How do I use blue tooth settings to ensure my ear buds are for output from my laptop, and not as a microphone?

Hi Michael,

Just checking, have you tried to set your earbuds under Output as Headset, then disable them under Input > Microphone? That way, it will ask speaker and not mic.

On Windows 11, set the earbuds as the sound output device and ignore or disable their microphone if not needed.

1. Open Start > Settings > System > Sound.
2. Under Output, select the Bluetooth earbuds as the output device. This also sets them as the default playback device.
3. Under Input, choose a different device (for example, the built‑in laptop microphone) so the earbuds are not used as the microphone.

If a communications app (like Teams or Skype) is using the earbuds as a mic or speaker separately:

1. In Settings > System > Sound > Sound control panel.
2. On the Playback tab, select the earbuds and choose Set Default Device (or Set Default Communication Device if you only want them for calls).
3. On the Recording tab, select the device you want to use as the microphone (for example, the built‑in mic) and choose Set Default Device (or Set Default Communication Device). Do not set the earbuds’ microphone as default.

This ensures audio plays through the earbuds while another device is used as the microphone.

References:

• Surface sound, volume, and audio accessories