Sound delay on Bluetooth headphones is very annoying. Maybe you’ve noticed that the singer’s lip movements, guitar strumming, and all the other sound effects in a music video are slightly out of sync while watching a video clip.
A quick Google search a few minutes later reveals that you’re experiencing Bluetooth audio lag, which is what you’re experiencing. We explore the reasons why Bluetooth headphones sound lag, as well as various troubleshooting steps in this article.
So, let’s learn how to Fix Bluetooth Headphone Sound Delay step by step!
Why Do My Bluetooth Headphones Have a Delay?
In this article, we look at the reasons why Bluetooth headphones lag and various troubleshooting procedures. So, let’s go through the process of fixing Bluetooth headphone sound delay!
When using Bluetooth headphones, Bluetooth headphones may take anywhere from 32 milliseconds to 300 milliseconds. Since sync of the left and right sides is also required, this adds an extra step.
Factors Affecting Audio Quality Bluetooth Delay
It is unavoidable for there to be a delay in the signal reaching your headphones from your source device.
When using Bluetooth headphones, there are four key factors that will have an impact on your listening experience:
- Bluetooth version
- What Bluetooth codec is currently being applied
- Interference from surrounding objects
- Distance between source and receiver
Bluetooth version currently in use
The sound delay on Bluetooth headphones might be due to an old Bluetooth version. From version 1.0 in 1999 to version 5.1 now, Bluetooth wireless technology has been available.
There are improvements to the amount of data, the speed of transmission, and energy efficiency each time a new Bluetooth version is released.
Bluetooth is backward compatible in all versions. As a result, a Bluetooth 5.1 gadget may still communicate with a Bluetooth 1.2 gadget. However, this also means that the 5.1 audio device will be restricted to Bluetooth 1.2 capabilities.
With a wireless connection, there will always be audio delay. Nevertheless, there are ways to make it less apparent.
As previously stated, encoding, transmitting, and decoding audio data wirelessly will always take longer than on a wired connection because of the extra time spent in each step.
On the other hand, there are several steps that you may take to reduce Bluetooth audio delay; nonetheless, there is no way to eliminate it completely at this point.
How to Fix Bluetooth Audio Delay in Android and iOS
If you’re using your headphones with Android or iOS, here are some tips that may help to reduce the audio delay:
Disable Power Saver
To ensure that your mobile gadgets last longer than normal, power-saving settings are used. The performance and speed of your devices and background apps, however, are limited by this setting.
When watching videos, listening to music, or gaming, the consequences aren’t always severe, yet this may frequently cause audio delays.
On either Android or iOS, here is a quick guide on how to turn off the power saving mode:
For IOS
Option 1
- Swipe down the screen to bring up the Control Center. To disable the ‘Low Power Mode,’ tap on the Battery icon.
Option 2
- Go to your device settings > tap on Battery > and turn off Low Power Mode.
For Android
- Go to your phone Settings > Search Battery and device care
- Click Optimize now to make sure you’ve covered all your bases before going to the power saving settings.
- Click on Battery and toggle the Power saving mode off
How to Fix Bluetooth Audio Delay on Windows
Outdated software drivers may be to blame for audio lag experienced by Bluetooth headphones. Updating your Bluetooth headphone drivers to the latest version is simple, as shown below:
- In the search box on the taskbar, enter device manager, then select Device Manager.
- To view the name of the device you want to update, left-click on the Bluetooth icon.
- Select the Bluetooth headphones you want to update
- To update the driver, simply right-click on it and choose Update Driver.
You can try searching for a new driver on the device manufacturer’s website and following their instructions if Windows isn’t able to find one.
You may choose to reboot Windows Audio Service, or you may choose the second option.
How to Fix Bluetooth Audio Delay on MAC
For ensuring that your Bluetooth connection on your Mac is in tip-top shape, follow the steps below.
It’s a possible explanation why your Bluetooth connection is behaving strangely. System errors caused by corrupt files.
Your Bluetooth headphones’ wireless connection may be improved if you remove all of them from your computer.
- It’s time to launch Finder. Select “Go to Folder” from the Menu bar’s “Go” menu > Type/Library/Preferences on the window that will pop up, then click Go.
- A new window will open. Right-click the file “com.apple.Bluetooth.plist” and choose “Move to Trash” from the menu that pops up. It’s worth noting that the xxxxxxxx is a combination of digits and letters that varies depending on the machine.
- Try reconnecting your Bluetooth headphones again after restarting your computer.
Which Codecs are being used?
Remember how your gadget and headphones transform audio signals when we discussed how Bluetooth works? So, a Codec is the name given to the software that does this. Your device will have its own codec, as will your headphones.
There are several types of codecs, each with distinct limits on how much data it may process and transfer. When firmware upgrades are finished, this is frequently included in the software.
Interference from surrounding objects
There are many radio waves around us. Radio waves are emitted by different wireless devices, such as TVs and Wi-Fi.
Communication between headphones and audio devices can be easily interrupted by waves from all gadgets. This could be the reason for the sound delay on Bluetooth headphones.
Distance between source and receiver
It is generally recommended that you stay within about 10 feet (10 meters) of the Bluetooth device when you are using it optimally. Of course, the specific distance that can be reached will be determined by various factors. There are improvements with each generation, despite the fact that 30 feet (10 meters) is recommended.
As a result, if you are using a newer version of Bluetooth than you are currently using, you may not be bothered. The distance between the source and receiver that is far enough can also cause Bluetooth Headphone Delay, it can also cause Bluetooth Headphones to keep cutting out.
How to Fix Sound Delay in Bluetooth Headphones?
Any headphone delay or latency that is excessive will annoy you, and you will want to reduce it. There is no way to eliminate delay in any form, and it will always be present to some degree.
However, it is possible that this level of delay can be reduced as much as possible. We are now going to share various ways to minimize any delays that may exist until they are invisible.
Picking the right audio codec
The codec is the first thing we’ll look at. It’s important to use the best codec for Bluetooth streaming and match it to the audio source.
If your headphones support the AAC codec, which is Apple’s codec of choice, you’ll get the best wireless listening experience on iOS. Your best bets for Android are aptX LL and aptX HD.
Certain codecs, such as Sony and Samsung’s Scalable Codec, are manufacturer-specific. Make certain to get a pair of Bluetooth headphones that work with these smartphones if you are going to use them.
Match the Bluetooth audio profile of the source and headphones
As previously mentioned, if you’re using Bluetooth 5.0 devices for both your source and receiver, then expect audio latency to be significantly reduced. Nevertheless, it is critical to match the source and the headphones’ Bluetooth audio profile.
For example, the link will be using Bluetooth 5.0 standards if both your source and receiver are equipped with the latest Bluetooth 5.0. The default connection will revert to Bluetooth 4.1 if either the source or receiver is Bluetooth 4.1, while the other is Bluetooth 5.0. To take advantage of the enhanced bandwidth and capabilities of Bluetooth 5.0, try to obtain the latest support for both the source and receiving devices.
Conclusion
There were several methods to minimize sound delay on Bluetooth headphones. I’m hoping this page has provided you with some information. Spread the word to your friends as well. Let us know in the comment box below if you have any questions about this. Please vote for this article if you enjoyed it.