headphones not connecting to bluetooth on laptop

pauline george 0 Reputation points
2026-09-08T05:52:27.34+00:00

My Sony headphones are not connecting via Bluetooth to my Android laptop. Both devices are on, but nothing is connecting. There is no area where I can type in the type of headphones to see if it is found. I have switched Bluetooth on and off again, but nothing seems to work. I can see other devices on there but not the headphones.

Windows for home | Other | Devices and drivers

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  1. AI answer

    2026-09-08T05:52:44.69+00:00

    Try these steps in order:

    1. Make sure the headphones are in pairing mode.
      • Turn the headphones off, wait a few seconds, then turn them back on.
      • Keep them close to the laptop.
      • If the headphones are unresponsive, move them away from USB 3.0 devices, which can interfere with Bluetooth.
    2. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on the laptop.
      • In Windows 11: Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices and confirm Bluetooth is on.
      • If available, also check the Bluetooth quick setting from the taskbar.
    3. Change Bluetooth discovery so more device types appear.
      • Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices.
      • Under Device settings > Bluetooth devices discovery, change it to Advanced.
      • This helps when the headphones do not appear in the list.
    4. Turn Bluetooth off and back on.
      • Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices.
      • Turn Bluetooth off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.
    5. Remove and re-add the headphones if they were previously paired.
      • Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices.
      • Select More options for the headphones, then Remove device > Yes.
      • Pair them again.
    6. Check airplane mode.
      • From the taskbar quick settings, make sure Airplane mode is off.
    7. Update the Bluetooth driver.
      • Open Device Manager.
      • Expand Bluetooth.
      • Right-click the Bluetooth adapter and select Update driver > Search automatically for updated driver software.
      • Restart the laptop if prompted.
    8. If the headphones still do not appear, run the Bluetooth troubleshooter in Get Help.
      • Windows includes an automated Bluetooth troubleshooter for common pairing problems.

    If the headphones still are not found after these steps, install the Bluetooth driver for the exact laptop model from the laptop manufacturer’s support site, then restart and test again.

    References:

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