Microsoft has announced a long-awaited fix for poor audio quality when using Bluetooth headsets in Windows 11. In a new blog post, the company has announced that Windows 11 now supports Super Wideband Stereo Bluetooth LE Audio, enabling users to enjoy high-quality stereo sound and a clear microphone signal simultaneously.
For years, Windows users have been plagued by the limitations of the basic Bluetooth SBC audio codec, which automatically switches your headset to a low-quality, mono ‘hands-free’ profile the moment the microphone is activated during a game or call. According to a blog post, the new update addresses this by implementing the modern LC3 audio codec as part of the Bluetooth LE Audio standard. This not only allows for stereo audio to be maintained during a Discord call or in-game chat, but it also dramatically improves the quality of your microphone, jumping from a muffled 8 kHz to a much clearer 32kHz sampling rate.
However, this isn’t a magical software fix that will instantly upgrade your old gear. To take advantage of this new feature, both your PC’s Bluetooth adapter and your headset itself must support the Bluetooth LE Audio standard and the LC3 codec. Microsoft notes that while some existing devices may receive driver and firmware updates to enable this, most new Windows 11 PCs and laptops are expected to launch with support for Super Wideband Stereo Bluetooth LE Audio.
You can check if your current setup is compatible by heading to your “Bluetooth & devices” settings in Windows 11 and looking for a toggle to “Use LE Audio”. If the option isn’t available, your hardware doesn’t currently support it.
KitGuru says: Do you use a Bluetooth headset on your Windows system? Have you ever noticed a difference in audio quality when the microphone is on or off?
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