Bluetooth devices and gadgets are definitely an upgrade compared to their wired counterparts. You’re no longer limited to the short distance the wire allows, and you’re forever free from the endless trap of tangled wires.

But despite all of their amazing features, Bluetooth devices aren’t perfect.

Just when you finally got rid of the wires, you have a new problem on your hands: latency. But what is Bluetooth latency, and how do you reduce it?

What Causes Bluetooth Lag?

Wireless devices come with the benefit of free movement. But they still need to transmit the Bluetooth signal from your main device, say your computer, and to a Bluetooth gadget, such as a speaker or mouse.

With wires, it’s straightforward. There’s a direct line for communication between your computer or phone and the external device, allowing them to exchange data.

When you remove the wires, things become more abstract for the signal. Latency and signal lag is what happens when the two devices aren’t able to communicate fast enough. As a result, you might notice a delay in your Bluetooth speaker’s audio or a lag in your keyboard and mouse.

Luckily, Bluetooth devices aren’t doomed to latency and lag. There are a few ways you can reduce Bluetooth latency.

1. Stay Within Range and Avoid Obstacles

While your Bluetooth signal broadcasts, it can only maintain its coherence and quality for a certain distance. How far you can be from the signal source differs depending on your device and the version of Bluetooth it uses.

For instance, Bluetooth 4 has a range of just over 300 feet in open spaces and the outdoors. But the latest version, Bluetooth 5, has more than double the range with 800 feet semi-open spaces and up to 1000 feet in open areas.

But chances are, you’re not using your Bluetooth devices in an open field, but in a house, school, or office space, where furniture and walls exist. The worst thing you can put in the way of your Bluetooth signal is metal, as it can significantly weaken and distort the signal.

The same applies to concrete, heavy-duty glass panels, and brick walls, but to a lesser degree.

2. Check for Signal Interference

Bluetooth symbol with radar effect around phone

Bluetooth operates in the 2.40-2.48 GHz frequency band. But those are the same frequencies and wavelengths that other wireless technologies use, such as Wi-Fi. It’s best to avoid areas with many wireless devices in the same range, especially if you’re not using a powerful Bluetooth device with the latest version.

Anything from Wi-Fi routers to smart and fluorescent lights, smart TVs, baby monitors, and even other Bluetooth devices can eat away at your Bluetooth connection quality. Not only will you experience reduced sound quality while using Bluetooth headphones or speakers, but the lag is more noticeable and distracting.

Most Bluetooth devices can communicate with one another to prevent interference. Each device chooses one of the available Bluetooth channels to operate in. But without proper communication, multiple devices can find themselves occupying the same channel and distorting each other’s signal.

3. Disconnect and Reconnect Your Bluetooth Device

Sometimes the reason for the latency is a faulty connection. Maybe your Bluetooth device and PC or phone didn’t connect properly from the get-go. Or one of them experienced an error in its communication protocol.

Either way, you’d be surprised by how many technical problems simply disconnecting and reconnecting your Bluetooth can solve.

For example, on Windows 10, you can click on Start > Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices, then toggle the Bluetooth option off and wait for a few seconds before turning it back on.

Windows-10-Bluetooth-setting

This is an all-inclusive disconnect and reconnect approach. But if you’re only experiencing latency issues with one of your Bluetooth devices, you can instead disconnect and reconnect that specific device. Simply scroll down and click Disconnect under the name of the device that’s giving you issues.

As long as you don’t remove it and your devices remain paired, click on Connect and see if the issue is gone.

It is similarly simple on Android devices (and a similar process for iOS devices, too):

For both operating systems, head to Settings > Bluetooth and switch Bluetooth off and back on again.

4. Use Latency-Reducing Bluetooth Codecs

power consumption, temperature, and processor frequency

Bluetooth codecs are the software that controls how data gets compressed, encoded, sent, and then decoded wirelessly. Different codecs depend on the type of media, such as video and audio codecs.

Not all Bluetooth codecs offer the same performance across the board. For example, some codecs focus on providing a sound quality but experience some latency, while other low-latency codecs sacrifice quality for real-time syncing.

iOS devices are limited to using Apple’s preferred audio codec, AAC. (Note, AAC isn't "Apple's codec," and they didn't design it, they just use it on every device). It offers high-resolution data but uses up a lot of your phone’s energy.

With Android devices, you have a bit more variety. The default Android audio codec is SBC, but you can switch over to aptX (if supported), a low-latency option developed by Qualcomm.

To change your Android phone’s Bluetooth audio codec, you need to access the settings in Developer Mode. While it’s doable, you could end up with a bricked phone if you touch the wrong setting. It’s best to stick to surface-level solutions if you’re not an experienced Android user or get a trustworthy and qualified friend to do it for you.

5. Opt for Compatible Devices

If you’re using a new phone or laptop with an old Bluetooth device or vise versa, chances are they don’t use the same version of Bluetooth.

Bluetooth technology isn’t very flexible. Most devices only accept a narrow range of compatibility even to work, not to mention provide good quality connection. Before purchasing a new keyboard or headphones, make sure they use the same version of Bluetooth as your laptop or computer.

It May Never Go Away

woman listening to headphones

Despite Bluetooth technology closing in on almost 30 years, it’s still evolving. Whether your latency issue is due to something wrong with the surrounding environment, technical error, or just standard Bluetooth limitations, chances are you can only reduce them but not eliminate them.

That’s not to say Bluetooth devices aren’t incredibly helpful. While they still might not be ready to replace wired headphones, keyboards, and mice in scenarios that demand efficiency, they do make using tech on a daily basis much more convenient.