Windows 11's Bluetooth File Transfer wizard shows old devices

Padre Pedro 1 Reputation point
2022-01-28T16:31:24.163+00:00

Hi,

When I open the Bluetooth File Transfer wizard I see 2 devices mentioned each twice, but those devices are not paired anymore. So I see 4 old device instances. I've rebooted, uninstalled literally every device in Device Manager (which required quite a few reboots :-)), disabled and re-enabled BlueTooth, checked HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\BTHPORT\Parameters\Devices (but they're not listed anymore over there), etc. etc. I've also paired them again, but then they appear thrice! After unpairing them, the 4 old devices keeps appearing, so the pairing-unpairing hasn't cleaned the old instances.

I experience this on my Dell XPS 9710 laptop (Intel Wireless Bluetooth built-in: BT 5.1) and I have Windows 11. I don't have this problem on my PC (Windows 11 as well). The old devices are Sony MDR-1000X headphones (twice) and my Samsung Galaxy S10 (twice). I have no issues pairing those devices again (but then they appear each thrice), although I do have connecting issues with my Galaxy S10 on the laptop (not on my PC); perhaps this is caused by the old device instances (or not)... My headphones connect very well.

I'm not the only one with this problem: https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/is-there-a-way-to-remove-duplicate-bluetooth-devices-in-file-transfer-window-from-restored-drive-image.2599779

Is there a way to clear this cache?
Thank you!

Pedro

Windows 11
Windows 11
A Microsoft operating system designed for productivity, creativity, and ease of use.
4,106 questions

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  1. Limitless Technology 37,526 Reputation points
    2022-01-31T09:07:57+00:00

    Hello PadrePedro

    It may seem that this is a device registration issue coming from some BT adapters in Windows 11.

    Then run:
    WinSxS folder cleanup: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/clean-up-the-winsxs-folder?view=windows-11
    Repair windows image: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/repair-a-windows-image?view=windows-11

    Then
    Please install the latest drivers for your BT adapter, then run Windows update to ensure you have the latest patches.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    --If the reply is helpful, please Upvote and Accept as answer--

  2. Padre Pedro 1 Reputation point
    2022-02-01T18:54:43.343+00:00

    Hi,

    I've run these commands and rebooted, but to no avail...
    * Dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup
    * Dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup /resetbase
    * sfc /scannow => everything was fine
    * Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth => everything was fine
    * Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth => everything was fine

    Or did you have something else in mind?

    Anyone with new ideas?

    Thanks!

    Regards,
    Pedro

  3. Padre Pedro 1 Reputation point
    2022-02-02T09:16:11.143+00:00