Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Add Device > Samsung Android 11 phone always connects for a few seconds, then disconnects on 2 Windows 11 computers

Question

Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Add Device > Samsung Android 11 phone always connects for a few seconds and then immediately disconnects on 2 Windows 11 Home 25H2 Build 26200.7840 computers.

The computers are a Dell Inspiron 3030 desktop with a Realtek RTL8852BE WiFi 6 802.11ax PCIe Wifi and Bluetooth card and a Dell Inspiron 3520 laptop with an Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX210 Wifi and Bluetooth card. All WiFi and Bluetooth drivers are up to date.

Also Phone Link will not connect to the phone or will connect and then immediately disconnect and display a QR code for connecting. On the phone > Link to Windows > Settings > Add PC > Scan QR code is repeatedly required to connect to what are 2 already added computer.

All other Bluetooth devices are connecting.

On Reddit, there are repeated posts on this same exact problem on Windows 11 25H2. Since this problem is happening on 2 of my Windows 11 25H2 computers, is this a new Windows 11 bug?

How do I fix this?

Thank you,

Steve

Answer 1

Hello,

When did this issue first occur? For example, did it start after installing a Windows Update?

If the problem began after applying a Windows Update, try uninstalling that update and pausing further updates to see whether the connection issue improves.

Please also check whether any Android updates are available.

Are both your PC and Android device using Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth with both features enabled?

In my environment, I am not experiencing any issues with Phone Link or Bluetooth pairing. However, although my PC and Galaxy device are paired, the Samsung Galaxy sometimes shows a “pairing failed” message. This suggests that there may be a bug on either the Windows 11 side or the Android side.

Answer 2

This behavior matches a known class of Bluetooth connectivity issues in Windows where pairing appears to succeed briefly and then drops, especially after recent Windows updates. The context shows that:

• Windows updates can introduce Bluetooth regressions that break pairing or connectivity with specific devices and adapters.
• When this happens across multiple PCs after an update, the recommended path is to treat it as an OS‑level issue and work through general Bluetooth troubleshooting, then escalate to device/OS support if it persists.

Given that both Windows 11 25H2 devices show the same symptom with the same phone, but other Bluetooth devices connect normally, the most likely causes are:

• A Bluetooth stack or policy change in the latest Windows 11 build affecting Android phones (or Samsung’s implementation) specifically.
• A compatibility issue introduced by a recent Windows update that affects Bluetooth pairing with certain devices.

From the provided guidance, the following steps are supported and should be tried end‑to‑end on at least one of the Windows 11 PCs and the phone:

1. Run the Bluetooth troubleshooter on Windows 11
   • On the PC, open the Get Help app via the Bluetooth troubleshooter link and let it run diagnostics and automatic fixes for Bluetooth pairing/connection issues.
   • Use: Run the troubleshooter in Get Help.
2. Fully remove and re‑add the phone as a Bluetooth device
   • On the PC:
     1. Select Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices.
     2. Locate the Samsung phone, select More options (… ) > Remove device.
     3. Confirm removal.
   • On the phone: remove the PC from the Bluetooth‑paired devices list and from Link to Windows / Phone Link if listed.
   • Then on the PC:
     1. In Settings > Bluetooth & devices, select Add device.
     2. Choose Bluetooth and re‑pair the phone.
3. Toggle Bluetooth and restart both devices
   • On the PC:
     1. Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices.
     2. Turn Bluetooth off, wait at least 10 seconds, then turn it on again.
   • Restart the PC: Start > Power > Restart.
   • Restart the phone as well before attempting to pair again.
4. Ensure Windows is fully updated
   • On each PC:
     1. Select Start > Settings > Windows Update.
     2. Select Check for updates and install all available updates.
   • This is important because Microsoft often mitigates Bluetooth regressions in subsequent cumulative updates.
5. Check for device‑side firmware/updates
   • Because Windows updates can block or change behavior with some Bluetooth implementations, the official guidance when pairing fails after an update is to contact the Bluetooth device manufacturer for any firmware or software updates that restore compatibility.
   • In this case, that means checking Samsung’s updates for the phone (system update and any “Link to Windows” / “Phone Link” companion app updates).
6. If the issue started immediately after a specific Windows update and persists after the above
   • The context shows that some Windows updates have previously broken Bluetooth functionality and required either:
     • A full power drain / hardware reset on the PC (for example, power off, disconnect power, wait, then power back on) to restore the Bluetooth/Wi‑Fi subsystem, or
     • A repair/reinstall of Windows when update‑related issues blocked normal operation.
   • If basic troubleshooting and updates do not resolve the repeated connect‑then‑disconnect behavior, the next supported steps are:
     • Use a full shutdown and power drain on each PC (shut down, disconnect AC power, wait a few minutes, reconnect, then boot) to reset the Bluetooth hardware path.
     • If still failing and other Bluetooth devices continue to work, contact Microsoft Support or Samsung Support with details of Windows 11 25H2 build 26200.7840 and the specific phone model, as this aligns with a potential new compatibility bug.

Because all other Bluetooth devices connect successfully and the problem is isolated to the Samsung Android phone on two separate Windows 11 25H2 systems, this strongly suggests a compatibility or regression issue rather than local misconfiguration. The supported actions are to exhaust the general Bluetooth troubleshooting steps, ensure all updates are applied on both Windows and the phone, and then escalate to vendor support if the behavior persists, as would be expected for a newly introduced bug.

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References:

• Troubleshoot Bluetooth not connecting in Windows
• Troubleshoot transferring files using Bluetooth
• Fix Bluetooth problems in Windows
• Bluetooth keeps disconnecting in Windows
• Some Bluetooth devices may fail to pair or connect after applying June 11, 2019 or later updates
• Add a hardware device to a Windows device
• KB5077181 broke Bluetooth - Microsoft Q&A