Windows 11 is much more elegant, fluid, and user-friendly as compared to Windows 10. However, that does not mean it is immune to random bugs and issues here and there.

One such significant issue reported by many Windows 11 adopters is the lagging of audio when playing something through a Bluetooth device. The only thing more irritating than no audio is delayed audio.

Fortunately, there are some fixes you can try before giving up hope on Windows. So, let’s start with the basics and move on to relatively more complex methods to resolve this issue as fast as possible.

Remove and Reconnect the Bluetooth Device

One of the most elementary steps, but at times can do wonders when it comes to fixing unexplained problems with devices. Removing and pairing up your Bluetooth device is as plain-sailing as it can get. That being said, below are the instructions if you need a refresher course just in case.

To do so, head to the Settings app either from the pinned apps section or by searching for it.

Next, click on the ‘Bluetooth & devices’ tab present on the left sidebar.

Now, you will be able to see your paired devices on the right side of the screen. In case you are not able to locate the particular device, you wish to remove, click on the ‘View more’ devices option.

Once you have located your device, click on the kebab icon (three vertical dots) situated on the far right edge of the tile and then choose the ‘Remove’ option.

Now, head back to the ‘Bluetooth & devices’ screen and click on the ‘Add device’ button. This will open a separate window on your screen.

After that, from the ‘Add a device’ screen, click on the ‘Bluetooth’ option to see available devices.

Note: Make sure you have enabled pairing mode on your Bluetooth device you wish to connect with your PC.

Then, once you are able to locate your Bluetooth device on the device search window, click on it to initiate the pairing process. You might hear a sound or beep once your Bluetooth device is successfully paired.

You can now play and check if the audio lag is still present when the content is playing.

Update Device Bluetooth Driver

One of the most common culprits of such issues is an outdated driver. It is one of the very easy fixes along with being able to straighten out many out-of-the-blue issues.

To update the Bluetooth driver of your device, head to the Start Menu and type Device Manager. Once you see its tile in the search results, click on it to open.

Now, click on the little chevron preceding the ‘Bluetooth’ option in the list to expand the section. Then, right-click on the device you wish to update the driver for, and click on the ‘Update driver’ option from the context menu. This will open a separate window on your screen.

Next, from the ‘Update drivers’ window, click on the ‘Search automatically for drivers’ option. Your computer will now automatically find and download the latest drivers for your device.

Once the drivers are updated, you might need to restart your PC. After restarting (if needed), check if the audio lag is still present.

Run Bluetooth Troubleshooter

Another quick fix to the situation is running a Bluetooth troubleshooter to help detect and fix any system issues.

To do so, head to the ‘Settings’ app either from the pinned apps on the Start Menu or by searching for it.

Next, make sure the ‘System’ tab is selected on the left sidebar.

After that, on the right section of the window, scroll down to locate and click on the ‘Troubleshoot’ tile.

Now, under the ‘Options’ section, and click on the ‘Other troubleshooters’ tile to proceed.

Then, under the ‘Other’ section present to the right of the window, locate the ‘Bluetooth’ option and click on the ‘Run’ button situated on the far right edge of the tile. This will open a separate window on your screen.

Now, the troubleshooter will run operations and detect problems with your computer in regards to Bluetooth. Once the problem(s) have been detected, Windows will suggest corrective measures for the same.

After the issue has been corrected, check once again if the audio lag still persists.

Disable Audio Enhancements

If you have enabled audio enhancements for your Bluetooth device, it could also be the culprit behind the lag, and turning it off might help you fix it.

To disable enhancements, head to the ‘Settings’ app either from the pinned apps on the Start Menu or by searching for it.

Next, make sure the ‘System’ tab is selected on the left sidebar.

Now, locate and click on the ‘Sound’ tile present to the right of the window to proceed.

After that, under the ‘Output’ section click on the device tile you are facing the issues with. This will open its properties.

On the next screen, scroll down to locate the ‘Enhance audio’ tile and then click on the ‘Advanced’ option present right beneath it. This will open a separate window on your screen.

Now, from the ‘Headphones Properties’ window, click on the ‘Enhancements’ tab and click to select the checkbox preceding the ‘Disable all enhancements’ option.

Finally, hit the ‘Apply’ button to save the changes made and then click on the ‘OK’ button to close the window.

Obstruction & Proximity Issue

If nothing else seems to work for you, take a note of the distance from the system, and if there’s any obstruction between the system and audio device, try to make sure both the devices are on the same side as it may cause a delay in the audio.

Since the Bluetooth technology also has a certain range, it is imperative for you to assure that you stay in the range in order to receive all the information of the transmission properly.

Try an Alternative App

If you are noticing the lag using a particular browser or a media player and everything works fine otherwise else, there could be an issue with the software itself. You should try an alternative to that specific software and check if the issue resolves.