Windows 10: Device will not be removed from Bluetooth in Windows 11

June 2025I followed a required Windows 11 update to the next version. Upon a restart, non of my Bluetooth devices worked. I’ve gone to a wired keyboard and mouse, but have one device I’ve taken every step I can find to remove and it will not remove. It will not connect but also will not remove. Here’s what I’ve tried:Removed from device managerRemoved from registryRan scannow no errorsTurned on airplane mode, then tried to removeRan DISMReset device to factory defaultUnplugged device, then tried to remove Used Bluetooth troubleshooter Updated Bluetooth driver I’m starting to feel like noth

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Cannot use bluetooth device

1 Pairing is done in Settings, Devices
1.1 You click on Add Bluetooth or other device
1.2 You choose Bluetooth
1.3 If there is a pairing button on the bluetooth device itself then you press that now. You need to check the instructions for your bluetooth device to see how to do this - several automatically go into pairing mode when they switch on, others have a button that needs to be pressed for, say, 5 seconds.
1.4 The computer detects all available bluetooth devices and you select yours from the list. If yours is not on the list then Windows could not detect it.
1.5 It connects - pairing includes connecting
1.6 The computer sounds a buzz in the earpiece then displays Your device is ready to go and you click on Done
1.7 The device is shown in the devices list below the subheading Audio and it shows it as connected
1.8 The device should also appear in Control panel, Sounds, Playback tab
1.9 The device should also appear in Control panel, Devices & printers
1.10 {I just paired some bluetooth earphones as I typed so I could make sure these notes were correct} You use a music player and the sound comes out of the bluetooth earphones

2 If this is not happening for you then go to Contol panel, Devices & printers
2.1 Right-click on the device & select Remove device
2.2 You can now try pairing from scratch again
2.3 Several other users have reported that only removing the device with Bluetooth command line tools - BluetoothInstaller allowed them to re-pair again [see xzion's guidance below]
2.4 Yet others reported that only the KeithM code or Bungee's guidance worked for them [see below]

3 Where is this all going wrong for you?
[I assume we are definitely talking about bluetooth headphones/earphones. I understand that WiFi ones do also exist.]


4 Additional guidance -

Unpair a Bluetooth Device - TenForumsTutorials
Connect a Bluetooth device in Windows - Windows Help

Steps to completely remove a belutooth device so pairing can be done again [post #9, xzion] - TenForums
Steps to completely remove a belutooth device so pairing can be done again [post #22, KeithM] - TenForums
Steps to completely remove a belutooth device so pairing can be done again [post #39, Bungee] - TenForums
Several people registered in TenForums just to be able to thanks xzion, KeithM & Bungee. Apparently, what worked for some people did not work for others so each solution seems worth trying.


Denis

 

Bluetooth Device is removed from Network Adapters when Bluetooth is turned on - Windows 11

I have a new laptop with Windows 11, and the behavior for the Bluetooth Network Adapter is not behaving as expected.

The issue is:

"In order to disable the Bluetooth Device from the Device Manager, the Bluetooth needs to be turned OFF to display the device in the list of Network Adapter."

Is this a bug?

On the Windows 11 system I have, the Bluetooth Device will only display in the list of Network Adapters when the Bluetooth Device is ENABLED and OFF.

The Bluetooth option was working correctly, the Bluetooth option is available in the Settings and turned ON.

When I opened the Device Manager, the Bluetooth Device was not listed in the Device Manager under Network Adapters.

The Bluetooth option is still available in the Settings allowing me to change the Bluetooth OFF and ON.

When I go to the Settings and turn the Bluetooth OFF, the Device Manager is updated and the Bluetooth Device is now displayed in the list of Network Adapters.

If I return to the Settings and turn the Bluetooth ON, the Network Adapter for the Bluetooth Device is removed from the list of Network Adapters again.

This was not the behavior I expected. I get the same results using the Bluetooth ON/OFF or the Airplane Mode settings for the Bluetooth ON/OFF.

Basically, when the Bluetooth Device is ENABLED and ON, it is NOT displaying in the list of Adapters.

The Bluetooth needs to be ENABLED and OFF in order to locate the Network Adapter in the Device Manager.

The Bluetooth Device itself is working correctly; however the device is not listed in the Device Manager when it is ENABLED, ON, and working.

Is this a bug? This is only occurring on my Windows 11 laptop. The Windows 10 displays the Bluetooth Device in the Device Manager when it is ENABLED, and does not change if the Bluetooth Device is switched ON or OFF .

Thank you in Advance.

 

Cannot use bluetooth device

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