How To Fix Bluetooth Remove Failed On Windows


Surface laptop - bluetooth remove failed
Credit: Microsoft

While most people won't normally be impacted by the Bluetooth remove failed issue on Windows, it can still be frustrating when it does crop up. Ordinarily, connecting or disconnecting a Bluetooth device is an extremely quick and simple process.

But when this error emerges, it essentially stops you from disconnecting a Bluetooth device. And while there is typically little issue with leaving a device connected, there are still times when you may wish to do so.

This is where we step in. Rather than leave you languishing, unable to disconnect whatever device you no longer want or need to have connected, we've assembled some troubleshooting tips. These will enable you to break that connection, and streamline your connections as you see fit. By the time you've read this, fixing your Bluetooth issue will be as easy as moving your taskbar to the left.

How To Fix Bluetooth Remove Failed On Windows

As we said earlier, removing a Bluetooth connection is normally very straightforward. But on those rare occasions where a gremlin prevents this from being the case, there are several potential fixes.

We'd suggest working your way down the list, and hopefully, you'll find an effective remedy before you get to the bottom. So without further ado, let's get started.

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Turn Off Bluetooth

This may seem obvious, but you may be struggling to disconnect your devices because your computer erroneously believes that there is an active connection.

Turning off Bluetooth can, therefore, sever this phantom link, and finally break the connection. To do this:

  • Go to Settings.
  • Click on Bluetooth and devices.
  • Toggle the button next to Bluetooth to Off.

Remove The Device In Settings And Control Panel

There are two alternative ways of manually removing a device: via Settings, and via Control Panel.

In Settings:

  • Go to Bluetooth and devices (or Devices in Windows 10).
  • Select the device you want to disconnect. If you can't see it, try clicking on View more devices.
  • Click on the three dots next to the device.
  • On the pop-up menu, select Remove device.

If this doesn't work, try going through the Control Panel:

  • Go to Hardware and Sound.
  • Click on View devices and printers.
  • Right-click the device you want to remove.
  • On the pop-up menu, select Remove device.

Microsoft Surface laptop - how to fix bluetooth remove failed
click to enlarge
Credit: Microsoft

Update Your Drivers

If your Bluetooth software has developed a glitch, this could explain why it won't allow you to disconnect the device from your computer. In this scenario, it's worth trying to update your Bluetooth drivers:

  • Launch Device Manager.
  • Click on Bluetooth to open the list of connected devices.
  • Right-click on the relevant device, and in the pop-up menu, click on Update driver.

Another option is to use Windows Update to download the most up-to-date drivers automatically:

  • In Settings, go to Update and Security.
  • Click on Check for updates.
  • If there are any available updates, install them, and see whether this resolves your issue.

Use The Bluetooth Troubleshooter

The Windows troubleshooter is a useful tool to help deal with a range of problems. It's worth trying in relation to your Bluetooth connection issue.

  • Open Settings.
  • Open the troubleshooter, and click on Troubleshoot other problems.
  • Select Bluetooth and then click on Run the troubleshooter.

Clean Your Registry

Cleaning your registry can help to remove any corrupted files. To do this:

  • Click on Start and type cmd in the search box.
  • Type sfc /scannow and press enter.
  • Windows will scan your computer. Once this process is complete, restart your computer.

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Restart The Device Association Service

Finally, it is possible that something called the Device Association Service has stopped working. This can then make it impossible to disconnect your Bluetooth devices.

  • Press Windows + R and in the dialog box, type services.msc and click Ok.
  • When the services dialog box appears, right-click on Device Association Services.
  • In the dropdown menu, select Restart.
  • You can then go back to Settings or Control Panel and try to remove the Bluetooth device.

As you can see, there are plenty of potential solutions to this particular problem. Hopefully at least one of these will be effective for you. But if you've reached this stage and are still having no joy, then it may be worth contacting Microsoft for further support.

For more articles like this, take a look at our Tech and How To page.