"Allow a device to connect" is greyed out, bluetooth

Anonymous
2011-10-26T15:52:46+00:00

I am unable to connect any device to the laptop through bluetooth, even though I've used the feature before.

When I switch the bluetooth on and right click on the bluetooth icon - "Allow a device to connect" is greyed out.".

I'm using Windows 7, 64 bit. Any suggestions...?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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Anonymous
2014-11-21T22:55:10+00:00

HOW TO PAIR/CONNECT A BLUETOOTH SPEAKER TO LAPTOP/PC/WINDOWS 7 SOLVED....

Bought a Bletooth speaker ages ago, it is good for what it is and managed to get it paired up with all my other devices - tablet, phone but have never been able to connect it to my Sony Vaio laptop - would always pair then never be able to connect it. Here's how I got it to work..

I decided to start afresh and delete all Bluetooth devices and start again.

Make sure you have your computer Bluetooth turned on

Down in the bottom right tool bar right click on the Bluetooth icon

Click on Join a Personal Area Network

Opens a new Window in Devices and printers

Turn on your Bluetooth Speaker to discover mode

Click Add a Device

Your speaker should show up

DO NOT CLICK NEXT.....

INSTEAD A MESSAGE SHOULD POP UP FROM THE TOOLBAR SAYING A DEVICE IS ASKING TO CONNECT

CLICK THIS MESSAGE

it will then ask you to add a pairing number to connect ( add the default number if your speaker has one refer to manual)

In this case the XMI X-Mini WE does not come with one so I put in 0000

Worked!!

Paired

Now click on Start - Devices and Printers and you should see the speaker XMI X-Mini WE

Right click it and click control

Click connect......

BOOM paired and working

Dont know how or why its working but I an now listening to music via my Bluetooth Speaker.

Now I now this may not work for all but This was driving me nuts and hope it at least works for some..

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-02-05T00:11:44+00:00

     went into Device Manager, clicked on the device and "Update Driver" then "Search automatically for updated driver" and it found and installed the latest driver.  I was now able to send photos from my phone to my desktop and they went into my Photos folder.  However, "Add a device to connect" is still greyed out but the Bluetooth is working.

    Unfortunately, I got the message, "Windows has determined that the driver installed is the latest". I still cannot connect, and the option to "Add a device to connect" is still greyed out. The Bluetooth is not working.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-01-30T04:17:29+00:00

    Hi Steve,

    Thank you for visiting Microsoft Community.

    I would suggest you to refer the article mentioned below and see if it helps you to fix the issue.

    Change settings for a Bluetooth enabled device 

    Add a Bluetooth enabled device to your computer

    Do keep us updated.

    Regards,

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-12-10T13:11:15+00:00

    I am unable to connect any device to the laptop through bluetooth, even though I've used the feature before.

    When I switch the bluetooth on and right click on the bluetooth icon - "Allow a device to connect" is greyed out.".

    I'm using Windows 7, 64 bit. Any suggestions...?

    I upgraded from Windows 8.1to Windows 10 Pro 64-bit.  I was able to pair my phone but I could not exchange files. 

    I have a Broadcom BCM20702 Bluetooth 4.0 USB Device on my desktop.  I think the original vendor was IOGEAR.

    I went into Device Manager, clicked on the device and "Update Driver" then "Search automatically for updated driver" and it found and installed the latest driver.  I was now able to send photos from my phone to my desktop and they went into my Photos folder.  However, "Add a device to connect" is still greyed out but the Bluetooth is working.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-11-04T08:35:13+00:00

    This problem has continued to be reported for several years - why is there no tool or fix to help with a resolution?

    I tried everything in this thread.

    My laptop manufacturer can not help or has not been able to help. - Lenovo and there is no help from the Thinkpad forums either (surprisingly as that is usually all I need)

    The Bluetooth speaker manufacturer iClever has failed to respond to my repeated requests for help via their site.

    http://postimg.org/image/5b3q1ndl3/][img]http://s23.postimg.org/5b3q1ndl3/T520\_Bluetooth\_Speaker\_Connection\_Problem\_31\_1.jpg

    I installed the hotkey integration features (http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/8jvu39ww.exe) and Lenovo Access connections (http://support.lenovo.com/en\_IN/downloads/detail.page?&DocID=DS013683)and now get the popup window when I press Fn+F5 but I have no idea what to set/click on, enable etc to connect to a bluetooth speaker that is powered up and flashing - can someone explain EXACTLY what I need to do. The device was picked up and appears when I use the blue "B" Bluetooth icon from the popup from the right of the taskbar and "Show Bluetooth Devices" but I don't know how to get the devices to pair - it was really simple with my Sony Z1 Android tablet and my Sony mobile phone to connect to this speaker but I've spent hours on this today to try and get my T520 connected and I've got nowhere - why on earth is it so much more complicated with Windows 7 Pro/Lenovo than Android? It took 20s with the phone and tablet to get connected.

    The speaker is this one:-

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00PIGBPLO?psc=1&redirect=true&ref\_=oh\_aui\_detailpage\_o00\_s00

    http://postimg.org/image/divoquer3/][img]http://s11.postimg.org/divoquer3/T520\_Bluetooth\_Speaker\_Connection\_Problem\_1\_11.jpg

    http://postimg.org/image/6j8l4uo2r/][img]http://s29.postimg.org/6j8l4uo2r/T520\_Bluetooth\_Speaker\_Connection\_Problem\_3\_11.jpg

    I checked the bluetooth adapter is enabled in the BIOS of my Lenovo T520.

    My device (iClever Bluetooth speaker) has been added - it appears in the list of BT devices but nothing has been added to the Sound...Playback tab - what does this mean? Is there a way around this? Can I manually add the speaker to this list? Is this the problem that needs solving or is it that the "Allow a Device to connect" menu option is greyed out the issue?

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