Anyone who has been using Windows for a while knows the problems that come with it. Although Windows is full of state-of-the-art features that are delivered through the pipeline, they often bring new bugs and problems that are increasingly difficult to diagnose and fix on your own.

One of the problems that has been occurring for years is that a connected Bluetooth device does not show up as an output device in the sound settings, or a 'hands-free' version of the same device unexpectedly appears. This version produces a significantly lower sound quality, full of noise and hiss that ruins the whole audio experience.

Luckily, there are a few solutions that can fix this issue. Follow the guide below to understand the issues associated with the unavailability of connected Bluetooth devices as output and how to resolve them.

The process of connecting and using Bluetooth devices is simple: you pair and connect your device via Quick Settings in the taskbar (or System Sound in the Settings app), click the button next to the volume control, and switch to your device for sound output. But if you’re reading this, it’s reasonable to assume that’s not what you’re seeing.