What is Bluetooth multipoint?

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We’ve all been there: it's Friday afternoon and the minutes are ticking away slowly, so to pass time faster, you surreptitiously turn on Netflix. Well, with Bluetooth multipoint, you can use your work laptop to listen to your show while remaining aware of any work notifications that come through your phone, all with a single headset.

Using your favorite headset to connect to multiple devices simultaneously is a small delight that headphone manufacturers have largely neglected, and just a select few devices fully support the technology. Let's break down what multipoint is, and why it isn't a universal feature.

Editor's note: this article was updated on March 20, 2023, to add more information on how to use multipoint.

Bluetooth multipoint s a feature that allows a single Bluetooth headset to maintain simultaneous connections to at least two source devices like a laptop and smartphone, and was introduced with the release of Bluetooth 4.0, over ten years ago. For it to function, a device must support both A2DP and HFP/HSP connections for audio streaming and talking, respectively.

Some devices may support a phone and computer connection only, while others can support two simultaneous phone connections. It all depends on what Bluetooth profiles are supported. Originally it was intended for professional use, say you have multiple work phones and use them all to field phone calls—Bluetooth multipoint would come in handy because you can be on one call without missing notifications from another device.

Bluetooth multipoint doesn't necessarily mean that you can stream media from two devices at a time. Few headsets support this properly, and most are limited to designating one device as a media player and the other strictly for pushing notifications through. Other devices, like the Sony WH-1000XM4, only support multipoint connectivity over the AAC Bluetooth codec. It's a mixed bag and something that's rarely stated in marketing copy.

Now that I’ve tried it, multipoint is difficult to do without. The technology lets me stream music and receive notifications from my laptop while keeping an ear on my phone, for incoming calls. It automatically prioritizes a connection to the device receiving an incoming call over the one streaming YouTube videos.

Though the exact method for using multipoint with your Bluetooth headphones varies from product to product, in general it involves maybe enabling the feature, and then simply connecting to new devices. You will be able to change connections either automatically, or with minor input compared to unpairing and repairing your headphones.

For more, you can check out our guide on using Bluetooth multipoint with popular headphone models. Alternatively, you could also read the manual that came with your audio products for explicit instructions—or you could download the app that accompanies the product to tell it which devices it should be listening to.

Anyone will benefit from multipoint's convenience. If your company provides you with a work phone, you can connect your compatible headset to both your personal and professional devices. It's a great way to remain aware of everything, and increase productivity.

Simple and advanced Bluetooth multipoint operate on the same principle: one headset connects to two devices at a time. However, simple multipoint is less, well, advanced because it drops the current call from the primary source device once you answer an incoming call from the secondary source device.

Fortunately, most handsets support advanced multipoint. This puts a primary call on hold when a second incoming call is answered. It's great for anyone who likes to chat with their friends during lunch breaks but needs to remain available for professional happenings. Advanced multipoint is available in professional Bluetooth headsets, but isn't quite as ubiquitous within the consumer audio market. Some headsets even allow you to connect to three devices at the same time.

As with all features, there is a cost-to-benefit ratio that manufacturers must consider. Most general consumers don't need multipoint; rather, it's an appreciated convenience. However, for professionals, Bluetooth multipoint support is a necessity for juggling multiple tasks from multiple source devices. Not only does multipoint help notify listeners of incoming calls, but it also forwards notification pings, dings, and rings, so if you have sounds for Slack, email, and Skype, you can stay aware without physically removing yourself from the task at hand to check-in.

Since it's something of a frivolity for consumer headsets, companies don't feel the need to implement the feature. Ultimately, including it adds to the retail price, which drives consumers away. What's more, this technology isn't without its shortcomings, at least in the consumer audio space, since many multipoint-supported headphones and earbuds struggle to switch between devices cleanly.

In the case of the Plantronics BackBeat FIT 6100, a white noise, static-like crackle is often emitted when notifications from the secondary device interrupt the primary device's playback (e.g., when I watched movies on my laptop, and an incoming text came through on my phone, I heard a ping interrupted by a crackling sound).

In a space where multipoint isn't a must-have feature, it seems difficult to justify introducing a technology that may be fraught with issues—at least on devices that primarily serve as headphones for audio playback, rather than as communication headsets.

Bluetooth multipoint seems to be a difficult technology to nail properly, and very few headsets do it well. Rather than deal with this, companies like Samsung and Apple prefer automatic device switching, which rids the need to manually disconnect from one device before reconnecting to another. When you use the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro and Apple AirPods across compatible Samsung and Apple devices, respectively, the earbuds automatically detect playback when you hit play on the desired device. This means they switch source devices without you ever needing to enter the phone's Bluetooth menu.

Nearly all professional headsets support multipoint, if not advanced multipoint, but what about the consumer headphones from your favorite brick and mortar stores or online retailers? Here are some of my favorite headphones and earbuds with multipoint support listed alphabetically.

Multipoint's presence may become more salient with the rise of Bluetooth LE Audio and the LC3 codec, but until then, we’ll be sure to mention in our reviews when a device supports this handy connectivity mechanism.

The Jabra Elite 75t and Elite Active 75t true wireless earbuds support Bluetooth multipoint.