BudMix

The problem

Disconnect the laptop. Connect the phone. Back again. ~~Every single time.~~

BeforeBudget earbuds hold one connection. Switching means menus on two devices, and no app can change the buds' firmware.
With BudMixThe buds stay on the laptop and the phone's sound comes to the laptop. Windows mixes everything into your buds. Nothing switches.

How it works

Three parts, one small tray app.

The phone sends its sound

Over Wi-Fi with the phone's built-in Cast, or over Bluetooth, where the laptop acts as a speaker. Nothing to install.
The laptop mixes it

YouTube, Zoom and every app play together with the phone, each with its own volume slider.
Your buds hear both

BudMix keeps them connected, reconnects them after a drop, and gives your old speaker back when they go away.

Two ways for your phone

Wi-Fi when it casts. Bluetooth the rest of the time.

Wi-Fi · Cast

Tap Cast → BudMix

A Miracast receiver is built in. BudMix shows up in the phone's Cast list like a TV.

Keeps Bluetooth free for the buds
Optional window with the phone's screen
New phones need your OK once
Needs a Wi-Fi card that can receive Miracast

Bluetooth · automatic

Nothing to tap

Pair the phone with the laptop once. BudMix connects to it by itself whenever it isn't casting.

Works with almost any phone, iPhone included
Comes back by itself when the phone returns
Shares the laptop's Bluetooth radio with the buds

Leave it on Auto. The same phone never plays twice, so there's no echo.

Features

Everything from the tray.

Click the tray icon and a small dock opens beside it.

Auto-reconnect
Buds, phone and receiver come back by themselves after a drop, a closed case or sleep.
Volume per source
Buds, laptop, phone over Wi-Fi and phone over Bluetooth each get a slider and mute.
Setup check
Bluetooth, pairing, network, firewall and Wi-Fi support, checked and fixed with one click.
Clear messages
"Phone audio is now in your buds", "Network is Public", "Buds switched to call mode".
Private
No account, no telemetry. The receiver only runs on your Private home network.
Hotkey
Ctrl+Alt+B connects or releases the buds from any app.
Starts with Windows
Waits in the tray, receiver ready, buds connected when they're on.
Light and dark
Follows your Windows theme, with the Windows 11 look.

Get started

Four steps, a few minutes.

Shown for the Infinix Hot 11 Play (XOS, Android 11).

Install
Run the installer. If Windows warns, click More info → Run anyway.
Run the setup check
Click the Fix buttons it shows. Mark only your home Wi-Fi as Private.
Connect the buds
Disconnect them from the phone, take them out of the case and click Buds in the dock.
Cast the phone
Swipe down twice → Cast → BudMix, then Allow always on the laptop.

Cast list empty? Tap ⋮ in the Cast screen and tick Enable wireless display.
Other phones: Samsung Smart View · Xiaomi Cast · OPPO Screencast. Pixel: use Bluetooth.
Bluetooth instead: pair once in Windows Settings; Auto connects it by itself.

Honest notes

What it can't do.

So there are no surprises.

A little delayCasting adds about 0.1–0.3 s and Bluetooth to the buds another 0.15–0.25 s. Fine for music and laptop videos; a video on the phone's own screen will be slightly out of lip-sync.
The phone taps Cast for Wi-FiAndroid doesn't let other devices pull sound from a phone. For no tapping at all, use Bluetooth.
Some Wi-Fi cards can't receive MiracastThe setup check tells you; then the phone uses Bluetooth.
Some apps block castingNetflix, for example.
Not on public Wi-FiThe receiver stays off on cafe and airport networks, on purpose.
Calls lower the qualityWhen an app uses the buds' microphone, Bluetooth drops to call quality. BudMix tells you.
Not code-signed yetWindows warns the first time; Smart App Control blocks unsigned apps.
No multipoint magicThe buds still hold one connection, to the laptop. Away from it, connect them to the phone as usual.

FAQ

Questions.

Anything else? Open an issue on GitHub.

Do I need to install anything on my phone?

No. Wi-Fi uses the phone's built-in Cast; Bluetooth only needs the phone paired with the laptop once.

Is it really free?

Yes. BudMix is free and open source under the MIT license. No account, no ads, no paid version.

Does it send anything over the internet?

No. Everything happens on your laptop and your home network. There is no telemetry.

Does my phone's speaker go quiet while casting?

Usually yes: Android sends media sound to the cast. Ringtones and notifications may still play on the phone.

Can I use it with an iPhone?

Yes, over Bluetooth. iPhones don't support Miracast; an AirPlay receiver may come later.

My buds support multipoint. Do I need this?

Probably not. Multipoint buds already stay connected to both devices. BudMix is for the many that don't.

Get BudMix

Hear both. Switch never.

One small app for Windows 11. Your phone stays as it is.

Download for Windows Source code

Windows 11Tray app
No admin rightsPer-user installer
About 2 MBFree and open source

Three parts, one small tray app.

The phone sends its sound

The laptop mixes it

Your buds hear both

Wi-Fi when it casts. Bluetooth the rest of the time.

Tap Cast → BudMix

Nothing to tap

Everything from the tray.

Auto-reconnect

Volume per source

Setup check

Clear messages

Private

Hotkey

Starts with Windows

Light and dark

Four steps, a few minutes.

Install

Run the setup check

Connect the buds

Cast the phone

What it can't do.

Questions.

Hear both. Switch never.