How to Connect A2DP Bluetooth Stereo Headset with Vista?

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I just got a Motorola Motorokr S9-HD Bluetooth Stereo headset to connect with my Nokia N95 8GB and with my Vista Home Premium laptop, HP Pavilion Entertainment PC DV 6500.

Motorla S9 HD

This Motorola S9 headset is one of the best A2DP Bluetooth headset (A2DP – Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) that are available now in the market. Connecting this with my Nokia N95 was a very easy task (I also tried connecting with other Sony Ericsson phone, it was also very simple and straight forward). But connecting with my Vista laptop took me a while to figure it out.

The coolest Option lets to connect both Vista and Phone to the same headset at the same time:

Connect Bluetooth Headset with Vista

Here is my biggest reason why I wanted this Bluetooth headset to set both with my phone and vista laptop. Imagine you are watching a movie or listening to songs from your laptop using this headset, when you get a call in your phone, the movie or song automatically pauses, you take the call using the headset and after you are done with the call, the movie or song automatically resumes. So here you have a headset which is connected with both phone and vista computer at the same time.

Drivers for Bluetooth in Vista:

Many advised to change the Bluetooth drivers that came by default with Vista saying it doesn’t support A2DP. But I just managed to get it to work without changing my Bluetooth drivers as I had my HP Bluetooth Module driver from Broadcom.

Before I proceed these are the Bluetooth drivers that are in my laptop currently.

Microsoft Bluetooth Enumerator – 6.0.6001.18064 – Microsoft

Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network) – 6.0.6001.18000 – Microsoft

HP Bluetooth Module – 5.1.2535.0 – Broadcom

Bluetooth Hands-free Audio – 6.0.1.3700 – Broadcom

Bluetooth Stereo Audio – 6.0.1.3700 – Broadcom

So here is how to connect A2DP Bluetooth headset with Vista:

1. Make sure Bluetooth is active in your computer. Click the Vista Start button and type Bluetooth in the Search box. From the results in top select Bluetooth Devices under Programs. (Note: If Bluetooth Devices is not listed then it means you computer does not have Bluetooth)

2. From the Options tab, make sure all the options are checked.

  • Allow Bluetooth devices to find this computer
  • Allow Bluetooth devices to connect to this computer
  • Alert me when Bluetooth device wants to connect

Also if you prefer select options like Show the Bluetooth icon in the notifications area.

Bluetooth Devices Options in Vista

3. Now turn on the Bluetooth headset. Click the Devices tab in the Bluetooth Devices window and click Add.

4. In the Add Bluetooth Device Wizard check My device is set up and ready to be found and click Next.

Add Bluetooth Devices in Vista

5. It will search for all the nearby turned on Bluetooth devices and it will list all the devices including Bluetooth headset. Choose the headset and click Next.

Add Bluetooth Headset in Vista

6. Choose a Passkey in the next window for security purposes. Usually the device may come with some documented security code (For example, Motorola S9 HD Bluetooth Headset has the Passkey 0000)

Add Bluetooth Headset in Vista Passkey

7. Now it will connect and install the drivers needed.

Add Bluetooth Devices in Vista 2

8. In the next window click Finish.

Add Bluetooth Devices in Vista Finish Page

Now even if the Bluetooth headset is connected, you may not be able to hear any music from the headset.

So here is the tweak you need to do to make it work. Go to Bluetooth Devices and select the headset under Audio Devices and click the Properties at the bottom.

Bluetooth Devices with Headset

Select the services tab and make sure you have Headset checked, this is what is responsible for A2DP stereo connections. Check all necessary and click OK.

Motorola S9 Properties

Now go to Audio tab in the Bluetooth Devices and make sure Bluetooth Stereo Audio says its connected. If not select and click Connect at the bottom.

Bluetooth Streo A2DP Connection with Vista

Even now you may not be able to listen through your Bluetooth headset using A2DP.

So, Go to Start –> Control Panel –> Hardware and Sound –> Sound –> Manage audio devices. Now under Playback select Bluetooth Stereo Audio and select Set Default.

