How to Remove a Paired Bluetooth Device in Windows 10 and Windows 11

To remove a paired Bluetooth device in Windows 10, open Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices, click the device, click Remove device, and then click Yes. In Windows 11, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices, click the three-dot More options button next to the device, and choose Remove device > Yes.

Removing a device makes Windows forget the pairing. The accessory disappears from your list, and you’ll need to pair it again before you can use it with this PC. The steps below cover Windows 10 (version 22H2, the final release) and current Windows 11 builds. Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025, so it no longer gets free security updates, but the steps still work. Microsoft lists the Windows 11 route in its Bluetooth troubleshooting guide.

Before You Remove the Device

• Have another way to control the PC. If you’re removing your only Bluetooth keyboard or mouse, connect a wired one or use the laptop’s built-in keyboard and touchpad first. Otherwise you can lose the input you need to finish.
• Know the difference between removing and disconnecting. Removing (unpairing) clears the saved pairing. If you only want the device to stop connecting for now, turn the accessory off instead, and Windows keeps the pairing for next time.
• Check the name. Similar names are common, such as two pairs of earbuds from the same brand. Make sure you pick the right entry.

How to Remove a Bluetooth Device in Windows 10

1. Click the Start button, then click the gear icon to open Settings. You can also press Windows key + I.
2. Click Devices. The Bluetooth & other devices page opens.
3. Find the accessory under Audio, Mouse, keyboard, & pen, or Other devices, and click it once. A Remove device button appears under its name.

4. Click Remove device.
5. Click Yes in the “Are you sure you want to remove this device?” prompt. The device disappears from the list after a moment.

How to Remove a Bluetooth Device in Windows 11

1. Click Start, then Settings, or press Windows key + I.
2. Click Bluetooth & devices in the left pane.
3. Click Devices to see the full list of saved accessories. The cards at the top of the Bluetooth & devices page only show some of them.
4. Click the three-dot More options button to the right of the device you want to remove.

5. Click Remove device, then click Yes to confirm. The device is removed from the list.

Use Control Panel Instead

Both versions also have the older Devices and Printers window, which lists Bluetooth accessories as icons.

1. Open Control Panel from the Start menu search.
2. Under Hardware and Sound, click View devices and printers.
3. Right-click the Bluetooth device and choose Remove device.
4. Click Yes to confirm.

On some recent Windows 11 builds, Devices and Printers opens the Settings app instead. If that happens, use the Windows 11 steps above.

How to Pair the Device Again

Removing a device is often a fix for audio that cuts out or an accessory that won’t connect. After you remove it, pair it again:

1. Turn on the accessory and put it in pairing mode. This is usually a long press of the power or Bluetooth button until a light flashes, but the method depends on the maker.
2. In Windows 10, go to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices and click Add Bluetooth or other device > Bluetooth. In Windows 11, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices and click Add device > Bluetooth.
3. Click the accessory when it appears, follow any PIN prompt, and click Done.

Microsoft walks through this in Pair a Bluetooth device in Windows. For a full walkthrough of pairing and Bluetooth settings, see our guide to managing Bluetooth in Windows. Device-specific guides are available for a PS5 controller and AirPods Pro.

If Windows Won’t Remove the Device

The Remove device button doesn’t appear. In Windows 10, click the device name once to reveal it. In Windows 11, use the three-dot menu on the Devices page rather than the cards at the top of the page.

Removal fails or the device comes back. Turn the accessory off, restart the PC, and try again with Bluetooth turned on. A restart clears most stuck entries.

Run the troubleshooter. In Windows 11, Microsoft recommends the automated Bluetooth troubleshooter in the Get Help app. You can also open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters and click Run next to Bluetooth. In Windows 10, open Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters and run Bluetooth. If that page sends you to Get Help, follow the Bluetooth prompts there.

Every Bluetooth device is misbehaving. That points to the PC’s Bluetooth adapter or driver rather than one accessory. Install the current Bluetooth driver from your PC or adapter maker. Our guide on installing a Bluetooth driver in Windows 11 covers this.

The device isn’t listed at all. It may be paired with a different computer or your phone, not this PC. Some wireless mice and keyboards also use a USB receiver instead of Bluetooth, so they never appear in the Bluetooth list.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between disconnecting and removing a Bluetooth device?

Disconnecting ends the current connection but keeps the pairing, so the device reconnects the next time it’s on and in range. Removing deletes the pairing, so you have to pair it again to use it. Turning the accessory off, or turning off Bluetooth in Quick Settings (Windows 11) or Action Center (Windows 10), disconnects without removing.

Does removing a device from Windows also remove it from my phone?

No. Each computer or phone keeps its own pairing list. Remove the device separately on any other device you don’t want it connecting to.

Why does a removed device show up again?

If the accessory is still in pairing mode, it can appear in the Add device list as available. It won’t connect until you choose it and pair it again.

Can I remove several Bluetooth devices at once?

Not in Settings. Remove each device one at a time using the steps above.