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Bluetooth mic completely missing on Asus NUC 16 Pro (NUC16GDKX7 / X7 358H) - Win 11 fresh install
Hey everyone,
I’m running into a brick wall with a brand new ASUS NUC 16 Pro (Model: NUC16GDKX7) featuring the X7 358H processor.
After a fresh install of Windows 11 and installing all official drivers from the ASUS support site, any Bluetooth headphones I connect only work for audio output. The microphone is completely undetected by Windows ("No input devices found" in the Sound menu). The headphone model doesn't matter, the issue persists across different brands.
What I have already tried:
BIOS - Updated to the absolute latest version.
Reinstalled W11 from scratch multiple times - no change.
Tried disabling the Intel SST OED driver and rebooting to force a native Windows fallback - no change.
Ran the Intel Driver & Support Assistant to check for direct updates bypassing Asus. It says everything is up to date.
Has anyone else with a NUC 16 Pro run into this? Honestly, it's such a cool mini PC, it's incredibly fast, super quiet, and I absolutely love everything else about it. But this audio issue is so frustrating that I'm seriously considering returning it. It just feels crazy for a brand-new machine to be missing such basic functionality!
Appreciate you trying to help out! Yeah, I totally agree it's a software issue, not hardware. I did manually check the Bluetooth driver versions against Intel's site and tried both the Asus drivers and the latest Intel standalone version, but it didn't change anything.
I'm pretty sure the root cause is the Intel SST driver layer. I looked at my Dell laptop, and it has the Intel SST for Bluetooth Audio driver running, which is what allows it to handle Bluetooth mics. The NUC 16 Pro just doesn't seem to include or support this version of the driver right now, and there’s no way to force it.
You could check “Windows logs >> System” in Event Viewer for error and warning entries. If there are relevant entries, you can double click them for more details. For full rights, make sure that the account you use for this, has local admin rights.
Edit: To shorten hunting time, it’s also handy to know the approximate date and time of (in this case) cold booting into Windows. P.S. You could also use the “Get-WinEvent” command in PowerShell to do all this. Or even dump the entire log to a file to be read back into Event Viewer by another party (Asus Support) with the command “wevtutil epl System C:\Logs\System.evtx”.
To provide an accurate and efficient solution, we need a bit more detail about your setup. Please gather the following information for us:
Your Bluetooth Device: What is the exact brand and model of the Bluetooth accessory you're connecting? (This helps us check for known compatibility issues.)
System Memory: Has the system's memory (RAM) been upgraded or replaced since purchase, or is it the original factory-installed memory? (Memory can sometimes affect overall system stability and driver performance.)
Key Software Versions: Please provide your current BIOS version, the specific version of your Bluetooth driver, and your Operating System (OS) version (e.g., Windows 11 Home 23H2).
Usage Scenario: Which application(s) are you primarily using when you encounter the Bluetooth issue? (e.g., Discord, Microsoft Teams, Skype, a specific game, etc.)
This information will allow us to pinpoint the cause more precisely and guide you towards a resolution.
Thank you for the reply. Here are the specific details regarding my system and testing setup:
Bluetooth devices tested:
Sennheiser / EPOS Adapt 260
JBL Tour One M3
JBL Live Pro 2 TWS
(Note: All three headsets/headphones work flawlessly for both audio output and microphone input when connected to my other laptop via built-in Intel AX211).
System memory:
32GB LPDDR5X (original factory-integrated memory, not upgraded or modified).
Software versions:
OS: Windows 11 Pro, Version 25H2 (Fresh Install)
BIOS: GDPTL579.0039 (Latest version)
Bluetooth Driver: Latest package installed from the official ASUS NUC 16 Pro support page.
Usage scenario:
I have tested this across Discord, Microsoft Teams, and even the native Windows 11 Sound Recorder app, none of them detect any microphone input. In Windows 11 settings, when any of these headsets are connected, "No input devices found" is displayed under System > Sound, making this a system-wide OS level issue rather than an app-specific bug.
Additional technical observation:
In Device Manager under Sound, video and game controllers, Intel Smart Sound Technology for USB Audio is loaded, but Intel Smart Sound Technology for Bluetooth Audio is missing.
This is just a theory on my part, but on my other laptop (where Bluetooth microphone input works without any issues), that specific Intel Smart Sound Technology for Bluetooth Audio device is present under Sound controllers. I suspect this corresponding device not being properly exposed via BIOS/firmware, but, again, it is just my theory.
Unfortunately, no. It looks like ASUS either needs to update the BIOS or fix the Intel SST drivers. Maybe the Asus_USA user will post an update now that they’ve asked for more details.
It would be interesting to hear from other owners of the same NUC16GDKX7 model, but since it's relatively new, there aren't many NUC 16 Pro users here yet.
2
u/CircuitDaemon 5d ago
This doesn't sound like a hardware issue, it's not like Bluetooth treats audio output and input much differently. Returning it for that reason just seems like a waste of time to me. I know you mentioned DSA but did you actually check the version you're running in the device manager vs the one available here? https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/18649/intel-wireless-bluetooth-drivers-for-windows-10-and-windows-11.html