Framework Laptop 16 AI300: Bluetooth audio silently broken after BIOS 3.05 update (Windows 11)

[rikblok]

Device Information

• System: Framework Laptop 16 (AMD Ryzen™ AI 300 Series)
• CPU: Ryzen AI 9 HX 370
• RAM: 32GB DDR5
• GPU module: None (expansion bay shell)
• OS: Windows 11 Pro
• BIOS: 3.05

Describe the bug

After updating to BIOS 3.05, Bluetooth audio has stopped working system-wide. Headphones connect successfully but produce no audio output.

Symptoms

• Bluetooth headphones connect and are set as default output device
• Audio level meter in Settings > System > Sound fluctuates correctly during playback
• No audio is actually heard
• Output format shows only "16 bit, 48000 Hz" with no channel count displayed and no alternative format options available (previously showed stereo options with multiple choices)
• Issue affects multiple BT audio devices (JLab GO Air Pop, Soundcore Spirit) — both confirmed working on another machine (Windows 10 Pro)

Troubleshooting attempted

• Clean re-pair multiple times, including removing hidden ghost devices in Device Manager — no effect
• Switching default output device away and back — no effect
• Disabling other headset devices in Device Manager — no effect
• RZ717 Bluetooth driver already at 1.1043.0.555 (matches driver bundle v1.02 2025_12_16)
• Realtek Audio driver appears to have regressed to Microsoft generic driver (10.0.26100.1); reinstalled Realtek Audio 6.0.9859.1 from driver bundle v1.02 — no effect on BT audio

Expected behavior

Bluetooth audio devices should produce audio output as they did prior to the BIOS 3.05 update.

Timing

Issue was noticed a few hours after updating to BIOS 3.05. Audio was working correctly on the same hardware before the update.

[vince852907]

I can confirm I have the same issue as well. I just paired my BT headphone for the 1st time since updated to 3.05 and it's not getting sound

[vince852907]

I just found a workaround. I went to the "Bluetooth & devices" setting > toggle bluetooth off then on > manually disconnect then reconnect my headphone, the my headphone get sound again until the computer restart.

UPDATE: I noticed that when I did my procedure above, the driver that drives my headset went from using AMD (ver. 6.0.3.38) to Microsoft (ver 10.0.26100.1). And under Microsoft driver, my headset works. but when it's under AMD, it doesn't

UPDATE 2: If I go to Device Manager > Sound, Video and game controller > disable "AMD Bluetooth Audio Device", then my headset will behave normally since it defaults to Microsoft driver. I'm not sure how updating BIOS 3.04 to 3.05 affects that, however.

[rikblok]

Update: Resolved by downgrading to BIOS 3.04

After extensive troubleshooting, only downgrading from BIOS 3.05 to 3.04 fully resolved the issue for me. Bluetooth audio is working correctly again across multiple Bluetooth devices and survives sleep/wake cycles and lid close/open.

Root cause identified:

This appears to be caused by the BIOS 3.05 update. No software-side fix was able to resolve the issue:

• Reinstalling Realtek Audio driver (6.0.9859.1) — no effect
• Reinstalling AMD Chipset driver (7.06.02.123) — no effect
• Resetting the MMDevices registry — no effect
• SFC and DISM both reported no corruption

Fix: Downgrade to BIOS 3.04. The 3.04 binary is available at:
https://downloads.frame.work/bios/Framework_Laptop_16_Amd_RyzenAI300_BIOS_3.04.exe

Note: BIOS 3.05 release notes state that downgrading is now supported, so this should be safe to do. Ensure device is plugged into AC power before flashing.

Hoping this gets addressed in BIOS 3.06. Happy to provide any additional diagnostic information if useful.