Sound Options VIsta

Some Points to be Noted:

1. Now you should be able to hear the music in both speakers using stereo mode. If not try closing the players or browsers and start them again.

2. Make sure you don’t play anything while changing any options that I had mentioned above. It may cause the program not to respond or crash.

3. If you are absolutely sure that you have done all these steps, try restarting the system.

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106 Responses to “How to Connect A2DP Bluetooth Stereo Headset with Vista?”

  1. great tutorial buddy…will come handy some day.

  2. When I do the above, I get a “Bluetooth Peripheral Device” with a yellow ! in the device manager. There are resolutions to that problem at these two sites:

    http://forums.logitech.com/logitech/board/message?board.id=headsets_general&message.id=4333

    http://forums.techarena.in/showthread.php?t=703446

  3. This post really helped me a lot. You see, I have this kind of device and I really don’t know how to connect it on my PC.

    Thanks to the author! Keep up!

  4. @Czar, I am glad it helped some.

  5. Love the tutorial – I get sound now!! It does go in and out – wish I could get it not choppy – any help with that would be awesome – I seem so close now.. Thanks

  6. I discovered this very method thru trail and error. However, sometimes, I still have to remove and reinstall the headset. When I get it to work, it performs beautifully.

  7. Thank you so much, I tried but couldn’t listen music even I control play/pause, skip etc. With this tutorial, now I am listening music through S9…

  8. Thanks for the write up. Very helpful.

  9. Thanks a lot, but i just listening the left audio of S9 can helpme with this, tks again

  10. Thanks for the write up. It really helped me out in connecting to my Bluetooth audio device and its working perfectly

  11. in my Bluetooth Devices window, it shows only devices, options, COM ports, and hardware. How would I go about getting the audio menu? Could it be that my bluetooth adapter is a couple years old?

  12. thats really a good tutorial, i have some other brand headset will try to put it on with my lappy

  13. You have a Motorola S9-HD but you’ve posted a picture of the S9? By chance, what country do you live in?

  14. Hi,
    I bought a new HP laptop with integratrd BT. My plantronics voyager 855 is not detected by my laptop. How to ensure that my laptop supports A2DP so it can be detected?

    Thanks in advance.

  15. I was wondering how good is the sound quality on the driver you used. Currently i’m using a toshiba driver with my Freepulse but the quality is slightly worse then the jack adapter. I think the driver you use can make a big diference.

  16. Hello
    The procedure described above is not an A2DP connection, this is another connection. A2DP is not enabled in VISTA, but delivers superior quality. It is a more detailed procedure than the above one.

    Regards
    Becket

  17. I accomplished all the previous steps with success, but does not appear for me Bluetooth Stereo Audio and select Set Default.

  18. I’m able to make the audio to work but I’m having to make the microphone to work. any idea on how to make it work?

    thanks

  19. I followed same steps in XP…
    But i dont get the services for bluetooth listed!
    my stereo bluetooth is wrking fine with P1i

    pls help

  20. Hey

    I have been able to connect my stereo bluetooth headphones to my HP Pavillion Lap top but are having sound issues. The sound starts playing through my headphones for about a second and then disappears.

    If I adjust the volume, the same thing happens. The sound appears momentarily before disappearing again. I am connecting using a kensington dongle. But my drivers are fully updated and are workig properly.

    If I connect using bluetooth hands-free audio, I get continuous sound but with really bad quality, like I’m listening through a small mono radio.

    Any sugggstions?

  21. its really a great news for me. although i know about it and i also know that there are some products available in as bluetooth to connect with the laptop bluetooth for voice chatting leaving laptop somewhere else and chat freely.

    but when i informed my friend staying in u.k. for this and when he tried to find out in the market for such product, people started laughing on him.

    i told him not to embarassed if anyone laughs just show them the literature of “BLUEANT” bluetooth device manufacture in USA and only marketting in USA & CANADA.

    i hope A2DP setero bluetooth will also work for voice chatting from the laptop.

    COULD YOU PLEASE CONFIRM IT TO ME….AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW THE PRICE OF THIS PRODUCT.

