Galaxy Buds 3 - microphone inconsistently connecting

[DrSPH]

Discovered this while using Zoom. 

Paired my Buds 3 with my Win11 laptop with no apparent issues. Worked well in the Zoom room. 
Put the buds in the charging case during a break, when I attempted to resume, got audio in the buds, but the microphone no longer was connected. 

Tested and tried a few things - connecting/re-connecting, unpairing/re-pairing - sometimes it helped, sometimes not. 

Most recent attempt at pairing - after resetting the Buds, noticed that it wasn't just a blinking light, but blinking with variable colors. 
Have experienced that with a Bluetooth speaker where holding the pairing button starting one color blinking, but holding it longer prompts the multi-color blink. 
Seems to affect whether or not the pairing is output only or output and input.

Thoughts?

[Helenna]

Hi DrSPH,

Sorry to hear this issue on your galaxy Buds 3, You can try the below steps to ensure the microphone connects reliably:

Reset Bluetooth cache: Uninstall the Galaxy Buds 3 under Windows 11 device Manager -> Bluetooth. Than restart your computer and reconnect the Buds 3.

Ensure that the device is connected for both "voice" and "Music" profiles. 

[Day_Walker]

Also, after repairing with Windows, launch Control Panel
Open Sounds.
For Playback and Recording tabs therein set either the stereo or mono listing for the Buds3 Pro (if they show up like that) for Default Communications device.

Do all of this with MS teams fully closed (either close in Task Manager or by right clicking it's hidden listing in the condensed System Tray)

Then relaunch Teams and in Audio Settings select the same listing you've had for the Buds in Sound settings done earlier.

FYI just remember you have your buds connect BEFORE connecting to any meeting in teams for a seamless use else you'll have to set the buds again in Teams audio settings.

[DrSPH]

Problem reared it's ugly head again. 

I followed all of your steps (why did I have so many Buds 3s listed as installed in the Device Manager?).

Got them all deleted. Re-paired with Windows. 
Settings > Bluetooth & devices showed the Buds3 paired for audio and mic. 

Seem to be working with Zoom now.

However, the first time I disconnected the Buds3 the status on the Bluetooth & devices page was "driver error." I checked in Device Manager and there is no driver update.

I reconnected, got audio and mic confirmation, Buds3 worked for both output and input and when I disconnected again, the status was now "Not connected."

I'm really perplexed. 
It seems Buds3 pick and choose when to play nicely with Win11. 

I really preferred using them with Zoom instead of my wired over ear headset.

[Day_Walker]

Did you exit Teams, not just closed the windows with the X button when disconnecting? Every time launching after Buds3 Pro was connected?

I suspect Teams' poor coding is the issue here.