Windows 11: Bluetooth headset paired and disconnects after 5 seconds. Cannot reconnect.

Question

I am trying to connect my Bose QC35 II bluetooth headset to my Windows 11 PC. I am able to see the device in "Add Device", but after clicking it the device shows "Connected" (instead of the regular "Connected, voice, music"). After 5 seconds connection, it disconnects. Trying to reconnect yields That didn't work. Make sure your Bluetooth device is still discoverable, then try again.

Trying to add the device from the legacy Control Panel > Devices and Printers section doesn't even pair and yields the same message.

I have tried so many different set of solutions, including:

• Completely installing/updating/reinstalling all devices/hidden devices under "Bluetooth" section in Device Manager;
• Downloading Bluetooth driver from Intel's website and installing/repairing the driver;
• Making sure Bluetooth driver's "Power Management > Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" is switched off;
• Making sure the computer can be recognized by other devices as Bluetooth devices;
• Starting/restarting/setting to "automatic" all bluetooth-related services in Services;
• In "Device and Printers" > my device, tried turning on/off all services under my device, including "Handsfree Telephony";
• Trying (but failing, since it is Windows 11 not Windows 10, and Bluetooth Auxiliary is no longer visible even in hidden devices in Device Manager) to re-install AD2P audio sink introduced in Windows 10;
• Numerous other solutions mentioned in the following posts and sublinks:
  • https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-11-bluetooth-devices-paired-and-connected/9756d493-c8f4-480e-9fdf-59be108fab90
  • https://www.reddit.com/r/SonyHeadphones/comments/spxu3x/sonywhxb900n\_bluetooth\_that\_didnt\_work\_make\_sure/?rdt=39539
  • https://www.windowstechit.com/23076/bluetooth-paired-but-not-connected-windows-10/
  • https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/627835/that-didnt-work-make-sure-your-bluetooth-device-is?page=1&orderby=Helpful&comment=answer-628832#newest-answer-comment
  • https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-11-not-detecting-bluetooth-headphones-as/c191822b-0e9a-4231-8fac-0239e3542086

My earphone connects to other Windows 11 machines, phones, tablets, and iPads just fine. How can I fix the problem?

Windows specifications:

***moved from Windows / Windows 11 / Devices and drivers***

Answer 1

Hello  Power_tile，

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community forum.

Based on the troubleshooting steps you've already taken, it seems like you've covered most of the common solutions to this issue. However, there are a few additional steps you can try:

1. Reset your Bluetooth headset: Some Bluetooth devices have a reset button or option that can help resolve connectivity issues. Check the user manual for your Bose QC35 II headset to see if there is a reset option, and try resetting the device before attempting to pair it again.
2. Update your Bluetooth drivers: Even if you've already updated your Bluetooth drivers, it's possible that there is a newer version available that could help resolve the issue. Check the manufacturer's website for your PC's Bluetooth adapter to see if there are any updates available.
3. Disable other Bluetooth devices: If you have other Bluetooth devices connected to your PC, try disabling them temporarily to see if that helps with the connectivity issue. Sometimes having multiple Bluetooth devices connected at once can cause conflicts.
4. Try a different USB port: If your PC has a USB Bluetooth adapter, try plugging it into a different USB port to see if that helps with the connectivity issue.

If none of these steps work, it's possible that there is a compatibility issue between your Bose QC35 II headset and your Windows 11 PC.

I hope the information above is helpful.

If you have any question or concern, please feel free to let us know.

Best Regards,

Haijian Shan

Answer 2

Hi Haijian,

I have tried steps 1~3 in your response and there was no luck. The Bluetooth Adapter of my desktop machine is also directly integrated with the motherboard. My earphone is able to connect to any other Windows 11 machine with bluetooth with no problem, but not with this specific machine...

Answer 3

Hello  Power_tile，

Thank you for your reply.

One thing you could try is resetting the Bluetooth stack on your Windows 11 PC. Here's how to do that:

1. Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard and select "Windows PowerShell (Admin)" from the menu that appears.
2. In the PowerShell window, type the following command and press Enter: "Get-NetAdapter | where {$_.InterfaceDescription -match 'Bluetooth'} | Disable-NetAdapterBinding -ComponentID 'ms_bthpan'"
3. Wait a few seconds, then type the following command and press Enter: "Get-NetAdapter | where {$_.InterfaceDescription -match 'Bluetooth'} | Enable-NetAdapterBinding -ComponentID 'ms_bthpan'"
4. Close the PowerShell window and try pairing your Bose QC35 II headset again.

If that doesn't work, you could also try resetting your PC's network settings by going to Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network reset. This will remove all network adapters and reset all network settings to their default values, so you'll need to set up your network connections again afterwards.

I hope one of these solutions works for you! 

If none of these steps work, it's possible that there is a compatibility issue between your Bose QC35 II headset and your Windows 11 PC.You may need to seek help from your hardware vendor.

Best Regards,

Haijian Shan

Answer 4

Hi.

I'm having the same problem with my brand-new ASUS TUF Laptop. I can not get the Bluetooth speaker to connect and work properly. The computer keeps connecting and disconnecting. I tried that with two speakers and had no success.