How to remove a stubborn Bluetooth device in Windows

Introduction

Having trouble removing a stubborn Bluetooth device in Windows? Whether it's a mouse that won't disconnect or an Xbox controller that refuses to let go, dealing with a lingering device can be frustrating.

In this article, we'll share a method that guarantees success in removing even the most stubborn Bluetooth devices. While it involves a bit of registry hacking, we'll provide step-by-step instructions to guide you through the process.

Removing a Bluetooth Device in Windows

Before we dive into the method, it's important to note that attempting to remove a device through the Bluetooth settings application often fails. Instead, follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the Bluetooth icon in the system tray or search for "Bluetooth" in the Start menu. Then, select "Show Bluetooth Devices" to open the Bluetooth settings.
2. Locate the device you want to remove and click on "Remove device" to uninstall it. With any luck, the device should be successfully removed from the list.
3. If, however, you're still facing a stubborn Bluetooth device that won't budge, don't worry. We have a solution for that too.

Removing a Bluetooth Device from the Registry

In cases where the previous method fails, the goal is to identify the hardware ID of the problematic device and remove it from the registry. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Device Manager by right-clicking on the Start Menu and selecting "Device Manager."
2. Within the Device Manager, click on "Bluetooth" and select the Bluetooth device you want to remove. For our example, we'll use an Xbox controller.
3. Once you've selected the device, click on the "Details" tab and choose "Hardware IDs" from the Property dropdown. Take note of the hardware ID displayed.
4. Now, it's time to open the Registry Editor. Search for and select "Registry Editor" from the Start Menu.
5. Navigate to "Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\BTHPORT\Parameters\Devices\" and look for the entry that matches the hardware ID you noted earlier. In our example, the Xbox controller had a hardware ID of 9caa1b49a878.
6. Right-click on the corresponding hardware ID and choose "Delete" to remove it from the registry.
7. To confirm that the device has been successfully removed, reboot your system.
8. Finally, you can try adding a Bluetooth device again by right-clicking on the Bluetooth icon in the system tray or searching for "Bluetooth" in the Start menu, then selecting "Add a Bluetooth Device."

By following these steps, you'll be able to effortlessly remove any stubborn Bluetooth device from your Windows system. Keep your devices in check and stay on the cutting edge of technology!