Bluetooth headset switches to mono when starting the virtual machine

Symptoms

• Audio quality becomes low
• Sound is distorted
• Only right channel is working

Cause

This behavior is caused by a Bluetooth headset built-in feature which automatically switches from high quality stereo sound (AD2P profile) to mono (HFM) when a microphone is in use.

The feature's activation is triggered by a Windows 10 Cortana virtual assistant that is enabled by default.

Resolution

To prevent the headset from switching to HFM profile, apply any preferable workaround from the listed below:

• Change the default input source for Windows

  Open the virtual machine's configuration > Hardware > Sound > set Input source to Built-in Microphone or to Mute if you do not use the microphone in Windows.

• Change the default input source for the Mac

  Click on Apple Logo on Mac menu bar > System Preferences > Sound > Input > choose Internal Microphone.

• Disable Cortana in Windows [ADVANCED]