Windows 10: Windows saying it is connected to bluetooth device when it isn't

When using bluetooth on my HP ProBook, I oftentimes have issues. One of them is that Windows somehow things it is connected to devices that it could not in any way be connected with. For example, when I am at school, windows oftentimes says it is connected to a bluetooth speaker at home.I can't disconnect from such a "ghost device" using the disconnect button, as I immediately get "Couldn't disconnect". The devices are not listed wherever they would normally be used. This means that for example a speaker who would normally show up in the sound output options will not show up there when it is "

:)

 

Printer isn´t working after latest update.

After the latest update from Windows, my Canon Pixma ip6600 printer isnt working. In Device Manager it shows up as working properly but when I go to print it isn´t listed as an option in any programs. Troubleshoot suggests it´s a USB 2 printer on a USB
3 port and that that´s the problem but that cant be since it worked fine before the update. I´ve tried to uninstall and plug it back in but that doesn´t work either.

 

Windows 10 says bluetooth headphones are connected but also not connected

This is one of those nightmare issues where it seems to only be a problem between one computer and one device. The headphones connect just fine on other windows 10 machines, and other bluetooth headphones connect just fine to this computer.

Details:

Upon adding the device in bluetooth, windows says the headphones are connected, but the headphones do not indicate they are connected. The headphones are listed with three separate entries in the bluetooth settings window, under input devices, audio, and unspecified, but this is also the case on the computer where the headphones work just fine. In playback devices, the headphones are listed, but show as disconnected. Selecting "connect" does nothing.

In Devices and printers, the headphones show as connected and troubleshooter finds no problems. If the devices were paired by selecting the available devices listing that the headphone instructions say to select, the right-click menu does not show the "control" option. If paired by selecting the other listing, the control option will be there, but the only option will be to use the device as a proximity lock. Also pairing this way will cause the default windows 10 bluetooth settings window to minimize instantly whenever opened until the device is removed.

Steps already taken:

Used both device manager and a driver utility to check for for driver updates, uninstalled bluetooth devices and drivers and reinstalled, ran sfc /scannow, restarted pc and re-paired headphones numerous times.

 

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