Windows 8 and Bluetooth

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GeoffisPure

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#111539 6-Nov-2012 22:46

Has anyone figured out how to disconnect bluetooth items in Windows 8?

It seems the bluetooth settings page is really bad compared to Windows 7, and the only way I can stop my sound going through my bluetooth speakers is to completely remove the device from my computer.

This means if I want to use them again I will have to re-pair the speakers every single time. Windows 7 simply had a connect/disconnect option.

Help!

freitasm

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#713244 6-Nov-2012 22:48

Can't you just turn off the headsets? This disconnects Bluetooth without removing the pairing... Usually.

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GeoffisPure

459 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#713257 6-Nov-2012 23:04

freitasm: Can't you just turn off the headsets? This disconnects Bluetooth without removing the pairing... Usually.

Yes there is that option but I keep the speakers on 24/7 as the sound of my TV also runs through them (via cable).

Is this something Windows might bring back in an update, or could an app/software bring back the connect/disconnect functionality?

John2010

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#713377 7-Nov-2012 09:48

Should be at Control Panel>Devices and Printers; right click the Bluetooth device and fourth option down in the drop down menu toggles "Connect to Computer" and "Disconnect from Computer" according to the state of the connection.

As far as I recall, this is exactly the same as in Windows 7 but my memory of that version is rapidly fading

. It may be that in Windows 7 there may have been a faster way which I never had the inclination to find or if you were using an equipment manufacturer's installation of Windows they may have added some helper tool that does not exist in MSWindows.

EDIT: Should have mentioned that if you disconnect the BT device the "Automatically Connect" option in the drop down menu goes to disabled, so the device has to be manually connected ("Connect to Computer") next time needed.

GeoffisPure

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+1 received by user: 73

#713573 7-Nov-2012 15:44

John2010: Should be at Control Panel>Devices and Printers; right click the Bluetooth device and fourth option down in the drop down menu toggles "Connect to Computer" and "Disconnect from Computer" according to the state of the connection.

Thanks for your reply, John. Right clicking on the device doesn't give me the connect/disconnect option, but I found that clicking on Sound Settings (or just Sound in Control Panel) took me to a page where I could toggle which device was the default.

Just as an aside, why can I not pin the sound icon in control panel to the task bar? Seems to be no way to do it.

John2010

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#713875 7-Nov-2012 22:59

GeoffisPure:...Just as an aside, why can I not pin the sound icon in control panel to the task bar? Seems to be no way to do it.

You can do so using the same method as works in Windows 7. It is messy but the way is to create a shortcut for a shortcut and direct Explorer to it, as follows:

Create a new folder on your drive, lets name it Shortcuts, doesn't need to be the same logical drive as Windows is on. Right click on the Sound icon in Control Panel and select Create Shortcut which will put a shortcut on the Desktop. Open the new folder we called Shortcuts in Explorer and drag the new shortcut from the Desktop into it.

Right click on any clear part of the Desktop and select New>Shortcut and in the window that comes up browse to the shortcut which we just put in the folder which we, for this example, called Shortcuts and select the Sound shortcut which will enter the path to it in the box. While still in that window type Explorer in that box with one space after it before the path to the shortcut. Select next and give it a name and finish.

You will now have a new shortcut on the Desktop - right click on it and select Pin to Taskbar

.

You can now delete the two shortcuts off the Desktop that you created if you wish, the one in the task bar will stay there. But don't delete the folder that you created that the shortcut is in.

As I said, messy, let me know if you lose your way.

EDIT: Tried to clarify the steps, tough job