Can’t Remove Bluetooth Devices on Windows 10? Here’s the Fix!

Looking for easy ways to remove Bluetooth devices on Windows 10?

Bluetooth, the one service that should be the easiest to use considering it has been around for such a long time, comes with its fair share of issues for Windows users. Recently, several users reported that they are unable to remove their devices on Windows 10, which can be a serious issue, especially when you are not using your personal computer.

We had a look into this issue and discovered that it can be caused by a combination of hardware and software issues. It is typically caused by an unresponsive Windows service that supports pairing on your device. 

If you are facing a similar issue, you are in the right place because, in this guide, we will walk you through the relevant troubleshooting methods in detail. 

Let’s get right into it!

1. Turn On Airplane Mode.

If you cannot remove Bluetooth devices on Windows 10 using the conventional ways, then the first thing you should try doing is turning on the Airplane mode. 

When the Airplane mode is activated, it turns off all signal transmissions from your device including cellular connection, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. This mode, when activated, allows the user to only perform basic functions on their devices. 

Here is how you can turn on the Airplane mode in Windows 10 to remove the Bluetooth devices:

  1. Click on the Wi-Fi icon on your taskbar and hit Airplane mode to enable it. 
  1. Alternatively, press Windows + I keys simultaneously on your keyboard to launch Windows Settings. 
  2. In the Settings window, click on Network & Internet, and in the next window, select Airplane mode from the left panel.
  3. You can now turn the toggle against Airplane mode on in the right pane

This should remove the Bluetooth devices successfully. 

2. Use Device Manager.

In Windows Device Manager, you will see a graphical representation of your computer’s hardware. Users use it to manage their drivers and hardware devices installed on their computers. 

If turning the Airplane mode on did not work for you, then don’t worry. You can remove the Bluetooth device using the Device Manager in no time. 

Here is what you need to do:

  1. Type Device Manager in the search bar and click on Open
  2. Once you are inside the Device Manager window, click on View from the ribbon menu and select Show hidden devices
  1. Now locate the targeted device in the Bluetooth category and right-click on it.
  2. Select Uninstall device from the list of options available and wait for the process to complete. 

These steps should help you remove the Bluetooth device without any issues.

3. Use Control Panel. 

Windows Control Panel provides the users the ability to control, manage, and change the system’s settings. 

You can also use this utility to add/remove external devices. This process is quite similar to Method 2 that we discussed above. Several users managed to remove their Bluetooth devices using the Control Panel which is why we encourage you to give it a shot. 

Here is how you can do that:

  1. Type Control Panel in the search bar and click on Open
  2. In the Control Panel window, click on Hardware and Sound from the list of options available.
Remove Bluetooth Devices on Windows 10
  1. In the next window, click on Devices and Printers.
Remove Bluetooth Devices on Windows 10
  1. Now right-click on the device you wish to remove and select Remove device.
Remove Bluetooth Devices on Windows 10

Check if doing so removes the targeted device. If you still can’t remove the Bluetooth device, then proceed with the next method below. 

4. Modify Windows Registry. 

Windows Registry is an administrative-level tool that allows users to control and customize the functions of their operating system. 

It contains low-level information about Windows programs and processes, and this information is stored in the form of Registry keys. By modifying the relevant Registry keys, you can make the desired changes.

In this method, we will delete the Registry key associated with the targeted Bluetooth device to remove it. However, we recommend being careful while executing this method since even a slight error can cause serious issues. 

Here is how you can modify Windows Registry to remove your Bluetooth device:

  1. Press Windows + R keys simultaneously on your keyboard to open a Run dialogue box. 
  2. Inside the text field of the dialogue box, type ‘regedit‘ and hit Enter. This will launch Windows Registry on your PC.
  1. Once you are inside the Registry Editor, navigate to the location mentioned below.
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\BTHPORT\Parameters\Devices
  1. In the right pane, you should be able to see 12 digit keys associated with your Bluetooth devices. 
  2. To identify the targeted device, double-click on each key and check the Name value associated with it. 
  3. Once you have found the targeted key, right-click on it and choose Delete.
Remove Bluetooth Devices on Windows 10
  1. Finally, close Windows Registry and check if this resolved the issue.

Hopefully, removing the relevant key will remove the device as well.

5. Try Using CleanMyPC.

Errors such as the one under discussion may also be caused by viruses and bugs in corrupted files. If you haven’t deep cleaned your computer in a long time, then decluttering your PC using a reputable PC cleaner can resolve the issue. 

PC cleaners can detect and repair corrupted or damaged files on your PC, which includes those in the Windows Registry. The PC cleaner you choose must be capable of completing these advanced tasks, though. For those who have trouble finding an effective cleaner, we recommend CleanMyPC.

Install CleanMyPC on your PC

With CleanMyPC, even the most complicated computer problems can be resolved. All you need to do is install the software and it’ll do the rest. If this is something your PC is in desperate need of, install CleanMyPC now and give your PC a much-needed performance boost.


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6. Enable Device Association Service.

In Windows, a service named Device Association Service pairs external devices to your system. If this service is not running properly or at all, you will not be able to perform certain actions like removing your Bluetooth devices. 

The solution is simple. All that you need to do is enable Device Association Service to resolve the issue.

Here is what you need to do:

  1. Open a Run dialogue box by pressing Windows + R keys simultaneously.
  2. In the text field of the dialogue box, type ‘services.msc‘ and hit Enter. This will launch the Services window on your screen.
  1. Once you are inside the Services screen, locate and right-click on Device Association Service.
Remove Bluetooth Devices on Windows 10
  1. Select Properties from the list of options available.
  2. In the Properties screen, set the Startup type to Automatic, and click on the Start button.
Remove Bluetooth Devices on Windows 10
  1. Now click on Apply and then hit OK to save the changes.

If the Device Association Service was the culprit, settings its Startup type to Automatic should fix the problem.

This wraps up our guide on ways to remove Bluetooth devices on Windows 10. We hope that one of the methods mentioned in this guide did the trick for you. If you have any questions regarding the methods listed above, please let us know in the comment section below.

If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂

Author

  • Zainab Falak

    Zainab Falak is a staff writer for Saint and an expert in Microsoft Windows, having authored more than 200 posts. She has a Bachelors in Actuarial Sciences and her passion for computers extends to exploring various aspects, from UI customization to the Windows registry and exploring error codes. Twitter LinkedIn

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