Sony Bluetooth Headphones Won't Appear as Microphone

Dear ZathuraZachx360,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Community for assistance with your Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones.

I understand that you're experiencing issues using them as a microphone on your PC.

Since you've already tried reinstalling the device and updating the drivers without success, let's try a few additional steps to see if we can resolve this issue:

1. Update Bluetooth Drivers: Even though you've updated the headphone drivers, ensuring that the Bluetooth adapter's drivers are up-to-date is also crucial.

   • Go to 'Device Manager'.

   • Expand 'Bluetooth' and find your Bluetooth adapter.

   • Right-click and select 'Uninstall device'.

   • Download and install the latest adapted Bluetooth and Audio drivers from the hardware manufacturer's website.

2. Check Audio Services: Sometimes, the required services for audio recording might be disabled or not running properly. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter. Look for services related to audio, such as 'Windows Audio' and 'Windows Audio Endpoint Builder'. Ensure they are set to 'Automatic' and are running. You can restart these services by right-clicking and selecting 'Restart'.

3. Change Bluetooth Connection Mode: Some headphones may have issues with certain modes. If your headphones have a companion app (like Sony Headphones Connect), check if there is an option to switch the connection mode or prioritize sound quality or call quality.

4. Troubleshoot Hardware and Devices: Windows has a built-in troubleshooter that might help identify the issue. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters. Run the 'Bluetooth' troubleshooter and follow any recommendations it provides.

After trying these steps, reconnect your headphones and check if they now appear as both an audio output and input device. If the problem persists, it could be related to compatibility issues between the Bluetooth profiles supported by your PC and your headphones.

Please let us know how these steps work out or if you need further assistance.

Best Regards,

Martin | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Thank you for your help! This does solve the issue of my headphones appearing as a usable microphone.

Unfortunately for me, the audio output quality is severely changed for the worse. The only fix that I have found is to turn off "Handsfree Telephony" (the bluetooth microphone) through the devices and printers page and right clicking on the headphones to access its properties. It seems that with these particular headphones this is a common issue where the audio quality is affected by the microphone feature being usable.

For anyone looking for headphones to use while gaming with friends, do not get Sony WH-1000XM4s (unless you don't mind the poor audio output quality and really want them).

Dear ZathuraZachx360,

Thank you for your prompt response and for confirming that the initial steps helped in making your Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones appear as a usable microphone. I fully understand how disheartening it can be to experience a drop in audio output quality when the microphone is engaged. Let's delve deeper into this matter and explore some potential workarounds to enhance your experience.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones, like many Bluetooth audio devices, operate using specific profiles for audio output (A2DP) and input (HFP/HSP). When the microphone is active, the device switches to a different Bluetooth profile, which can result in a noticeable decline in audio quality.

Potential Workarounds:

1. Using Two Separate Audio Devices: A commonly employed workaround is to use a dedicated microphone for input while keeping your Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones exclusively for high-quality audio output. This involves:

   • Keeping your Sony WH-1000XM4 connected for audio output.

   • Utilizing a separate USB or dedicated microphone for input.

   • In your application (such as Discord), setting the output device as your headphones and the input device as the separate microphone.

2. Using an Audio Splitter: Another approach is to use a Bluetooth adapter/splitter that can handle high-quality audio output alongside a separate microphone input. This would entail:

   • Connecting a Bluetooth adapter to your PC.

   • Pairing your Sony headphones with the adapter.

   • Using a separate microphone connected through a different port or the same adapter if it supports dual connections.

Regrettably, due to the inherent limitations of Bluetooth profiles, audio quality can sometimes be compromised when attempting to use both features simultaneously. However, employing separate audio devices or advanced Bluetooth adapters could offer a viable solution tailored to your needs.

Your insights are greatly appreciated and will undoubtedly prove beneficial to other users encountering similar challenges.

Should you have any further questions or require additional assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Best regards,
Martin | Microsoft Community Support Specialist