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Bluetooth Won't Connect to Any Device Windows 10

Anonymous
2018-02-13T23:36:56+00:00

My windows 10 computer has not been able to connect to any bluetooth device for quite some time now. When I used to add a bluetooth device, it would recognize the name of the device and be able to connect to it, but now it only gives every device a very generic name and cannot connect to it. For example, I used to be able to pair my phone with my computer and it would recognize the name of my phone when i did it, but now when I try to connect my phone, it calls it "Communications Device" instead of the phone's name, and when you try to connect to this, nothing happens.  My phone can recognize the computer's name in its bluetooth settings, but can't pair with it. When I try to send a file to the computer over bluetooth from my android phone, the computer simply says "Waiting for a connection" while the phone eventually times out and says the transfer was unsuccessful. I've tried:

 - reinstalling the device's drivers automatically, using the manufacturer's website, the disk that came with the motherboard, and Driver Easy

 - changing the Bluetooth Support Service's startup type to "Automatic" and checking 'Log on as Local System account'

 - using the troubleshooter and selecting fix bluetooth problems. When I run the troubleshooter, it says "Resolving problems: Turning on bluetooth" and afterwards it says "Problems found: Check Bluetooth radio status: fixed" however, it doesn't actually do anything, and when I run the troubleshooter again, it says the same thing

I am using Windows 10 Pro version 1709

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Devices and drivers

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  1. Greg Carmack 24,770 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2018-02-14T00:24:42+00:00

    Hey Austin. I'm Greg, an installation specialist and 8 year Windows MVP, here to help you.

    You've done all the troubleshooting steps i'd suggest.

    One other thing to try in Device Manager is to choose Bluetooth driver tab, then Update driver, then Browse, then Let Me Pick. Try each previous driver working backwards.

    If this doesn't help then let's try creating a new Admin Local Account to test if a new Bluetooth driver install will pair and maintain the device properly. http://www.howtogeek.com/226540/how-to-create-a...

    If so then you can move over your files, test all other programs work correctly, then when ready delete the old account in Settings > Accounts > Family and Other Users.

    I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-02-14T00:25:18+00:00

    Hi Austin__ 19, I am Rob, an independent and a 10 time and dual award MVP specializing in Windows troubleshooting and Bluescreen analysis. Please remember as independents we are not responsible for the development of Windows or the computer hardware and drivers.

    That sounds like a possible hardware problem with the BT. If so you can disable the onboard and use an add-in BT card/dongle.

    Start - Settings - Update & Security - Troubleshoot - "Bluetooth" and "Hardware and Devices" troubleshooters.

    Check with your System/Motherboard maker and install the latest Bluetooth Drivers. Ask their support and in their forums about any known issues.

    Also update the BIOS and chipset drivers while there as they can also affect the Bluetooth operation.

    =====

    Good idea to update all the major drivers :

    Check with System Maker (Motherboard Maker for custom systems) for updates to the BIOS, low level chipset drivers, and the major on-board and separate device drivers. Run DriverView - set VIEW to Hide Microsoft drivers - update those without Dump in their name.

    DriverView - Free - utility displays the list of all device drivers currently loaded on your system. For each driver in the list, additional useful information is displayed: load address of the driver, description, version, product name, company that created the driver, and more.

    http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/driverview.html

    For Drivers check System Maker as fallbacks and Device Maker's which are the most current. Right Click the Start Button - Device Manager - Display Adapter - write down the make and complete model of your video adapter - double click - Driver's tab - write down the version info. Now click Update Driver (this may not do anything as MS is far behind certifying drivers) - then Right Click - Uninstall - REBOOT this will refresh the driver stack.

    Repeat that for Network - Network Card (NIC), Wifi, Sound, Mouse and Keyboard if 3rd party with their own software and drivers and any other major device drivers you have.

    Now go to System Maker's site (Dell, HP, Toshiba as examples) (as rollback) and then Device Maker's site (Realtek, Intel, Nvidia, ATI as examples) and get their latest versions. (Look for BIOS, Chipset, and software updates at System Maker's site while there.)

    Download - SAVE - go to where you put them - Right Click - RUN AD ADMIN - REBOOT after each installation.

    Always check in Device Manager - Drivers tab to be sure the version you are installing actually shows up. This is because some drivers rollback before the latest is installed (sound drivers particularly do this) so install a driver - reboot - check to be sure it is installed and repeat as needed.

    Repeat at Device Makers - BTW at Device Makers DO NOT RUN THEIR SCANNER - check manually by model.

