[Bug]: Windows: Headset play/pause through headset usb dongle (Jabra Link 380) ignored, while keyboard and next/previous controls work

Preflight Checklist

• I use the latest version of Pear Desktop (Application).
• I have searched the issue tracker for a bug report that matches the one I want to file, without success.
• I understand that pear-devs/pear-desktop has NO affiliation with Google or YouTube

Pear Desktop (Application) Version

3.12

Checklists

• I use the portable version of the Pear Desktop Application.
• I can reproduce this issue in the official version of (WEB) YTM. (the button works as expected in WEB YTM)

What operating system are you using?

Windows

Operating System Version

25H2

What CPU architecture are you using?

x64

Last Known Working Pear Desktop (Application) version

No response

Reproduction steps

Environment

• OS: Windows 11
• App: Pear Desktop
• Plugin: Shortcuts (& MPRIS), enabled
• Override Media Keys: enabled
• Adapter: Jabra Link 380 USB-C
• Headsets tested:
  • Bose QuietComfort Headphones
  • Jabra Evolve2 85
• Jabra Link 380 firmware: current according to Jabra Direct

Working controls

• Physical keyboard Media_Play_Pause works in Pear.

• Headset next/previous controls work in Pear.

• Headset play/pause works in VLC through the same Link 380.

• Headset play/pause works in MediaMonkey also

• Bose headset play/pause works in Pear when paired directly to Windows instead of through the Link 380.

AutoHotkey testing

AutoHotkey Key History shows the keyboard button as:

Media_Play_Pause (VK B3, SC 122)

Headset next/previous commands also appear in Key History as Media_Next and Media_Prev.

However, pressing headset play/pause through the Link 380 produces no AutoHotkey keyboard event.

Additional observation

Pear Desktop does not appear as an active Windows media session in the Win+A media controls. Browser-based Plex does appear there.

Expected Behavior

Pear should register with Windows media controls and respond to play/pause commands coming from Bluetooth/USB headset adapters, not only keyboard media key events.

Actual Behavior

The headset play/pause button does not control playback in Pear Desktop when the headset is connected through a Jabra Link 380 adapter.

Enabled plugins

• In-App Menu
• Navigation
• Performance improvement
• Playback Speed
• SponsorBlock
• Taskbar Media Control

Additional Information

Pressing Win + A

• YTM Web:

• MediaMonkey:

• Pear Desktop (doesn't show/register so it's empty):