Windows Media Player Bluetooth controls PLAY/PAUSE no longer working after Windows 10 1803 update

Anonymous
2018-05-16T00:41:28+00:00

Anybody having any issues with Windows Media Player Bluetooth controls not working anymore? I have Bose QC35s and Jaybird X3s. Both sets of earphones can no longer Play/Pause/Fast Forward anymore. I did the update on 3 different PCs. All have the same issue. To make sure that it wasn't driver issue I also tested Groove Music Player and all Bluetooth functions work 100% properly. If I roll back Windows to version 1709 everything works normally. I contacted MS support and also tried following issues below on one of the PCs and its still not working.

  • Deleted all Bluetooth devices in device manager
  • Created another user account
  • DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth, Sfc /scan now
  • Disabled all non Microsoft services and rebooted

Since this is 3 different PCs (including a Microsoft Surface book) all having the same issue, I think this may be a Windows 10 1803 Bug. Anybody else have any other ideas or can confirm this is a bug. Thanks in advance for any help.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-04-19T15:10:22+00:00

    So, I too had this issue. When 1809 came out, my BT headset was working with the play/pause button (prior to this, it did not), but now after some Windows Updates it no longer works. My wireless & Bluetooth drivers are up to date; I just updated them from Intel's site. I tried removing the device and re-pairing it, but still in the same boat. The volume controls seem to work, just not the play/pause button. This has been a very frustrating issue; I hope there's at least one person from Microsoft who monitors this thread, or at least a moderator who can do something...

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-01-20T16:20:33+00:00

    As I said, I tried multiple devices: MPOW headphones and August BT Speakers with Media Player, Foobar and MusicBee -- all possible combinations of which (with the very same devices, not newly purchased ones) worked perfectly prior to 1803.

    The buttons themselves function, as they control the Windows volume and summon Cortana, so it is not those.

    Point being, they behave identically for me in 1809 as they did in 1803 -- same bug, not different ones.

    EDIT: I know I shouldn't call it a bug since Microsoft would appear to have hijacked the buttons intentionally...

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-01-20T16:10:55+00:00

    I rolled back to 1803 and then repeated the 1809 update via Windows Update Assistant instead of through the Control Panel. Same result. Human Interface Device Service is started.

    I have exactly the same lack of Bluetooth media control functionality in 1809 as in 1803, across 2 devices and 3 players (all that I tried) including Windows Media Player.

    Sadly, this bug is not fixed. Prior to 1803 these devices were working perfectly.

    What Bluetooth headset or device is it, like what's the actual name.  Have you tried any other headset? And what media player software are you using? (Spotify, media player, etc)

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-01-20T15:54:08+00:00

    I rolled back to 1803 and then repeated the 1809 update via Windows Update Assistant instead of through the Control Panel. Same result. Human Interface Device Service is started.

    I have exactly the same lack of Bluetooth media control functionality in 1809 as in 1803, across 2 devices and 3 players (all that I tried) including Windows Media Player.

    Sadly, this bug is not fixed. Prior to 1803 these devices were working perfectly.

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  5. Anonymous
    2019-01-20T04:08:36+00:00

    I updated to 1809 today and can confirm that the problem is fixed in this release. I think this thread should be closed.

    So glad it is fixed for you, but I updated to 1809 and my Bluetooth device media controls function exactly as before, which is to say the Volume buttons adjust the universal Windows 10 volume, and the Play/Pause /<<</>>> keys do nothing at all in any media player I tried, including WMP.

    CORRECTION: The Play/Pause button activates Cortana in 1809 if I press it just right.

    I've uninstalled Intel Bluetooth, deleting the drivers and let them reinstall & removed and re-added the devices. Nope. Same non-functionality as 1803.

    It's a huge disappointment as I've been waiting (im)patiently since April to get this non-trivial functionality back. :(

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