Bluetooth Headphones not working with Pixel 6/Pro [Fix]

In this guide, we will show you various methods to fix the Bluetooth headphones not working issue with Pixel 6/Pro. Being the earliest adopters in the tech domain always brings in an associated risk with itself. And no one could vouch for it any better than the Pixel device owners. On one hand, they are the first in line to get blessed with the latest software updates, but on the contrary, they are also the first in line to welcome abode a truckload of bugs onto their devices.

While the repercussions of the dreadful December update are being felt to this day, it now seems like the June security patch has also joined this bandwagon. Various Pixel 6/Pro users who have installed the June update have reported that their Bluetooth headphones/earphones are not working along the expected lines. While some have reported issues related to audio delay and desync with video, others have said the audio isn’t coming from their headphones at all.

The issue isn’t with their headphones as they have tested it with other non-Pixel devices and there are no problems there. Add to it the fact that the June update has also resulted in frequent ‘maximum’ volume drops wherein the maximum volume only reaches 75% of its capacity and it seems that things are quickly taking turn for the worse. With that said, there do exist a few nifty workarounds that shall help you fix the Bluetooth headphones not working issue with Pixel 6/Pro. So without further ado, let’s check them out.

Fix Bluetooth Headphones not working with Pixel 6/Pro

It is recommended that you try out each of the below-mentioned workarounds and then see which one spells out success for you. So with that in mind, let’s get started.

Re-Pair Headphones

Let’s start with the most basic fix of forgetting and then re-pairing the device. This will refresh the underlying settings and might well resolve the underlying issue. So put this fix to the test and check out the results.

1. Head over to Settings > Connected Devices and select your device from the list.
2. Then tap on Disconnect followed by Forget. The device will now be removed from the list.
3. After that, tap on Pair new device and pair your headphones via the on-screen instructions.
4. Check if it fixes the Bluetooth headphones not working issue with Pixel 6/Pro.

Change AVRCP Value

Audio/Video Remote Control Profile is a protocol that allows for the remote control of media playback on other connected devices. So the actions such as play, pause, stop, next, and previous on your car’s stereo display are governed by its profile itself. In this regard, the default AVRCP value is set to 1.5, but users were able to achieve success after lowering it down to 1.4. So let’s change its value and see if it works out or not:

1. Head over to Settings > About Phone and tap on Build Number 7 times.
2. This will enable Developer Options. So go to Settings > System > Developer Options.
   
3. Now scroll to Bluetooth AVRCP Version and select 1.4 from the list.
4. Check if it fixes the Bluetooth headphones not working issue with Pixel 6/Pro.

Disable A2DP HW Offload

The Advanced Audio Distribution Profile is a Bluetooth functionality that is used to enable multimedia audio communication. When you stream any music via Bluetooth to your car’s stereo, then everything is taken care of by this A2DP only. Another nifty feature of this profile is its ability to lower down the streaming music when there is an incoming call. In case of any issues with A2DP, the repercussions will be faced by both the connected devices. Therefore, you could consider turning it off, using the instructions given below:

1. Head over to Settings > System > Developer Options.
2. Then disable the toggle next to Disable Bluetooth A2DP hardware offload
3. After that, tap on Restart in the confirmation dialog box.
4. Once it boots up, wait for a few seconds and then turn off the toggle.
5. Check if it fixes the Bluetooth headphones not working issue with Pixel 6/Pro.

Use SBC Audio Codec

A codec governs how the Bluetooth is transmitted from the source device to the other paired devices. Apart from that, it also encodes and decodes digital audio data into a specific file format. In this regard, there are quite a few different audio codecs that you could choose from. These include the likes of SBC, AAC, Qualcomm aptX audio, Qualcomm aptX HD audio, and LDAC. So if the default codec isn’t working out, then you could consider switching over to [Low Complexity] Sub-Band Coding, using the below-listed steps.

1. Head over to Settings > System > Developer Options.
2. Then scroll to Bluetooth Audio Codec.
   
3. Choose the SBC Codec from the list.
4. Check if it fixes the Bluetooth headphones not working issue with Pixel 6/Pro.

Disable HD Audio

On paper, the HD Audio enhances the sound quality, however, there have been quite a few instances wherein this feature ends up conflicting with the normal functionality of the audio component of your device. Therefore you should consider disabling this feature and then test out the results.

1. To begin with, head over to the Settings menu on your device.
2. Then go to System> Developer Options and disable the toggle next to HD Audio.
3. Check if it fixes the Bluetooth headphones not working issue with Pixel 6/Pro.

Reset Bluetooth

In case of a misconfiguration issue with the Bluetooth, or if its stored metadata has got corrupted, then the only way to rectify it is by resetting it to its factory default state. However, doing so will also reset your WiFi and Mobile Data. So make sure to sync the WiFi passwords with your Google account beforehand. Once done, you may then proceed with the below steps-

1. Start by going to the Settings page on your device.
2. Then go to System and scroll to the Reset options section.
   
3. Within that, go to Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile & Bluetooth, and tap on Reset Settings.
4. Now restart your device and then see if it fixes the Bluetooth headphones not working issue with Pixel 6/Pro.

Downgrade Updates on Pixel

If none of the aforementioned methods managed to spell ut success, then your last course of action should be to downgrade the device to the earlier security patch. Do note that doing so requires an unlocked bootloader, which will wipe off all the data from your device and could nullify the device’s warranty. So if that’s well and good, then you could perform this downgrade via Android Flash Tool or using Fastboot commands.

So these were the two different workarounds that shall help you fix the Pixel devices volume issue after the June update. As far as the official stance on this matter is concerned, the developers are yet to acknowledge this issue, let alone give out any ETA for the rollout of a fix. As and when any of these two things happen [maybe with the July update], we will update this guide accordingly. In the meantime, the aforementioned workarounds are your best bet.

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