If you’ve already upgraded to the latest Windows 11/10, you can now stream music from your Android, iPhone, and feature phone to your PC’s speakers via Bluetooth. In this post, we will show you how you can stream music from Android & iPhone to Windows 11/10 PC via Bluetooth A2DP Sink.
The Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) is a Bluetooth profile that allows for the wireless transmission of stereo audio from a source device to a receiving device. Windows 10 version 2004 reintroduced support for remote audio sources through the A2DP profile, allowing you to configure your PC to behave like a Bluetooth speaker. However, you’ll need an app to manage the Bluetooth A2DP sink functionality, as the feature is currently not available via system settings. An easy-to-use Bluetooth A2DP sink app created by developer Mark Smirnov allows you to listen to music from your phone on your PC speakers or wired headphones. Named Bluetooth Audio Receiver, the app is available on the Microsoft Store.
Stream music from Phone to PC via Bluetooth A2DP Sink
To stream music from your Android or iPhone to your Windows 11/10 PC speakers via Bluetooth A2DP Sink, follow these steps:
Upgrade to Windows 10 version 2004 or Windows 11 if you haven’t already. Enable Bluetooth on your Windows PC and phone.
Press the Windows key + I to open Settings. Navigate to Bluetooth & devices in the left panel. In the right panel, click the Add device button.
Add a device popup will appear. Select Bluetooth, select your phone from the list of devices, follow on-screen instructions, and pair the device with your PC.
Select Done and your phone will appear on the Bluetooth & devices screen.
Next, download the Bluetooth Audio Receiver app from Microsoft Store and install it on your Windows 11/10 PC.
After installation, launch the app. The UI of the app is quite minimal with straightforward controls. You have to select your mobile device listed on top of the Bluetooth Audio Receiver app to activate the open/close connection buttons.
Once activated, click on Open Connection and you can now stream music from your phone to PC speakers.
If you want to end the session, click on the Close Connection button within the application.
Note: The app only allows you to stream media content from your phone to PC speakers and you cannot use it to make or receive calls. If you want to manage calls via Bluetooth, you can use the Microsoft Your Phone app or Dell Mobile Connect.
Advanced Audio Distribution Profile
The Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) describes how stereo-quality audio can be streamed from a media source to a sink. The profile defines two roles of an audio device: source and sink.
- A2DP Source – An A2DP source is a Bluetooth-enabled device that wirelessly sends audio to another Bluetooth device that serves as a receiver or sink. Common examples of A2DP sources include computers, tablets, smartphones, and other media players that can stream audio over Bluetooth.
- A2DP Sink – An A2DP sink, in contrast, is a Bluetooth-enabled device that wirelessly accepts audio from an A2DP source and plays it back through its speakers or headphones. Common examples of A2DP sinks include Bluetooth headphones, speakers, car stereos, and other audio playback devices.
A2DP defines the protocols and procedures that realize the distribution of audio content of high-quality in mono or stereo on ACL channels. A2DP profile includes mandatory support for low complexity sub-band codec (SBC) and optionally supports MPEG-1,2 Audio, MPEG-2,4 AAC, ATRAC, or other codecs.
I hope you find this useful.
Does the iPhone support A2DP?
Yes, iPhones have supported A2DP since the iOS 3 upgrade, which was introduced in 2009 alongside the iPhone 3GS. Since then, every iPhone model has had A2DP compatibility, allowing it to deliver stereo music to other Bluetooth devices that support the same profile. This feature is essential for enjoying music, podcasts, and other forms of media with the convenience of wireless connectivity.
Is A2DP good quality?
Compared to previous or more basic Bluetooth profiles that only allowed mono audio or lower bitrates, the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile typically offers acceptable quality for Bluetooth audio streaming. A2DP is specifically designed for sending stereo audio at higher qualities, making it suitable for music and other multimedia applications.
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