Bluetooth still on while idle

Question

Hi!

I want Bluetooth on my Windows 10 laptop to turn off when the laptop is in idle mode. How do I achieve this? And yes, this is actually a desired feature is seems in Windows!

Background: I have Windows 10 laptop that I bring everywhere. I have a pair of Bluetooth headphones that I use with the PC while I’m at work. And when I go home. When it’s time to go home I close the lid on the laptop and go I’m off. But the headphones are still connected to the laptop since the laptop is in Idle mode. Hence I need to completely turn of the laptop before the headphones can connect to my phone. Or I need to manually turn off Bluetooth in the Windows Setting, and then manually turn Bluetooth on again when I start working. That is just so annoying! I’m so surprised that there isn’t a feature in the Device Manager or the Windows Settings menu to deactivate Bluetooth when the laptop is in idle mode!

Best regards,

Lars

Reference: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/device-experiences/bluetooth-power-management-for-modern-standby-platforms

Answer 1

Thanks for following the steps. Now, the settings won't take effect if you are only using normal PC idle mode. Normal functionality of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi settings are to stay connected even if PC is idle. With the settings that you have created, we would suggest that you set your PC to automatically go to Sleep or Hibernate once idle. In this way, the settings "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" should take effect.

To set your PC to automatically go to Sleep or Hibernate when idle, please follow these steps:

1. Open Control Panel, set view by: Small icons.
2. Look for Power Options.
3. Click on Change when the computer sleeps on the left pane.
4. Set a timer.

Please try it out. Hope it helps. If you have any other concerns, don't hesitate to come back to us.

Answer 2

Hi,

Thank you for posting on the Microsoft Community Forum.

We'll be more than happy to assist you with these concern.

Can you try these set of steps see if it would be able to help you out with your query:

1. Right-click on Start, and select Device Manager.
2. In Device Ma n ager, click the arrow next to Bluetooth, and select the Bluetooth radio.
3. Right-click the Bluetooth radio and select Properties.
4. Select the Power Management tab, and see if there is a check next to Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.

Hope it helps. If you have any other concerns, don't hesitate to come back to us.

Answer 3

Thank you for the reply! ....but it didn't work. Or more precisely, the "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" option is already checked. The reactivate option is NOT checked. 

I have been testing this, and it seems like the Wifi is also active while the laptop is idle. I shared network from my phone, when I noticed that the laptop was connected even when it was idle. I have checked all the Bluetooth and Wifi Device Manager settings. It's only the Bluetooth radio driver that has this "save power" option. 

I suspect that these Wifi+Bluetooth always on "features" are the reason why the battery is drained each night. 

Do you have any other ideas on what this can be and how to resolve it?

I'm using a brand new Lenovo Yoga 920 laptop with a Qualcomm Atheros QCA61x4 Bluetooth 4.1 adapter.