Bluetooth headphones stopped connecting automatically after the latest Windows 11 update

mm71 · Mar 21, 2024

My Sony Bluetooth headphones MDR-XB650BT used to connect automatically and stay connected after a period of inactivity, but now they won't connect automatically any more after the latest update and they also disconnect if I don't use them for an hour or so (I am not really sure "when" they disconnect).
I can connect from Settings, but I was wondering if there is a way to have them connect automatically again?
I know they are not new, but they still work very well in terms of sound (they are just a bit loose, but the sound quality is still quite good).
Thank you for any advice.

antspants · Mar 21, 2024

Hi

Which update? It is always better to be a little more specific.

Are you referring to update KB5035853?
If so; uninstall the KB5035853 update by going to; Windows Update / Uninstall updates and see if it reverts back to the way it was for your Bluetooth headphones.

Some users are reporting that there are issues with this update, you are not alone in having issues with your bluetooth:

Win 11 update broke stuff, can't roll back

I installed an update yesterday (KB5035853) to Win 11 23H2 and suddenly stuff is broken: * Windows won't let me go to shell:appdata in Explorer * Windows doesn't recognise my headset mic any more There are probably other things I haven't discovered yet -- it's only been a few hours... To fix...

www.elevenforum.com

Also, could you please:

Type “Winver” into search on your PC and open it. Please type the version and build that it reports, into your “System Specs” OS section (first on the list where you have placed “Windows 11 Home Edition”)
Like this for example: Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build 22631.3296

This link will open your System Specs.
https://www.elevenforum.com/account/system-specs

Thank you.

mm71 · Mar 21, 2024

Thank you. It seems to finally work again.
Quite weird though. After uninstalling the update, the headphones would not connect at all (I did try to restart the laptop of course), so I thought I will try system restore... Maybe something has gone wrong... System restore did not complete successfully and the settings app would not open. After running sfc / scannow though the settings app is opening again and the headphones are also connecting automatically... :)

antspants · Mar 21, 2024

Yeah sorry. The update has been my ‘go to’ lately. Normally I would of suggested the following, I don’t know why I didn’t. It may of saved you some time. My apologies.

I try to remember now to copy/paste the following:

You can run the SFC /scannow command from any console, including the command prompt, PowerShell, or Windows Terminal. Open one of these as Admin and type or past that command and press enter, then wait for it to finish.
Then, ~~if it reports problems~~, run the following command:
DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

Open search, type CMD. Open CMD as admin. Type (or copy and paste) the following command (or just run restore health):

Code:

SFC /scannow

Press enter

When completed, type (or copy and paste) the following command and be patient.

Code:

DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

Press enter and be patient.

mm71 · Mar 21, 2024

No problem, I should have thought of it too, as I have tried both sfc and DISM many times before.
Maybe something had gone wrong with the update (a registry entry got corrupted or something), or maybe it was a coincidence, but as the problem had started right after the update I just saw it as the culprit. Maybe it was, but only because of some entries or files that got corrupted rather than the update per se.