Bluetooth Headset Microphone Not Working

Article ID Code: GK-BT-06

Bluetooth headset or earbuds connect and audio playback works, but the microphone does not appear as an input device in Windows. This is caused by Windows failing to load the Hands-Free Profile (HFP) — the Bluetooth profile that enables microphone input. Audio-only playback uses a different profile (A2DP) and is unaffected.

Step 1: Check that the microphone is set as the default recording device

1. Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar → Sound settings.
2. Under Input, check whether your Bluetooth headset appears in the dropdown.
3. If it appears, select it as the default input device.
4. If it does not appear, continue to Step 2.

Tip: Also check in Control Panel → Sound → Recording tab — right-click in the empty area and select "Show Disabled Devices" and "Show Disconnected Devices" to reveal hidden microphone entries.

Step 2: Switch the Bluetooth audio profile from A2DP to HFP

When a Bluetooth headset is connected in high-quality audio mode (A2DP), Windows disables the microphone. Switching to Hands-Free mode (HFP) enables the microphone, though audio quality will be lower.

1. Go to Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Devices.
2. Find your headset → click the three-dot menu → More Bluetooth settings.
3. In the Bluetooth settings window, find your headset under Hardware tab and check which services are listed.
4. Alternatively: in the app you are using (e.g. Teams, Zoom, browser), set the microphone input to your Bluetooth headset — this often triggers Windows to switch to HFP automatically.

Step 3: Restart Bluetooth Audio Gateway Service

The Bluetooth Audio Gateway Service handles HFP microphone routing. If it is stopped or crashed, the microphone will not appear.

1. Press Win + R → type services.msc → press Enter.
2. Find Bluetooth Audio Gateway Service → right-click → Restart.
3. Also confirm Bluetooth Support Service is running and set to Automatic.
4. Disconnect and reconnect your headset, then check whether the microphone now appears.

Step 4: Update the Bluetooth driver

An outdated driver may not support HFP correctly. Download the official Bluetooth driver for your model from service.geekompc.com. For detailed reinstallation steps, refer to GK-BT-01 Step 3.

Note for Windows 11 25H2 users: A known compatibility issue exists between Realtek RTL8852BE and Windows 11 25H2 that prevents HFP from loading. If you are on this combination, updating the driver alone may not resolve the issue — contact GEEKOM Customer Service for the latest compatible driver package.

Final Recommendation

If the microphone still does not appear after all steps, the HFP profile may be blocked by a driver or firmware limitation on your specific model and Windows version. Contact GEEKOM Customer Service and provide:

• Product model and serial number
• Windows version (Settings → System → About)
• Bluetooth adapter model (visible in Device Manager → Bluetooth)
• Headset brand and model

Related articles

• GK-BT-01: Unable to connect to Bluetooth
• GK-BT-02: Unstable Bluetooth connections
• GK-BT-03: Bluetooth function unavailable