Kavin Tyler 
Bluetooth headphones are a popular choice for people who want to listen to music without bothering others. They offer many of the same features as traditional headphones but also have the advantage of being wireless and typically don’t require a cord that can get tangled up or in the way.
However, sometimes there is a delay between what you listen to on your device and what you hear from your Bluetooth headphones.
How to fix sound delay on Bluetooth headphones
Step1: Disable Fast Startup in your OS
The first step to fixing sound delay on Bluetooth headphones is to disable ‘Fast Startup’ in the OS. It will allow Windows OS to correctly initialize and start drivers and many hardware components during bootup. Follow these steps:
Right-click on the Start menu Click ‘Control Panel’ Click ‘Power Options’ Click ‘Choose what the power button does in the left pane, under Related settings Move the slider next to ‘Turn on fast startup’ from ‘Off’ to ‘On,’ then click ‘Save Changes.’
Step 2: Disable Bluetooth device in your OS
If you have a Bluetooth device plugged into your computer, it can cause sound delays. To fix this, you can disable the Bluetooth device in your OS.
Windows 10:
Right-click on the Start Menu and select ‘Device Manager’ Expand ‘Bluetooth Radios’ and right-click on your Bluetooth adapter Click ‘Disable.’
macOS:
Open System Preferences Click Bluetooth. Select your Bluetooth device and click the ‘-‘ button below the list.
Step 3: Update your Bluetooth drivers.
If you’re using an older version of Bluetooth, it might not work as well with newer devices. Updating the latest Bluetooth drivers could fix sound delays on Bluetooth headphones.
Windows 10:
Open Device Manager Click ‘Sound, video and game controllers’ Right-click on your Bluetooth adapter and select ‘Update Driver Software
macOS:
Open System Preferences Click ‘Bluetooth’ Select your device and click the ‘Update Driver’ button.
Step 4: Update your OS
Sometimes, an outdated OS can cause sound delay on Bluetooth headphones. Updating the latest version of your OS could fix the problem.
Windows 10:
Open Settings Select ‘Update & Security’ Click ‘Windows Update’ Click ‘Check for updates’
macOS:
Open the App Store Updates tab. If any updates are available, install them by clicking on the ‘Update’ button.
Step 5: Troubleshoot your Bluetooth device.
If you have another Bluetooth device, you can use it to see if the problem is with your computer’s Bluetooth drivers. If the other device doesn’t have any sound delay, then it means that there is a problem with your computer.
Right-click on the Start Menu Click ‘Device Manager’ Expand ‘Bluetooth Radios’ Right-click on your Bluetooth adapter and select ‘Troubleshoot.’
Why Do My Bluetooth Headphones Have a Delay?
Bluetooth headphones are wireless, so they aren’t connected directly to your device. They communicate with it wirelessly through a Bluetooth connection. If there is a delay, the two devices need to ‘sync up.’ To sync up, one device sends information, and the other needs to receive information simultaneously.
It typically happens when the devices are close to each other. However, the delay will be more significant if the devices are too far apart.
In addition, if there is a lot of traffic on the Bluetooth connection, it can also cause delays. The more devices try to use the Bluetooth connection; the more congested the network becomes and the slower it gets.
If your device is close to the other Bluetooth headphones, but they still have a delay, go through the list of steps above and see if any of them fix the problem. If none of them work, then you should contact the company that makes your headphones or your computer’s customer support team for help.
How to Fix Bluetooth Audio Delay in Android and iOS?
Android and iOS both have different ways of handling Bluetooth Audio. Below are the instructions for fixing Bluetooth audio delay on Android and iOS devices.
Android:
Open Settings Tap ‘Bluetooth’ Tap the three dots in the top-right corner of your device’s Bluetooth screen Tap ‘Advanced’ Turn off ‘ Audio streaming.’
iOS:
Open Settings Tap ‘Bluetooth’ Tap the ‘i’ symbol in the bottom-left corner of your Bluetooth device’s screen. Under ‘Device Name,’ tap the name of your device. Turn off ‘Bluetooth Audio Streaming’
Conclusion:
There are several ways that you can try to fix sound delay on Bluetooth headphones. The first thing you should do is update your Bluetooth drivers, OS, and Bluetooth device. If that doesn’t work, you can try disabling your Bluetooth adapter or troubleshooting it.
Lastly, if you have another Bluetooth device, you can use it to see if the problem is with your computer’s Bluetooth drivers. If the other device doesn’t have any sound delay, then it means that there is a problem with your computer.
FAQs
How do I fix a delayed Bluetooth headset while playing games?
If you’re experiencing a delay when using your Bluetooth headset with games, the first thing you should do is check to make sure that your game supports Bluetooth audio. Not all games do.
If your game supports Bluetooth Audio, try disabling ‘Audio streaming’ on your Android or iOS device. It will help to reduce any latency issues.
Do wireless headsets have a delay?
Wireless headsets don’t have any latency problems. However, you still experience a delay because of the time it takes for your Bluetooth headset to communicate with your device. It is why wired headphones are typically better for gaming.
How do I fix my wireless Apple Airpods?
If you’re experiencing a sound delay from your Apple AirPods, first check to see if your device is running the newest version of iOS. You can do this by going to ‘Settings,’ then tapping on ‘General’ and finally, tap on ‘Software Update.’ If you’re not running the latest version of iOS, update it and see if that fixes your problem.