    THANKS FOR YOUR NICE TUTORIAL AND HELP.

    CHEERS

  22. thanks a lot. i have been banging my head since yesterday to figure this. this came like an angel…thanks once again, keep up the good work

  23. the procedure works fine, except every time i turn my bt headphones on, eventhough it connect to the pc I still have to go to bluetooth devices select sound, connect with the stereo headphones and then use it. Isn’t there a way that when you turn the headphones on it automatically connect to the sound device too?

  24. I tried the procedure for my Sony BT21iK headset but I get no sound. Bluetooth finds the headset but all I get in the bluetooth devices menu is “devices, options, COM ports and hardware. There are no other options i.e. audio and so on. The other problem is when bluetooth finds the head set windows says it’s found new hardware and asks for the driver disc.

  25. Hi
    Wonderful and exhaustive tutorial.
    I have Motorolla S9 headset and HP dv2200tu notebook. Blue tooth is availble but the drivers for Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network) – 6.0.6001.18000 – Microsoft
    HP Bluetooth Module – 5.1.2535.0 – Broadcom
    Bluetooth Hands-free Audio – 6.0.1.3700 – Broadcom
    Bluetooth Stereo Audio – 6.0.1.3700 – Broadcom are not avialable. Can u help me out as to frm where to download drivers for the same.

    Thanks

  26. Greetings!!!

    Excellent tutorial… it helped me to connect my motorola s9 headset with my Dell 1525 Inspiron laptop, am able to listen to the music but the MIC doesn’t work. Is there anything need to be done to get the Motorola s9’s Microphone working?

    Thanks in advance,
    Ram

  27. Please help :)
    i bought bluetooth bookshelf speakers for my phone but want to get them to work with my bluetooth enabled laptop (HP entertainment pc dv2712TU).

    problem i run into is under services i cannot select the same as u, only audio sink and remote control is there. these speakers work fine with my LG Viewty.

    however i have not downloaded any extra drivers for my laptop just what came with it, i see that u had more then one, where do i download the same drivers as u?

  28. Thank you. I thought I had everything covered but still couldnt get sound. your tutorial was the trick. I didnt know to make it the default. Do all of your controls work, they do with my phone.

  29. Works.

    Thanks alot

  30. Help!!!!!!!!!!!

    It worked once, now i cant get it to work with itunes. i have done everything. and rebooted. the sound test works, everything says its connected. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

  31. thanks so much!
    i now have cristal clear sound and it works with skype !
    you are the best!
    mike

  32. It connects properly in windows vista but the audio gets disturb

    it just plays n stop in b/w but d audio shows that it is being played in PC

  33. Too good tutorial dude, keep rocking like this only……

  34. Dude if you don’t mind can I know whats the problem like once I pair headset with my computer I couldn’t connect headset to phone as phone is not detecting headset. I’d appreciate if you help me in this….

  35. At time am unable to connect headset to computer and mobile, if I connect first headset to laptop then it is not detecting in phone vice versa, please help me in this…..

  36. Hi,
    I tried everything mentioned here.However ,when i reach this step as mentioned on the post’Now go to Audio tab in the Bluetooth Devices and make sure Bluetooth Stereo Audio says its connected. If not select and click Connect at the bottom’
    I click on connect and the status changes to ‘connecting’ and back to disconnected again.
    Please advise

  37. Oliver / RamKriZ

    To get the Microphone working you need to go to “Bluetooth Devices”, select the “COM Ports” tab, click “Add…”, the “Add COM Port” window will appear, make sure the “incoming” type is selected and click “OK” you may need to wait for a few seconds and it will add a COM port to your microphone.

  38. U Star !!! I have been hitting my head against a brick wall for well over a week trying to get my headphone to work on my PC.
    2 minutes after reading your guide I has them working. Great.
    Yippeeeee

    Thank you

  39. i tried everything – the device shows connected and my default settings on volume are bluetooth.
    however,all i can hear is a buzz in my headest.
    i am able to stop,play.skip to the next song and go to the previous song – no audio absolutely and only the buzz sound
    m goin mad – please help

  40. thanx a lot.!!!

