This tutorial will show you how to choose Default or Advanced Bluetooth devices discovery for your account in Windows 11.
Bluetooth is a short range wireless technology which enables wireless data transmission between two Bluetooth enabled devices located nearby each other.
When adding a Bluetooth device, Default lets you connect common accessories. You can choose Advanced to see all types of devices.
The Advanced Bluetooth devices discovery setting in this tutorial is no longer available.
When discovering available Bluetooth devices to connect to, Windows filters out device classes that are uncommon. If you wish to override this filter and see all nearby devices available to pair, you used to do so by choosing “Advanced” for the “Bluetooth devices discovery” setting. Starting with Windows 11 build 26052, Microsoft is removing that option and introducing some changes to the add device workflow to streamline this experience. Now, discovery will always scan for all devices, but only show common device types by default. Whenever an “uncommon” device is found during the discovery process, an option to “Show more devices” will be displayed. When “Show all devices” is clicked in the “Add a device” window or the Bluetooth quick settings flyout from system tray, the UI will seamlessly show all devices, including “uncommon” ones, that the PC discovers. This change eliminates the need for toggling between modes while ensuring effortless connectivity to a wide range of Bluetooth devices. Navigate to the Bluetooth page in the quick settings flyout or to the “Add device” button found on the Bluetooth & devices page in Settings to try out this feature.
Reference:
Fix Bluetooth problems in Windows | Microsoft Support
Learn how to troubleshoot Bluetooth problems in Windows. Resolve issues connecting a Bluetooth device or accessory.
support.microsoft.com
Contents
- Option One: Choose Default or Advanced Bluetooth Devices Discovery in Settings
- Option Two: Choose Default or Advanced Bluetooth Devices Discovery using REG file
1 Open Settings (Win+I).
2 Click/tap on Bluetooth & devices on the left side, and click/tap on Devices on the right side. (see screenshot below)
3 Under Device settings, select Default or Advanced in the Bluetooth devices discovery drop menu for what you want. (see screenshot below)
4 You can now close Settings if you like.
1 Do step 2 (Default) or step 3 (Advanced) below for what you would like to do.
2 Choose Default Bluetooth Devices Discovery
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Default_Bluetooth_devices_discovery.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Bluetooth]
"AdvancedDiscoveryMode"=dword:000000003 Choose Default or Advanced Bluetooth Devices Discovery
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Advanced_Bluetooth_devices_discovery.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Bluetooth]
"AdvancedDiscoveryMode"=dword:000000014 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Last edited:
