Fix Bluetooth Audio Not Working After a Windows 11 24H2 Update
Bluetooth headphones silent or won't pair since the Windows 11 24H2 update? Install Microsoft's fix, reinstall the Bluetooth and audio drivers, and re-pair.
If your Bluetooth headphones or speaker went quiet, or will not pair, after the Windows 11 24H2 update, a 24H2 patch broke Bluetooth audio (A2DP) and pairing for some devices. Microsoft shipped a fix, so update first; if that is not enough, reinstall the Bluetooth and audio drivers and re-pair the device.
Update, then re-pair
Install all pending updates (Settings, Windows Update) — Microsoft’s fix for the broken 24H2 Bluetooth audio arrives that way. Then remove and re-add the device: Settings, Bluetooth & devices, open the device, Remove device, and pair it again from scratch. Also confirm the headphones are selected as the output in Settings, System, Sound.
| Step | What it does |
|---|---|
| Install the latest Windows update | Applies Microsoft’s Bluetooth-audio fix |
| Remove and re-pair the device | Clears a broken pairing |
| Reinstall Bluetooth + audio drivers | Rebuilds the broken stack |
| Restart Bluetooth Support Service | Clears a stuck service |
Reinstall the drivers
If updating and re-pairing do not restore sound, reinstall the drivers: in Device Manager, expand Bluetooth, right-click your adapter, Uninstall device, then reboot so Windows reinstalls it; do the same for the audio device under Sound, video and game controllers. Restarting the Bluetooth Support Service (services.msc) clears a stuck state that can block pairing.
If it still won’t play
Make sure the headphones are set as the default playback device and the volume is up on both the PC and the device. If a specific update caused it and no driver fixes it, remove that update — see uninstalling a Windows update. For Bluetooth that is missing entirely rather than just silent, Bluetooth not working on Windows 11 covers the adapter-missing case, and general playback faults are in no sound on Windows 11.
Common questions
Which Windows 11 24H2 update broke Bluetooth audio?
A 24H2 cumulative update broke A2DP Bluetooth audio and pairing for some devices in 2025; Microsoft released a fix in a later update, so installing all pending updates usually restores it.
My headphones connect but there’s no sound — why?
The connection can succeed while the audio profile (A2DP) is broken, or the wrong output is selected. Set the headphones as the default playback device in Sound settings, and reinstall the audio driver if it stays silent.
Do I need to re-pair after the fix update?
Often yes — remove the device and pair it again so it renegotiates the audio profile cleanly. A stale pairing from before the fix can keep failing.
Bluetooth disappeared completely after the update — is this the same issue?
No, that is a separate 24H2 bug where Bluetooth vanishes from Settings. See Bluetooth not working on Windows 11 for the missing-adapter fix.