Ever tried to remove a Bluetooth device, only to get stuck with a frustrating “Remove device” error? Happens to the best of us. Sometimes it’s one device acting up, other times it’s every paired device. But don’t worry. There are ways to handle this. I’ll break it down, step by step, in a way that’s simple to follow.
This problem often happens when the Bluetooth device is still talking to your computer. Or maybe there’s a bug in the system. Heck, it could even be malware. Whatever the cause, here’s how to get that stubborn device off your system.
Table of Contents
Solution 1: Turn Bluetooth Off and Back On
First off, try turning your Bluetooth off and back on. It sounds too simple to work, but sometimes the simplest solutions are the best. If that doesn’t do the trick, don’t worry, I’ve got a few more tricks up my sleeve.
Solution 2: Uninstall Device Driver
Next, try uninstalling the device’s driver. You can do this through the Windows Bluetooth Settings, Device Manager, or Control Panel. Here’s how:
- In Windows Bluetooth Settings, go to “More Bluetooth settings,” open the Hardware tab, double-click the device, select “Change settings,” then go to the Driver tab and click “Uninstall Device.”
- In Device Manager, expand the Bluetooth section, right-click the device’s driver, and select “Uninstall device.”
- In Control Panel, go to “Devices and Printers,” right-click the device, and select “Remove device.”
Solution 3: Execute Built-in Windows Bluetooth troubleshooter
You can also try running the built-in Windows Bluetooth troubleshooter. It’s like having a mini tech support team right on your computer. Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters, and run the Bluetooth troubleshooter.
Solution 4: Restart Windows Bluetooth Services
Try restarting the Windows Bluetooth Services and granting them administrative permission. Just follow these steps:
- Open the Services app as an administrator.
- Find the Bluetooth Support Service, set its Startup type to Automatic, and its Log On to Local System account.
- Restart the service and try removing the device again.
- If it still doesn’t work, repeat the process for the Bluetooth User Support Service.
Solution 5: Delete Device Bluetooth Profile
You can always try deleting the device’s Bluetooth profile in the Windows Registry. But be careful with this one, messing with the registry can be like playing with fire. Make sure to create a backup first!
- First, find the device’s Hardware ID in the Bluetooth settings.
- Now, type regedit in the search bar, hit Run as administrator.
- Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\BTHPORT\Parameters\Devices.
- Locate the folder with the same Hardware ID as your device.
- Right-click the folder and hit Delete.
- Reboot your computer.
So there you have it, my tried and true methods for getting rid of those stubborn Bluetooth devices. I hope one of these works for you like it did for me. And if not, well, maybe it’s time to call in the big guns and get some professional help. Good luck!