    Manually look at manufacturer's sites for drivers - and Device Maker's sites.

    http://pcsupport.about.com/od/driverssupport/ht...

    =====

    If the computer currently supports Bluetooth AND the drivers have been

    updated as indicated above.

    Some troubleshooting methods : ALL apply to Windows 10.

    Start - Settings - Update & Security - Troubleshoot - "Bluetooth" and "Hardware and Devices" troubleshooters.

    Fix Bluetooth problems in Windows 10: FAQ <-- read this

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/14169/...

    Connect to Bluetooth devices<-- read this

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17156/...

    Fix connections to Bluetooth audio devices and wireless displays <-- read this

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/f...

    Extra info:

    BluetoothView is a small utility that runs in the background and monitors the activity of Bluetooth devices around you. For each detected Bluetooth device, it displays the following information: Device Name, Bluetooth Address, Major Device Type, Minor Device Type, First Detection Time, Last Detection Time, and more. BluetoothView can also notify you when a new Bluetooth device is detected, by displaying a balloon in your taskbar or by playing a small beep sound. - FREE

    http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/bluetooth_viewer.html

    BluetoothCL is a small console application that dumps all current detected bluetooth devices into the standard output. For each Bluetooth device, the following information is displayed: MAC Address, Name, Major Device Type, Minor Device Type, and optionally the company name of the device (if external file of MAC addresses - oui.txt is provided) - FREE

    http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/bluetoothcl.html

    BluetoothLogView is a small utility that monitors the activity of Bluetooth devices around you, and displays a log of Bluetooth devices on the main window. Every time that a new Bluetooth device arrives to your area and when the device leaves your area, a new log line is added with the following information: Device Name, Device Address, Event Time, Event Type ('Device Arrival' or 'Device Left'), Device Type, and the company that created the device.

    BluetoothLogView also allows you to specify a description for every device (according to its MAC address) that will appear under the 'Description' column. - FREE

    http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/bluetooth_log_view...

    Please let us know the results and if you need further assistance.

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-02-14T22:21:23+00:00

    Thanks for your help, Greg. I used the Let Me Pick option to install an older Bluetooth driver and restarted my computer, but the troubleshooter was still saying to restart to finish installing the drivers even after I had done so twice. I ended up having to turn my computer off and unplug it from the wall for about 30 seconds, but now Bluetooth is recognizing all my device's names and can connect to them again.

    Thanks again for your help.

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-02-14T03:04:15+00:00

    What is the make and model of your computer?

    Go into BlueTooth Settings > Devices > Bluetooth and other devices > then unpair/remove the device, restart then pair it again.

    Use the Add Bluetooth wizard in Control Panel

    Press Windows key + R

    Type: control printers

    Hit Enter

    Click Add device then add the Bluetooth device again.

    Have you checked for updated chipset drivers for your make and model?

    Also, some manufacturers will provide separate Bluetooth drivers.

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/wiki...

    Press Windows key + R

    Type: services.msc

    Hit Enter

    Scroll down to Bluetooth Support Service

    Right click it

    Click Properties

    Under the General tab

    Click in the Startup type: listbox

    Choose Automatic

    Click Start

    Click Apply then OK

    Restart your computer then check if its working.

    Other things you can try include the Bluetooth troubleshooter.

    Open Start > Settings > Update & security > Troubleshoot

    Scroll down to Bluetooth

    Click Bluetooth then click Run the troubleshooter

    When complete, Restart your computer.

    Press Windows key + X

    Click Device Manager

    Expand Bluetooth

    Right click each entry then click Properties

    Select the driver tab, click Rollback if its not grayed out.

    If it is grayed out, right click Bluetooth driver then click uninstall

    Restart your computer then check if its working again.

    If not, remove any other Bluetooth devices since they might be causing interference .

    You can also try pairing through Devices and Printers. Learn more:

    https://www.groovypost.com/howto/pair-a-bluetoo...

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-02-14T00:37:04+00:00

    Have you checked your phone vendor to see if there is an update to work version 1709? (Basically your troubleshooting steps is what we would have suggested.)

    This version caused many issues with many hardware vendors where it was working until the update.

    Alternatively you can downgrade from 1709 and block until Microsoft releases a more stable update in the spring.

    remove it.

    http://www.thewindowsclub.com/rollback-uninstal...

    then block it

    https://www.computerworld.com/article/3232632/m...

    When you are ready to install the update then follow this article that goes into how to prepare for a update.

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

    Also doing a clean install as long as you have all your apps and data backed up is another solution.

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

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