How do I use Bluetooth audio receiver on Windows?

What is a Bluetooth audio receiver?

A Bluetooth audio receiver is a device that allows you to stream audio wirelessly over Bluetooth. It takes the Bluetooth signal from a smartphone, tablet, computer, or other Bluetooth-enabled audio source and outputs the audio to speakers or headphones that don’t have built-in Bluetooth (1).

The main purpose of a Bluetooth receiver is to add wireless streaming capabilities to wired audio equipment like headphones, speakers, car stereo systems, and home theater receivers that lack built-in Bluetooth. It acts as a bridge between your Bluetooth audio device and your non-Bluetooth speakers or headphones (2).

Bluetooth audio receivers come in different form factors such as small USB dongles, 3.5mm audio jacks, and standalone adapter boxes. Many can connect multiple wireless headphones or multiple speakers at once. The receiver captures the digital Bluetooth signal and converts it into an analog audio signal that your headphones or speakers can play (3).

Overall, a Bluetooth receiver gives you the freedom and convenience of streaming music, podcasts, movies, games, and other audio wirelessly to any audio equipment. It’s a simple way to add Bluetooth functionality without having to replace your existing wired headphones or speakers.

Check compatibility with your Windows version

To use a Bluetooth audio receiver, your Windows version needs to support the Bluetooth profiles required for audio streaming. This includes profiles like A2DP for audio streaming and AVRCP for remote control of playback. According to Microsoft documentation (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/bluetooth/bluetooth-support-in-previous-windows-versions), Windows versions that support Bluetooth audio include:

Windows 11

Windows 10
Windows 8.1
Windows 8

Windows 7

Older Windows versions like XP and Vista have limited Bluetooth support and may not work reliably with Bluetooth audio devices. To check your Windows version, press the Windows key + R, type “winver” and hit Enter. This will open the About Windows dialog box showing your Windows version.

Make sure your Windows is up to date with the latest updates. Also check if your Windows edition supports Bluetooth – Home editions support Bluetooth but Professional/Enterprise may need additional configuration.

Pairing the Bluetooth Audio Receiver

To pair your Bluetooth audio receiver with Windows, you first need to turn on the receiver and put it into pairing mode. The steps to do this vary by device, so check the receiver’s manual for specific instructions. Often there is a button or switch to hold down for a few seconds to initiate pairing mode.

Once the receiver is discoverable, go to Windows Settings > Bluetooth & Devices and make sure Bluetooth is turned on. Click “Add Device” and Windows will search for nearby Bluetooth devices. Select your audio receiver from the list to initiate pairing. You may need to enter a PIN or confirm a code on the receiver.

Windows should display “Connected” once successfully paired. You can now connect your Bluetooth headphones or speakers to the receiver. The device may disconnect after a period of inactivity, so you may need to occasionally re-pair it. Overall the pairing process is quick and seamless once you get the hang of it.

If the device fails to pair, try restarting it, moving it closer to your computer, or updating its drivers. You can troubleshoot further connection issues by checking Windows’ Bluetooth settings and your device documentation.

Connecting Bluetooth Headphones/Speakers

To connect Bluetooth headphones or speakers to your Windows PC, you need to pair them with the Bluetooth receiver. The pairing process allows the headphones/speakers and receiver to find and connect to each other wirelessly via Bluetooth.

Most Bluetooth receivers support multi-point connections, allowing you to pair multiple headphones or speakers at the same time. To pair a headphone or speaker:

Power on the Bluetooth headphones/speaker and put them in pairing mode (refer to device instructions).
Go to Windows Settings > Devices > Bluetooth and other devices.
Click “Add device” and select the headphones/speaker from the list of available devices.

Your Windows PC will pair with the headphones/speaker.

Once paired, the headphones/speaker will connect automatically to the receiver when in range. To switch connections between multiple paired devices, go to Bluetooth settings and select the desired headphones/speaker.

Some receivers allow pairing directly through the device instead of through Windows settings. Refer to your receiver’s manual for detailed pairing instructions.

Changing the default audio output

Once you have paired your Bluetooth audio receiver with your Windows computer, you may want to set it as the default audio output device. This way all sound from your computer will automatically be routed through the Bluetooth connection to your headphones or speakers.

To change the default audio output device in Windows:

Open the Start menu and search for “Sound Settings”. Click on the Sound control panel.

Under the Output tab, you will see a list of audio devices connected to your computer. Locate the Bluetooth audio receiver in this list.
Click on the Bluetooth device and then click the “Set Default” button. This sets it as the default audio playback device in Windows.
You can also right-click on the Bluetooth device and select “Set as Default Device” from the context menu.

Now whenever you play any audio or video on your computer, the sound will automatically be routed through the Bluetooth connection. You don’t have to manually change the audio output each time. If you want to switch back to your computer’s built-in speakers, simply repeat these steps and choose those as the default device instead.

According to this guide, you may need to troubleshoot the default playback device if you are having issues with the sound output. Make sure your Bluetooth device drivers are up to date as well.

Adjusting volume and controls

To change the volume when using a Bluetooth audio receiver with Windows, you have a few different options:

Use your keyboard’s volume buttons or volume slider in the Windows taskbar to adjust the master volume. This will control the volume for all audio playback including Bluetooth.

Use the volume buttons or controls directly on your Bluetooth headphones or speakers if they have onboard controls. This adjusts volume just for that Bluetooth device.

Some Bluetooth receivers like the 1Mii B06S have hardware volume buttons right on the device. Press the + and – buttons to turn the volume up or down.

