Fix 1 — Put Headset in Pairing Mode
Hold the pairing button on the headset until the LED flashes rapidly. If the headset was previously paired to another device, it may be attempting to auto-connect to the previously paired device rather than entering pairing mode. Remove the old pairing from the headset (consult headset manual for factory reset procedure) and then hold the pairing button to enter fresh pairing mode. Once the headset LED is flashing rapidly, it should appear in Windows Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Add device list within 10 seconds.
Fix 2 — Update Intel Bluetooth Driver from HP Support
Download the Intel AX211 Bluetooth driver for the HP EliteBook 1040 G11 from HP Support. The HP-certified Intel Bluetooth driver includes Bluetooth 5.3 LE Audio profiles and Hands-Free Profile (HFP) and Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) configuration for headset devices. An outdated driver may not correctly enumerate headset audio profiles, causing the headset to appear paired but not show as an audio playback device in Windows Sound settings.
Per Rashidah Alias, sales manager using HP EliteBook 1040 G11 for Teams calls with a Bluetooth headset: “Bluetooth headset showed paired but no audio on the EliteBook 1040 G11. Downloaded the Intel AX211 Bluetooth driver from HP Support and reinstalled. After restart, the headset appeared in Sound settings as both a headphone and microphone device correctly.”
Fix 3 — Set Headset as Default Audio Device
Open Sound settings → More sound settings → Playback tab. Right-click the Bluetooth headset and select Set as Default Device. Also go to the Recording tab and right-click the headset microphone and select Set as Default Device. Some Bluetooth headsets appear as paired in the Bluetooth list but are not automatically set as the default audio device in Sound settings. Setting both the headset speaker and microphone as default enables the headset for all Windows audio applications including Teams, Zoom, and browser audio.
Fix 4 — Remove and Re-pair the Headset
Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices. Click the headset and select Remove device. Put the headset into pairing mode and click Add device to pair fresh. A corrupted Bluetooth bonding key from a Windows or driver update can cause the headset to appear paired but fail to establish the full Bluetooth audio profile. A fresh re-pair creates a new bonding key that the Intel AX211 adapter and headset both recognize correctly for audio and microphone functionality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Bluetooth headset not detected on HP EliteBook 1040 G11?
The headset is not in pairing mode, the Intel AX211 Bluetooth driver needs updating, or the bonding key is corrupted. Put the headset in pairing mode, install the Intel Bluetooth driver from HP Support, and remove and re-pair if the headset appears connected but produces no audio.
Does HP EliteBook 1040 G11 support Bluetooth 5.3 LE Audio headsets?
Yes. The Intel AX211 supports Bluetooth 5.3 including LE Audio with LC3 codec. LE Audio headsets compatible with Bluetooth 5.3 can pair with the EliteBook 1040 G11 and use the lower-latency LC3 codec for audio playback. The HP-certified Intel AX211 Bluetooth driver includes LE Audio profile support for the EliteBook 1040 G11 platform.
Can I use two Bluetooth headsets simultaneously on HP EliteBook 1040 G11?
Two Bluetooth headsets can be paired simultaneously in Windows Bluetooth settings, but only one can be the active default audio output device at a time. To switch between paired headsets, open Sound settings and change the default playback device. Bluetooth 5.3 on the AX211 supports multiple concurrent Bluetooth connections, but Windows audio routing uses a single default device for audio output.
Why does the Bluetooth headset disconnect randomly on HP EliteBook 1040 G11?
The Intel AX211 Bluetooth adapter is being powered off by device power management. Open Device Manager, find Intel Wireless Bluetooth, Properties, Power Management, and uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power. Also switch Wi-Fi from 2.4GHz to 5GHz to reduce Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 2.4GHz band interference that can cause headset audio dropouts on the AX211.
Conclusion
Bluetooth headset not detected on the HP EliteBook 1040 G11 Core Ultra 7 165U is fixed by putting the headset in fresh pairing mode, updating the Intel AX211 Bluetooth driver from HP Support, setting the headset as the default playback and recording device in Sound settings, and removing and re-pairing if the bonding key is corrupted. Bluetooth 5.3 LE Audio is supported with the HP-certified Intel AX211 driver on the EliteBook 1040 G11 Core Ultra 7 165U platform.
Ryan holds a Computer Science degree and has over 20 years of hands-on experience with PC hardware, software, and driver troubleshooting. He is the author behind softwaredriverdownload.com, where he helps everyday users fix driver issues quickly and accurately. Ryan has personally tested most of the fixes on this site across a range of Windows 10 and Windows 11 machines.
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