC can transmit higher bitrate audio via Bluetooth, improving sound quality. However, both the source device and receiving device must support these codecs. Standard Bluetooth provides sufficient quality for casual listening but audiophiles may prefer WiFi or these enhanced codecs.

For the highest quality, wired options like optical audio cables and HDMI ARC provide uncompressed lossless sound. But these limit mobility and require running cables between your devices. Depending on your audio needs, WiFi streaming or advanced Bluetooth may offer a good balance of sound quality, mobility, and multi-device connectivity.

New Android 13 Features

Android 13 introduced several new Bluetooth features and improvements ( Android 13 features and changes list). One of the most notable is support for Bluetooth LE Audio, which allows for lower power consumption and switching between audio devices (Bluetooth Low Energy Audio | Connectivity).

With Bluetooth LE Audio, Android 13 users can seamlessly switch playback between multiple audio devices like headphones and speakers without interrupting the audio. LE Audio establishes a shared audio stream between compatible devices. This allows changing playback devices without having to manually disconnect and reconnect each time.

Android 13 also brings other Bluetooth upgrades like support for Bluetooth LE maintenance windows and privacy enhancements. The maintenance windows give devices scheduled opportunities to perform routine maintenance without disconnecting. The privacy enhancements strengthen user control over what information apps can access through Bluetooth APIs.

Overall, Android 13’s Bluetooth improvements help optimize multi-device usage, reduce power consumption, and give users more control. For managing multiple connections, the LE Audio features will make it much simpler to play audio across different devices.

Conclusion

Android 13 and newer Android versions allow users to pair and connect multiple Bluetooth devices simultaneously. While you can only actively stream audio to one Bluetooth device at a time, you can easily switch between paired devices through your phone’s media output settings.

To optimize your experience, ensure your devices support Bluetooth 5.0 or higher for enhanced connectivity. If you encounter issues, try basic troubleshooting steps like rebooting, removing and re-pairing devices, checking for software updates, and adjusting your phone’s developer options.

If using multiple Bluetooth audio devices is important to you, Android offers the flexibility to do so. With Bluetooth Advanced Features and developer settings adjustments, you can achieve seamless streaming to two sets of headphones or speakers. This allows you to share your music anywhere with family and friends.