If your Bluetooth receiver came with remote control, you may be able to adjust volume using the remote. Check the receiver’s manual for details.

For more advanced controls like changing tracks, play/pause etc. you’ll need to use buttons on your Bluetooth headphones/speakers or remote if available. The Windows volume controls don’t offer multimedia playback options.

Some receivers have companion apps that let you change volume and other settings through your phone. Check if your receiver has an app for added convenience.

So in summary, you have multiple options for controlling volume whether it’s using Windows controls, your Bluetooth device directly, remote, or phone app if available. Choose what’s most convenient for your setup.

Checking connection status

You can check the connection status of your Bluetooth audio receiver in the Windows settings. This allows you to view the paired Bluetooth device and identify any potential connectivity issues.

To check the status, open the Settings app and go to Devices -> Bluetooth & other devices. Here you will see a list of all paired Bluetooth devices. Select your Bluetooth audio receiver from the list.

On the next screen, you can see the connection status displayed at the top. This will show “Connected” if it is currently connected or “Not connected” if there are issues. You can also see options to connect/disconnect the device here.

If you are having trouble getting your Bluetooth audio receiver to connect properly, this status screen is the best place to identify issues. Things to look for include the device showing as Not connected or Bluetooth functionality not being listed under the device properties. This typically indicates a driver or hardware issue needing troubleshooting.

Additionally, you can right-click your Bluetooth device and select Troubleshoot to have Windows attempt to diagnose common problems. Overall, regularly checking the status and connection info in Windows settings is useful for monitoring and managing your Bluetooth audio receiver.

Updating Bluetooth Driver

One of the most common issues with Bluetooth audio on Windows is having an outdated or faulty driver. To fix driver problems, you’ll want to download the latest driver from your Bluetooth adapter manufacturer’s website and reinstall it.

First, open Device Manager in Windows (right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager). Locate your Bluetooth adapter under the “Bluetooth” section and right-click on it. Select “Update driver”. This will launch the update driver wizard.

Select “Browse my computer for driver software” and then click “Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer”. From the list, select your Bluetooth adapter make and model. If you don’t see it listed, click “Have Disk” and browse to the driver folder you downloaded from the manufacturer website.

Follow the on-screen prompts to install the latest driver. Restart your computer when prompted. This will refresh the driver and can often resolve audio issues like choppy sound or discordant pairing. Make sure to get driver updates directly from reputable sources like the manufacturer website.

If issues persist after updating the driver, you may need to uninstall the driver completely, reboot, and reinstall the latest version clean. This can clear up any corrupted driver files. For additional troubleshooting, check your adapter properties and ensure the audio services are enabled.

Troubleshooting Tips

Here are some common Bluetooth connection problems and fixes:

If your Bluetooth device isn’t connecting or pairing properly, try removing the device from your Windows settings and repairing it. Go to Start > Settings > Devices > Bluetooth and other devices and remove the device. Then try pairing again. This often resolves connection issues.

Check that Bluetooth is enabled on both your Windows computer and the Bluetooth device. Make sure the device is turned on and in pairing mode if available.

If you see an error code when trying to connect, search for the error online to find specific solutions. Error codes usually indicate a driver issue or compatibility problem.

Update your Windows Bluetooth drivers by going to Start > Settings > Update and Security > Windows Update. Install any available driver updates.

Reset the network settings by going to Start > Settings > Network and Internet > Status > Network Reset. This will clear any corrupted settings that could impact Bluetooth.

If the Bluetooth device connects but has no sound, check it is set as the Default Device under Start > Settings > System > Sound.

Try using the device closer to the Bluetooth adapter/computer if you experience intermittent cutting out. Distance and obstacles can impact signal strength.

As a last resort, uninstall then reinstall the Bluetooth adapter driver from Device Manager if connection issues persist after trying other troubleshooting.

Bluetooth standards and audio codecs

Bluetooth technology has evolved over the years with newer versions offering improved audio quality and lower power consumption. The major Bluetooth versions for audio are:

Bluetooth 1.0 and 1.1 – Introduced in 1999, these versions supported the SBC codec with bitrates up to 320 kbps. But real-world performance was limited to 192 kbps due to processing constraints.
Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR – Released in 2004, it introduced Enhanced Data Rate for faster transmission speeds up to 3 Mbps. This helped improve audio quality over Bluetooth.
Bluetooth 3.0 – Released in 2009, focused on low energy consumption rather than faster speeds. But still used same audio codecs as version 2.0.

Bluetooth 4.0 – Released in 2010, further improved power efficiency especially for IoT devices. Audio performance remained unchanged from v2.0+EDR.
Bluetooth 5.0 – Released in 2016, doubled transmit speeds to 2 Mbps and quadrupled range. Also added high-resolution 24-bit audio support.

In terms of audio codecs, the default Bluetooth codec is Subband Coding (SBC) which provides acceptable quality. More advanced codecs like AptX, AptX HD, LDAC, and LC3 offer improved audio fidelity, especially for music streaming. Choosing headphones/speakers with these advanced codecs can enhance your wireless listening experience.

Overall, newer Bluetooth versions with higher bandwidth provide the foundation for better audio quality. But the specific audio codec your headphones/speakers use plays an equally important role in determining wireless audio performance.

[Sources: https://www.soundguys.com/understanding-bluetooth-codecs-15352/, https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/2023/03/bluetooth-sound-quality-guide-what-are-the-codecs-and-how-do-they-work.html]