How to Fix Bluetooth Headphones Not Connecting to Windows

Step by step

1. 1 min

   Toggle Bluetooth and confirm status

   Open the Quick Settings panel by clicking the network/volume icon in the taskbar corner. Toggle the Bluetooth icon off, wait ten seconds, and toggle it back on. Ensure the headphones are powered on and placed in pairing mode according to the manufacturer's manual.

   Note: Verify that your headphones are not currently paired to a nearby smartphone.
2. 1 min

   Remove the existing device profile

   Press Win + I to open Settings. Navigate to Bluetooth & devices, locate your headphones in the list, click the three-dot ellipsis, and select Remove device. This clears corrupted pairing cache from the Windows registry.

   Note: Win + I
3. 1 min

   Restart the Bluetooth support service

   Press Win + R, type 'services.msc', and press Enter. Locate 'Bluetooth Support Service' in the list. Right-click the service and select Restart to force a refresh of the communication stack.

   Note: Change the Startup type to Automatic if it is currently set to Manual.
4. 2 min

   Update Bluetooth drivers via Device Manager

   Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager. Expand the Bluetooth category, right-click your Bluetooth adapter (e.g., Intel Wireless Bluetooth), and select Update driver. Choose Search automatically for drivers to let Windows fetch the latest signed binaries.

   Note: Win + X
5. 1 min

   Re-establish the Bluetooth connection

   Put your headphones back into pairing mode. In Windows Settings, navigate to Bluetooth & devices and click Add device. Select Bluetooth, choose your headphones from the discovered list, and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the handshake.

   Note: If prompted for a PIN, check your headphone manual for the default entry, usually 0000.