MacBook Bluetooth not recognizing or connecting to devices

My bluetooth just suddenly stopped working one day, no matter if I'm on the most recent software update... it just doesn't connect to any nearby device despite the nearby device being turned on and right next to the MacBook.

For example I just bought these new bluetooth headphones and they work perfectly fine when connected to my iPhone, but when I try to connect to my MacBook the ¿bluetooth system? doesn't recognise the presence of the headphones (ie. doesn't register it in the "Nearby Devices") section. So the only way I can use them with the laptop is through the physical cable, but connection through the cable doesn't allow for the cool things the bluetooth part of the headphones can do (eg. noice cancellation, tapping on the device to pause or play, etc.)

This isn't a new issue either, I've had this problem for the past 2 years now. One day I was using the bluetooth on my old headphones with the laptop for uni work, then suddenly they disconnected and I couldn't connect them again, as if they just magically stopped being bluetooth headphones yet (like these new ones) still worked the bluetooth on any other of my devices.