Bluetooth will not connect
My headphones or mouse will not pair over Bluetooth. What is wrong?
Written by The CommonFixes team · fact checked by CommonFixes review desk
Last updated
Short answer
Bluetooth devices remember only a limited number of partners, and they will not appear until they are properly in pairing mode and forgotten by the old owner. The quickest thing to try first: put the device into pairing mode properly — Hold the power or pairing button until the light flashes quickly in two colours. A slow single colour flash means it is searching for its previous partner, not for you. Most people are done in about 10 minutes.
Full walkthrough below: 5 steps for Windows and Mac, rated easy.
Sounds like this
- •Device not in the list
- •Pairs then drops
- •Connected but no sound
Why it happens
Bluetooth devices remember only a limited number of partners, and they will not appear until they are properly in pairing mode and forgotten by the old owner.
Work through these in order
0% done- 1
Put the device into pairing mode properly
Hold the power or pairing button until the light flashes quickly in two colours. A slow single colour flash means it is searching for its previous partner, not for you.
- 2
Forget and re add it
In Bluetooth settings remove the device completely, switch Bluetooth off and on, then pair from scratch.
- 3
Disconnect it from your phone
Most headphones hold one connection at a time. Turn Bluetooth off on your phone while pairing with the computer.
- 4
Choose it as the sound output
If it connects but stays silent, click the speaker icon and select the headphones as the output device. Also check that the app itself is not locked to another output.
- 5
Refresh the Bluetooth driver
In Device Manager expand Bluetooth, right click the adapter, disable it, wait ten seconds, and enable it again.
If none of that worked
If no Bluetooth devices at all can be found, the adapter may be switched off in flight mode or disabled in the BIOS.
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Who wrote this and how we checked it
The CommonFixes team
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We are a small group of people who spend our days repairing laptops and desktops for family, friends and small offices. Every guide here starts with a problem someone actually brought to us, and we only write down the steps that put the machine right.
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CommonFixes review desk
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This guide was last updated on 10 August 2026. If a step no longer matches what you see on screen, tell us on the contact page and we will test it again.
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