How do I send audio files via Bluetooth?

What is Bluetooth?

Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that allows electronic devices to exchange data over short distances using radio transmissions in the 2.4 GHz band. The name Bluetooth comes from King Harald Bluetooth who united dissonant Danish tribes into a single kingdom in the 10th century – just as Bluetooth wireless does with communications protocols (Source: https://sites.tufts.edu/eeseniordesignhandbook/files/2017/05/Wu_SHP2.pdf).

The Bluetooth technology was invented in 1994 by Jaap Haartsen and Sven Mattisson, engineers working at Ericsson Mobile Communications in Sweden. It was originally meant as a wireless alternative to data cables. The first Bluetooth specifications were released in 1999 by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), and the first devices featuring Bluetooth technology came out in 2000. Since then, continued development has allowed Bluetooth to become nearly ubiquitous, being included today in billions of devices from smartphones to headphones, speakers, cars, medical devices and more.

Bluetooth allows enabled electronic devices to connect and communicate wirelessly through short-range radio waves, typically within a range of 10-100 meters. For example, Bluetooth can enable a mobile phone to connect with a wireless headset or allow a laptop to communicate with a printer. It provides a way for devices to exchange information, synchronize data, and coordinate actions seamlessly without cables. This wireless flexibility has made Bluetooth an essential technology for connecting the Internet of Things.

Is Bluetooth Good for Transferring Audio Files?

Bluetooth audio quality has improved over the years but still can’t quite match that of wired headphones. Bluetooth relies on audio compression so file quality may be reduced. Additionally, latency issues can cause audio to sound out of sync.Here we’ll discuss some of the pros and cons of using Bluetooth for audio files:

File Type Support: Bluetooth supports common audio codecs like AAC and SBC but there are limits on file size and quality. Complex, lossless audio formats are typically not supported.

Audio Quality: Bluetooth compression can degrade sound quality compared to the original file. However, with advanced codecs the difference compared to wired is fairly minimal — most listeners would not notice reduction in the daily situation like streaming music or YouTube videos. But Bluetooth still can’t fully match wired for critical listening or audiophile-grade headphones.

Latency Issues: Excessive lag or “lip sync errors” over Bluetooth can result in delayed audio that makes videos and games feel out of sync. Latency varies by device hardware but can reach up to 300ms. For reference, 100ms is generally perceptible and 200ms is considered poor for video streaming. Many factors like operating system, driver software, hardware, and interference from other wireless signals all affect Bluetooth latency issues.

What You Need to Send Audio via Bluetooth

To send audio files over Bluetooth, you need two devices – a Bluetooth enabled sending device and a Bluetooth enabled receiving device. Some common sending devices include:

Phones – Most modern smartphones have Bluetooth capability. As long as it is turned on, you can use your phone to send audio files.

Computers – Many laptops and desktop computers have built-in Bluetooth or allow you to add a Bluetooth adapter. This allows you to send audio files from your computer.
Tablets – Most tablets also have Bluetooth connectivity that can be used to send audio files to other devices.

The receiving device must also have Bluetooth enabled. Common Bluetooth receiving devices include:

Bluetooth speakers – Dedicated Bluetooth speakers are designed to receive and play audio files sent via Bluetooth.
Bluetooth headphones – Similarly, Bluetooth headphones can receive audio files over Bluetooth.
Bluetooth car systems – Many modern car infotainment systems have integrated Bluetooth allowing you to send audio files like music and podcasts to be played over the car speakers.

As long as your sending and receiving devices both have Bluetooth enabled and are within range (usually 30+ feet), you can send audio files between them.

Turning On Bluetooth

Before you can send audio files via Bluetooth, you need to ensure that Bluetooth is turned on and enabled on both the sending and receiving devices. Most modern smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers have built-in Bluetooth capability, but it usually needs to be enabled manually in your device settings.

To enable Bluetooth on your device:

On a smartphone or tablet, navigate to Settings and find the Bluetooth option where you can toggle the Bluetooth connection on.
On a Windows laptop or desktop, open the Settings app and choose Devices, then click on “Add Bluetooth or other device” to enable Bluetooth.
On a Mac laptop or desktop, open System Preferences and click on Bluetooth, then check the box to turn Bluetooth on.

After enabling Bluetooth, you’ll need to pair your sending device with your receiving device by connecting them together. Start by selecting the available Bluetooth connections from your sending device’s menu, choosing the receiving device, and then accepting the Bluetooth pairing request on your receiving device. Your devices will now be wirelessly paired over Bluetooth for wireless audio transfers.

Selecting Audio Files to Send

When sending audio files via Bluetooth, the first step is to locate the files on your sending device. Audio files can typically be found in the music or files app on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Supported formats to send over Bluetooth include:

AAC
FLAC according to this source
WAV

Note that Bluetooth headphones and speakers may only play certain audio formats even if your device supports more. Check the Bluetooth device specifications for a list of compatible formats.

Once you have located an audio file in a supported format, select it to begin the sending process via Bluetooth. The next step will be enabling Bluetooth and connecting devices.