  41. When i select audio devices and click on SERVICES TAB i cant see anything in that to check or uncheck.Please tellme what must be the probelm..I would gratfull if u could help me in this
    Thanks and regards
    -Sudarshan

  42. AWESOME !!! Thank you so much! I have the Motorola BT Stereo headset and have been trying to figure this out…I am now watching Get Smart and listening through my headset….Thanks for the help….Steve

  43. Thanks, it works normally with my system:

    1. HP Pavilion tx 2510 US, Vista Home, Intergrated Bluetooth 2.0
    2. Motorola S9, Bluetooth stereo headphone

    All the function of Motorola S9 is working well:
    HFP (Hands Free Profile, for phone calls like a mono headset)
    A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile, for music like a stereo headphone)
    AVRCP (Audio Video Remote Control Profile, for remote control like a HP remote control)

  44. Thx mate, it worked for me !! I was looking for this since a month, couldnt find it any where.

    I could fix it in 5 minutes..I really appreciate it.

  45. thanks

  46. I have the motorola s9 and a hp pavilion tx 1000 laptop model. In the audio tab when i try to connect the stereo headset it just keeps disconnecting

  47. Let me thank you first for your effort on such an awesome aricle. Hats Off :)

    But I have some weird thing with my machine; in Playback Tab I don’t see “Speakers Bluetooth Stereo Audio” all I see is “Speakers Bluetooth Hands free Audio”, but I am quiet sure I saw it there few days ago but after I was trying to connect “Plantronics Pulsal 260″ it went missing in that process, do you know how to get that back.

    Also my problem is pretty same as Wasim; In “Audio Tab” I can see “Bluetooth Stereo Audio” and when I try connecting it says Connecting for a while and gets disconnedted.

    But when I connect using “Hands-free Audio” all I hear is the Hissing Sound, but I am sure something is happening because when I stop the player, the hissing sound goes off and again when I start a song it again comes back, that means some communication is taking place.

    I would greatly appreciate your help.

    Note: I am having HP dv6500t (AMD Turion), In-built bluetooth, Vista Home Premium.
    Bluetooth device is Plantronics Pulsar 260.

    Thanks
    Pratap

  48. Hello All,

    I have solved my A2DP headset connecting problem.
    Please read my above comment and you will see what problem I was facing.

    Solution:Go to this URL:
    ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp38001-38500/sp38167.exe
    This is a safe HP domain. Save this on desktop and run it. It takes around 10 mins to run and it will ask to restart computer, please do that.

    Then you will be able to connect to both “Bluetooth Hands-free” as well as “Bluethooth Stereo Audio” by following the steps given in this page by author.

    Now when I switch on my Headset it automatically gets connected and then when I refresh/restart my Audio player, sound goes on my Headset and after that if I switch Off the Headset, and then refresh/restart the Audio Player, again I hear the music on my default speaker. This is just awesome and as per I wanted.

    Note: I am having a HP DV6500z laptop with Vista and Built-in Bluetooth.

    Thanks
    Pratap Shinde

  49. One more interesting thing is, if you have one Computer then two people can listen to entirely different music on single Computer; one on default comp speakers and other on Bluetooth headset.
    For example I have one Laptop, then if my wife is watching movie or listening to specific music with sound from Laptop speakers and say I dont want to watch that movie and listen to some other music then I can do that by starting my music in another player and listening on Bluetooth headsets, isn’t that awesome use.

    Steps to do that: Start you movie or internet radio and allow it to play from default Computer speakers, after that start the Bluetooth headset and establish a connection which most of time will happen automatically, then you start another player from which you want to play other music. This new player which is started after Bluetooth connection sends it voice to bluetooth headsets and in this way two people can listen to different music throught different players.

    One important thing is do not refresh or restart your first player/browser because if you do that then it will also start sending audio to Bluetooth headsets.

  50. Hi all,
    I tried everything mentioned here and nothing worked.I have a HP dv1126ee notebook and a motorola S9 headset.
    i connected a MICROSIM USB bluetooth adapter and now i can listen to music and do voice chat with the motorola S9 :)

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