Bluetooth audio always has some delay, because sound is compressed, sent and decoded before you hear it. Most people don’t notice under about 100 ms. Above that, lips stop matching voices and games feel off.
Quick answer
Measure your delay with our Bluetooth Delay Test. If it is over 150 ms, turn on game or low-latency mode, keep the phone close, reconnect the device, and use a lower-delay codec if both devices support one.
Measure it first
Guessing doesn’t work well, because our brains adapt to small delays. Open the Bluetooth Delay Test, press start, and move the slider until the flash and click happen together. The number is your delay. Test with wired headphones too, so you know your baseline.
What is a normal delay?
| Delay | What you’ll notice |
|---|---|
| Under 40 ms | Nothing, feels like wired |
| 40 to 100 ms | Fine for video and music |
| 100 to 200 ms | Lip sync slightly off, games feel slow |
| Over 200 ms | Clearly out of sync |
Why Bluetooth lags
- Codec: each codec compresses audio differently. Basic codecs usually add more delay than low-latency ones.
- Distance and walls: a weak signal makes the device buffer more audio.
- Interference: busy Wi-Fi, other Bluetooth gear and microwaves can cause drops and extra buffering.
- Device processing: noise cancelling and sound effects take time to compute.
8 fixes
- Turn on game mode or low-latency mode in the earbud app or phone settings.
- Keep the phone within a metre or two, with nothing in between.
- Disconnect Bluetooth devices you are not using.
- Forget and re-pair the speaker or earbuds.
- Update the earbud firmware and your phone.
- On Android, check Developer options for the Bluetooth codec and pick a low-latency one if both devices support it.
- Use the audio delay setting in your video app, TV or game, if it has one.
- For gaming or video editing, use wired headphones or a low-latency USB dongle.
Test again
After each change, run the Bluetooth Delay Test again and note the number. Keep the changes that help.
Related
If your Bluetooth speaker sounds muffled rather than late, read how to fix a Bluetooth speaker.
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