Sending Audio Files

Once Bluetooth is enabled and paired between the two devices, you can start sending audio files. There are a couple of ways to do this:

Open the Files or Music app on your phone and locate the audio files you want to send. Tap on a song or folder and select the Bluetooth option to send. On Android this will often by a small arrow icon next to the folder or file name.
On iPhones, open the Files app and tap Select in the top right. Then check the boxes next to the audio files you want to send and tap the Share icon in the bottom left. Select your Bluetooth speaker or device from the list.

The receiving Bluetooth device will then prompt you to accept the incoming file(s). Once accepted, the transfer will start immediately and may take a few seconds to a few minutes depending on size and connection strength.

After a successful transfer, the files are now available to play directly from the Bluetooth speaker or device itself.

Receiving and Playing Audio Files

Once you have sent the audio files from one device, you will need to accept the file transfer on the receiving device:

On Android devices, a pop-up notification will appear asking to accept the file transfer via Bluetooth. Tap “Accept” to start receiving the files.

On iPhones, you will need to swipe down from the top and tap on the notification that says “Bluetooth Share: Incoming file.” Then tap “Accept.”

The received audio files are usually automatically stored in certain folders depending on your device [1]:

On Android, bluetooth received files are saved in the Downloads folder under “Bluetooth”

On iPhones, they are saved in the Files app under On My iPhone > Downloads > Bluetooth
On computers, the location varies – on Windows 10, try checking This PC > Bluetooth; on Mac try checking in Finder under Bluetooth

To play the received audio files:

Navigate to the stored location as outlined above
Tap on the audio file to start playback through the device’s default Music player
Use the playback controls in the Music app as needed – Play, Pause, Rewind, Change Tracks, etc.

Some devices may require extra steps to make the received files accessible across the system. Consult your device guides for more details if needed.

Bluetooth Audio Playback Controls

Once an audio file has been successfully sent over Bluetooth and is playing on the receiving device, you have options to control the playback directly from the sending or receiving device.

Most Bluetooth devices allow you to perform basic playback controls like play, pause, skipping tracks, adjusting the volume, etc. This allows you to remotely control the audio playback even if the device playing the audio is in another room or not directly in front of you.

For example, if you sent an audio file from your phone to a Bluetooth speaker, you can use the controls on your phone to pause, play, or skip tracks without having to walk over to the speaker itself. The speaker will receive the playback signals from your phone over Bluetooth and respond accordingly.

Playback controls generally work both ways too. If playing audio on your Bluetooth headphones connected to your phone, you can often use controls built into the headphones to control playback rather than pulling out your phone.

According to this GitHub issue, Bluetooth playback controls can sometimes be inconsistent across platforms and devices. But most modern Bluetooth audio devices have some level of playback control integration when connected over Bluetooth.

Troubleshooting Bluetooth Audio Issues

There are a few fixes for some common Bluetooth connection issues that can impact audio quality when listening to music or talking on Bluetooth headphones or speakers:

If your Bluetooth audio sounds poor or cuts out frequently, try the following:

Check that your source device (phone, computer, etc.) has a strong Bluetooth signal. Weak signals can lead to connectivity issues. Try moving the source device closer to the receiving device.

Re-pair your headphone or speaker devices. Go into your Bluetooth settings and “Forget Device” for the headphones/speakers, then repair them. This resets the connection which could fix some issues.
On Windows 11 and 10, go to your speaker settings, right-click on your headphone device, and disable the “Hands-Free Telephony” option. This can help improve audio quality over Bluetooth.
Ensure that any other connected Bluetooth devices nearby are not interfering with your audio device’s connection.

Check for firmware updates for your headphones or speakers and install if available. Updates sometimes address Bluetooth connectivity issues.

If audio problems persist, switching to a wired connection instead of Bluetooth can sometimes resolve quality issues. There are also wireless alternatives like aptX or AAC that offer improved audio quality over standard Bluetooth.

Bluetooth Alternatives for Audio

While Bluetooth is convenient for wirelessly transmitting audio between devices, there are other options that allow you to listen to music and audio without relying on Bluetooth.

One alternative is to use a wired connection like an AUX cable. AUX cables allow you to directly connect devices using a 3.5mm audio jack. The analog signal provides high quality sound without any streaming or connectivity issues. AUX cables work with smartphones, computers, speakers and more. Just plug one end into the audio output on your device, and the other end into the audio input on your headphones, speaker or receiver.

For wireless alternatives, WiFi streaming protocols like AirPlay and Chromecast allow you to effortlessly send audio from your mobile device or computer to compatible speakers and receivers. These platforms use your existing WiFi network rather than Bluetooth, providing wider range and multi-room capabilities. AirPlay works between Apple devices, while Chromecast is compatible with both Android and iOS.

Streaming music services like Spotify also allow you to save songs offline for playback without needing an internet connection. Downloaded playlists and albums can then be accessed from your device’s local storage rather than relying on Bluetooth.

Overall, while Bluetooth is useful for short range wireless audio, both wired and WiFi-based options exist as alternatives to give you more flexibility based on your specific listening needs.