How to reconnect to a already paired bluetooth A2DP headset?

Anonymous
2009-12-03T13:50:48+00:00

I use a bluetooth stereo headset with my Laptop running Windows7/Fedora 12 and also with my mobile phone and with my ipod. I want to connect my headset to one of above devices at a time.

I have paired my headset with all of above devices (Windows 7, Fedora 12, my mobile and my ipod). Suppose I've currently connected my headset to the ipod and now I want to use it with my mobile. All I have to do is disconnect headset from ipod and connect it to my mobile. (The 'connect' and 'disconnect' facilities are there in both my ipod and mobile).

Suppose now I want to use the headset with Windows 7. (it's already paired and shown under Bluetooth Devices). Surprisingly in windows 7 there's no way of connecting to a already paired headset. (when you right-click on the headset icon under bluetooth devices there's no 'connect' options.). Now one might ask why don't you restart the headset? But it'll never work since headset will try to connect to the last device it connected. (in this case my mobile phone). Only way I can connect my headset to Windows 7 now is putting the headset back into pairing mode, deleting the headset from windows, and re pair it. This will take a lotof time and this will also install drivers for four bluetooth profiles headset supports. (A2DP, AVRCP, handsfree, headset). (This will also create a system restore point to make things slower).

Similar to my mobile phone and ipod in Fedora linux it's just a matter of right clicking bluetooth icon and selecting 'connect'. I have not used windows for a long time and may be I miss something very obvious or the way Windows 7 bluetooth works is very frustrating.

I use Windows 7 professional in a Dell Inspiron laptop. The bluetooth stack used is the one supplied with Wndows 7.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2010-07-20T14:39:16+00:00

Hi Jeff,

Reconnecting using Playback Devices works for reconnecting an already paired A2DP Bluetooth Headset to your PC, per the OP. Headsets are usually "dumb" in the respect that you cannot ask them to connect to a specific device, they just try to reconnect to the last device they connected to. Using "Playback Devices" gets around this by getting your computer to ping the device and ask it for a connection.

It sounds like you're having a totally different issue to the OP, namely that you can't get your android phone to connect to your PC after you've paired it. It's probably worth starting a new thread on that issue as it is completely separate to reconnecting "dumb" devices.

Apologies if I've misunderstood you.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-08-24T15:55:55+00:00

    So, I paid the $99 for a technician, Chandran from the service answer desk at Microsoft to help me connect an A2DP device to my Dell Inpiron 1720 laptop.  32 bit Windows 7.   He took remote control over my PC (rescue software).  He has been unsuccessful in getting the devices to connect.  Instead, he downloaded Ricoh memory card dirvers for Vista 32-bit and XP/2K" and ran a software program off of "tweaking.com" !  seriously!

    I need a tech name who can help me connect to the Bluetooth that has been added as a device.  Anyone know a Service Answer Desk , Tier III technician name at Microsoft who will resolve the problem?  Being as I paid my $99 and all....

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-08-24T15:57:47+00:00

    Agreed with XanderLopez.

    It is telling that the only reply we had from MS is that guy answering the usual Microsoft gibberish.  Réinstall, reboot...

    Amazing that we keep hoping they will actually do something about it.

    I have been searching the Net for a solution.  It's been a few years.  I thought that someone must have woken up and fixed this issue but, no luck I guess.

    Well, I guess I'll go and and erase the device and re-install it again.  That works like a charm every time...

    So, I paid the $99 for a technician, Chandran from the service answer desk at Microsoft to help me connect an A2DP device to my Dell Inpiron 1720 laptop.  32 bit Windows 7.   He has been unsuccessful in getting the devices to connect.  Instead, he downloaded Ricoh memory card dirvers for Vista 32-bit and XP/2K" and ran a software program off of "tweaking.com" !  seriously!

    I need a tech name who can help me connect to the Bluetooth that has been added as a device.  Anyone know a Service Answer Desk , Tier III technician name at Microsoft who will resolve the problem?  Being as I paid my $99 and all....

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-02-11T09:18:47+00:00

    Actually, I have the same problem with a Bose AE2W. If the headset is connected to another device (my Windows 8 Phone) after it has been paired with my Windows 7 PC, then I cannot make it connect back with the PC. I have to break the pairing and re-pair it (no pun intended).

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-03-02T05:49:10+00:00

    Did you find a solution?

    How did you break the paring and repair it?

    Do you mean the pairing of the Bose and Win7 PC or the Bose and Win8 Phone?

    I have the exact same issue now. My Win7 PC added Bose AE2W as Bluetooth device but it doesn't give me any sound. I check all the sound settings - Playback devices, Recording devices.

    the sound level bar is moving up and down if I play something under "Communications Headphones" as I made Microphone Array Listen properties checked on "Listen to this device - Communications Headphones" But Bose headset's BT light is still blue and blinking, meaning it's not connected w/ the PC. The microphone seems to be working but I have no way to hear my voice either.

    I'm about to return this Bose headset, but my Vista PC is working just okay. So there should be some prob with Win7 PCs.

    Please Please let me know the solution.

    Thank you.

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