How do I block devices?

Marscaleb · Jun 28, 2022

Not sure if this is about devices or network, but...
A pop-up is coming up on my screen right now asking if I want to set up a device.
The device is someone's iphone. I'm currently in a public place and someone on the train has a phone that thinks it should try to connect to my surface.
I don't really want to even click the pop-up message because I'm not TRYING to set up this device; this is someone else's device. How exactly do I block it entirely?

I'm not sure if this is coming through the wifi or the bluetooth. I don't know if someone deliberately tried to connect to my tablet or if their phone is doing it automatically for some reason.
I'm really displeased that there is not some clear option in the pop-up to declare that this is not a welcome device.

FreeBooter · Jun 28, 2022

Someone trying to connect to your computer using Bluetooth connection, you can disable Bluetooth from Settings --> Bluetooth & devices.

Marscaleb · Jun 29, 2022

FreeBooter said:
Someone trying to connect to your computer using Bluetooth connection, you can disable Bluetooth from Settings --> Bluetooth & devices.

But I use bluetooth for my mouse; I don't want to outright turn bluetooth off.

FreeBooter · Jun 29, 2022

Marscaleb said:
But I use bluetooth for my mouse; I don't want to outright turn bluetooth off.

Don't you have option to deny connection?

Dru2 · Jun 29, 2022

Marscaleb said:
But I use bluetooth for my mouse; I don't want to outright turn bluetooth off.

You don't need to disconnect your BT, simply deny the request. I've had this happen to me from time to time it happens. I'm sure I've done the same to others when trying to connect a new device. Remember you're the one in control so simply deny it.

Hope that helps.

Marscaleb · Jun 29, 2022

FreeBooter said:
Don't you have option to deny connection?

I would hope that I do, but I didn't see an option clearly labeled for that. The pop-up simply stated "Click here to set up the device" or something to that effect. It wasn't asking if I wanted to set it up, it was giving instructions to set it up.

This is some bad OS design, right here...

Dru2 · Jun 29, 2022

Marscaleb said:
I would hope that I do, but I didn't see an option clearly labeled for that.

Typically, it'll ask if you want to allow access or something to that effect. I can't imagine there wasn't an option to deny, but....

Fabler2 · Jun 30, 2022

Two settings you can play with. In Bluetooth and Devices click on Devices and scroll down to Device settings and turn off 'show notifications to connect using swift pair'.

Scroll down further and select 'More Bluetooth settings' and untick 'Alert me when a new Bluetooth device want's to connect'.

Dru2 · Jun 30, 2022

Fabler2 said:
Scroll down further and select 'More Bluetooth settings' and untick 'Alert me when a new Bluetooth device want's to connect'.

I can't see why you'd want to do that. I'd certainly want to know if something is attempting to connect to my device

Fabler2 · Jun 30, 2022

Dru2 said:
I can't see why you'd want to do that. I'd certainly want to know if something is attempting to connect to my device

Because you won't get the option to allow it to connect.

Dru2 · Jun 30, 2022

Fabler2 said:
Because you won't get the option to allow it to connect.

I should ask on which device are you talking about? On my Samsung Galaxy Note 20 (Android) I don't have those options

Fabler2 said:
Two settings you can play with. In Bluetooth and Devices click on Devices and scroll down to Device settings and turn off 'show notifications to connect using swift pair'.

Scroll down further and select 'More Bluetooth settings' and untick 'Alert me when a new Bluetooth device want's to connect'.

Fabler2 · Jun 30, 2022

Dru2 said:
I should ask on which device are you talking about? On my Samsung Galaxy Note 20 (Android) I don't have those options

The OP is talking about his Surface.

Dru2 · Jun 30, 2022

Fabler2 said:
The OP is talking about his Surface.

Ah, surface book. Still not sure about those settings' recommendation for reasons stated, but...

Peace

Fabler2 · Jun 30, 2022

Dru2 said:
Ah, surface book. Still not sure about those settings' recommendation for reasons stated, but...

Peace

The setting are easily reversible so the OP might just use them when out and about.

Marscaleb · Jun 30, 2022

Dru2 said:
I can't see why you'd want to do that. I'd certainly want to know if something is attempting to connect to my device

This is exactly what's going through my mind.
I don't want to merely turn off notifications, I want to stop devices from connecting to my computer.
And I don't want to outright disable bluetooth, I just want to stop new devices from connecting to my computer.

Honestly I can't fathom how this is anything I have to adjust in my settings; since when is a device able to connect without the other device explicitly looking for something that is trying to connect? I shouldn't be getting notifications of a device trying to connect, I should just only be able to connect something when I explicitly go into my bluetooth menu to add a new device.

Fabler2 · Jun 30, 2022

I'm out.

Dru2 · Jun 30, 2022

Marscaleb said:
I shouldn't be getting notifications of a device trying to connect, I should just only be able to connect something when I explicitly go into my bluetooth menu to add a new device.

First, how often does this happen? Based on your post, this sounds like an accidental one-time occurrence....

Marscaleb said:
A pop-up is coming up on my screen right now asking if I want to set up a device.
The device is someone's iphone. I'm currently in a public place and someone on the train has a phone that thinks it should try to connect to my surface.

If this is the only time its happened, I chalk it up as an accidental occurrence, or at worse someone fishing for an open connection. It happens from time to time, especially in public, and why you have the power to allow or deny the connection.

As was stated, you should have gotten the option to allow or deny. You say you didn't and that sounds odd as you should have. If you want to see what it should look like, try connecting a new BT device to your Surface and note what the screen looks like in asking for permission. Now you know what it looks like, and what to do if it happens again.

Good luck.

Kataphract · Oct 20, 2023

I know this is an old thread but I feel this issue has not been addressed.
In windows 11: Bluetooth&Devices > Devices > Related Settings Category: More Bluetooth Settings.

While bluetooth is on, uncheck "allow bluetooth devices to find this PC"

I believe there is a similar setting on windows 10, but I don't have access to a machine currently to find out.

Note: You'll need to turn on this setting to pair new devices or even to connect some legacy bluetooth devices even after pairing. I've noticed some unbranded BT equipment tend to have trouble finding the device when this is unchecked (even after pairing). If there is an active BT connection going on I don't think it will be affected. I have not personally tried. Paired devices shouldn't have too much trouble but again it might be a case by case basis.

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