USB Headset Microphone Stops Working For Phone Calls

[pone]

On a Pixel 10, right after the last Android 16 upgrade, all my bluetooth headsets stop working for phone calls. In the bluetooth settings for my Flex 800 headset, the slider for Phone Calls is GONE. I saw a Reddit thread where the user disables Google Play Services and the Phone Call slider re-appears. I confirm that does happen. But as soon as you re-enable Google Play Services, the Phone Call Slider disappears again. Whenever I receive a call, no one can hear my voice while using the Flex 800.

It looks like the last Android 16 update broke something. Is anyone else seeing this problem and is there a workaround?

 

[B. Diddy]

Have you already tried forgetting the device on the phone, doing a factory reset of the headset, and then going through the pairing process again?

 

[mustang7757]

What security patch are you on ?
Have you tried safe mode , if this is indeed a bug you have to wait until the next update to see if it has been fixed, can also try resetting network settings this will reset Bluetooth and report it to Google this bug.

 

[pone]

Have you already tried forgetting the device on the phone, doing a factory reset of the headset, and then going through the pairing process again?

Yes, I did forget the device, rebooted phone, and even tried powering off the phone.

How do I "factory reset" a bluetooth headset?

 

[B. Diddy]

How do I "factory reset" a bluetooth headset?

What's the exact manufacturer and model number of the headset? There's usually instructions on how to do a factory reset in the manual, or you can search online "[your headset] factory reset"

 

[pone]

What security patch are you on ?

How do I determine that? The phone says I have the latest version of Android 16.

When I select Android 16 under System menu, I have a Baseband version, a Kernel version, and a Build number BP4A.260205.001

Have you tried safe mode , if this is indeed a bug you have to wait until the next update to see if it has been fixed, can also try resetting network settings this will reset Bluetooth and report it to Google this bug.

Safe mode did not change anything.

What do you mean by "resetting network settings"? This is something different than choosing a new Wifi?

 

[pone]

What's the exact manufacturer and model number of the headset? There's usually instructions on how to do a factory reset in the manual, or you can search online "[your headset] factory reset"

EXFIT Flex 800:

https://www.amazon.com/EXFIT-Flex-800-Retractable-Headphones/dp/B0CLLMQFHQ

 

[B. Diddy]

Unfortunately, I can't find any steps online or in the product manual for a factory reset, which is unusual (although probably not that surprising for a budget headset). You could try contacting the company's support to see if they can help.

 

[mustang7757]

How do I determine that? The phone says I have the latest version of Android 16.

When I select Android 16 under System menu, I have a Baseband version, a Kernel version, and a Build number BP4A.260205.001


Safe mode did not change anything.

What do you mean by "resetting network settings"? This is something different than choosing a new Wifi?

Go to settings type in the top search bar reset and tap

 

[pone]

Unfortunately, I can't find any steps online or in the product manual for a factory reset, which is unusual (although probably not that surprising for a budget headset). You could try contacting the company's support to see if they can help.

But this is happening with other bluetooth headsets, not just the Flex 800. It feels like something reset the bluetooth profiles in a bad way with that February 2026 Android 16 security patch.

 

[B. Diddy]

But this is happening with other bluetooth headsets, not just the Flex 800. It feels like something reset the bluetooth profiles in a bad way with that February 2026 Android 16 security patch.

Ok, have you tried doing the Reset Bluetooth option that mustang7757 suggested?

 

[VidJunky]

If this is happening with (basically) all of your bluetooth devices, it could be a bad app. Too bad there's no way to clear the partition cache on a Pixel since you feel it aligns with an update.

While this isn't exactly your issue, it does address issues with Bluetooth on Pixels. Try the simulated battery pull around, video marker 1:07.

 

[pone]

Ok, have you tried doing the Reset Bluetooth option that mustang7757 suggested?

I will be doing that tomorrow. That Reset apparently also wipes out my Wifi and I need to get passwords for several Wifi links