Windows 10 Bootcamp Bluetooth Issues (2018, 10.14.1)

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Level 1

7 points

Windows 10 Bootcamp Bluetooth Issues (2018, 10.14.1)

Every time I try to install Windows 10 onto my 2017 MacBook Pro 15" through Bootcamp, I always have issues with the bluetooth. It works the very first time I login to Windows 10, but after I switch to macOS and go back into Windows 10, its a mess.

The bluetooth is either on for around 10 seconds before saying the hardware has been disconnected, or stays on, but refuses to connect to anything, resulting in the infinite "loading..." text. If I try to turn it off in this state, then it won't turn back on again.

Each time I have been using the drivers provided by Apple, as downloaded through Bootcamp. I came into this problem earlier on in the year, and have come back to it now, hoping that something would have changed to make it work. This has unfortunately not been the case.

For reference, I have tried the following:

Reinstalling windows 10 through Bootcamp
Reinstalling macOS (clean wipe) followed by Windows 10 through bootcamp
Re-downloading the bootcamp drivers and applying themUpdating the bluetooth driver in Windows 10
Applying the specific bluetooth driver independently
Updating the bluetooth driver in Windows 10
Uninstalling the Bluetooth driver in Windows 10 and making it reinstall itself normally
Changing the Bluetooth settings, such as disabling "turn off bluetooth to save power" (low-power saver setting)
Restarting Windows 10
- Trying to repair Windows 10
- Trying to reinstall Windows 10
Installing Bluetooth drivers through 3rd party applications (not something I recommend)

I have probably tried other things but have yet to come to a proper solution.

I am sick of dealing with this as the majority of my hardware is bluetooth as I constantly switch between computers when at home and at work.

Any solutions, experience or feedback regarding this problem would be much appreciated.

MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017), macOS Mojave (10.14.1)

Posted on Nov 6, 2018 9:55 PM

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Answer 1

TPuppy Author

Level 1

7 points

Nov 12, 2018 4:34 AM in response to Loner T

Upon immediately installing windows, the value was set to auto.

Strangely enough, although the bluetooth usually works upon the first installation, this time it did not and refused to work regardless of how many times I restarted it.

Typically I can try to search for bluetooth devices, which is does not find any (despite there being some). I then turn the bluetooth off and then back on again. When I begin another search, it immediately complains that bluetooth is not connected or is turned off (despite the icon showing that it is on).

Upon first installation, this is what my device manager looks like:

After restarting the bluetooth or restarting the computer itself, it becomes:

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Answer 2

ionXion

Level 1

13 points

Jan 12, 2019 6:41 AM in response to Loner T

Think I solved this. Struggled with getting BT devices connected in win10 under bootcamp, tried all of the suggestions (reset pram, reinstall bootcamp bluetooth drivers etc) but nothing worked until i turned off BT in macOS and then booted into win10 and tried connecting - immediately connected the BT device (a game controller). Hopefully this will also be the solution for others too?

edit: should note that i am running macOS 10.14.2

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Answer 3

Loner T

Level 9

59,526 points

Jan 21, 2019 5:48 AM in response to Jeffrey Box

I spent days troubleshooting; this is the correct answer. Somebody needs to elevate it to the top (if that's a thing on these boards).

ASC is a user community. I suggest filing an official bug report at https://bugreport.apple.com/web/.

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Answer 4

TPuppy Author

Level 1

7 points

Nov 14, 2018 3:29 AM in response to Loner T

Alright, I have messed around with installing different drivers, reinstalling the apple-provided drivers, manually removing/uninstalling drivers and using various forms of software to try and fix everything.

What I have found out is that we are pretty much stuck with super dodgy bluetooth in bootcamp unless Apple decides to fix it. I think issues with both macOS and Windows 10 updates are likely the cause.

I do have a temporary solution which should make everything work but is really annoying.

The first thing you need to do is unpair any bluetooth devices you have with macOS. In Windows 10, this will consist of going into your bluetooth settings and 'forgetting' all of the paired devices that you have there. If you can turn off the bluetooth devices, this will likely help.
Go into the device manager and right click on the bluetooth radio (Might need to expand the 'bluetooth' icon). Proceed to update the driver by selecting to manually find the driver update file, uncheck the specific driver selection box and select the apple bluetooth broadcom drivers (select the manufacturer Apple, the rest should work itself out). You will be then prompted to restart the computer, but do not.
Go back into the device manager and right click on the same bluetooth radio (might be called apple bluetooth Broadcom adapter or something along those lines) and proceed to update the driver but select an automatic update this time. It will update the driver using the windows server and will no longer require a restart.
Go into the device manager again and right click on the same bluetooth radio. Go into the advanced settings and uncheck the power saver option (the first/top one). This is why the bluetooth cuts out every 10 minutes (assuming that the bluetooth hardware is still connected, although this is another wonderful issue). Make sure to click apply and close it.
Go into the bluetooth settings again and try to connect your bluetooth device as you normally do. If you still have paired devices, then remove them before adding them again. If the bluetooth hardware disconnects or stops working then restart your computer BACK INTO WINDOWS. If you restart it into macOS and reconnect all of your bluetooth devices again, it will no longer work.

You will need to follow these steps every time you go from macOS to Windows 10 as apparently the switch can't keep track of the paired devices, even if you have a device which is capable of maintaining multiple different bluetooth connections at once.

I hope that this helps someone, although an actual fix would be better.

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Answer 5

filjedi

Level 1

12 points

Feb 12, 2019 5:50 AM in response to TPuppy

Here's what worked on my MacBook Pro 15" 2016 running Windows 10 1809:

Go to Settings > System > Power & sleep
Click "Additional power settings" on the right column of the window
In the new window that opens, click "Choose what the power buttons do" on the left column
Under "Shut-down settings", uncheck "Turn on fast-startup"

After restarting, your Bluetooth should work far more reliably. Before I took the steps above, my Logitech BT mouse & Airpods refused to connect under Windows. Now, I'm using them problem-free (relatively). Hope this helps :)

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Answer 6

TPuppy Author

Level 1

7 points

Nov 11, 2018 4:10 AM in response to Loner T

Sorry, I had already removed Windows when I posted this, as I wanted to start with a clean slate if any solutions were suggested. Since I have never actually modified this value before, I will make note of its default value upon first and second startup of windows and reply back here. That should be the same as all my other previous attempts.

I should get time to try your suggestion tomorrow and report back with my findings.

Thank for the help!

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Answer 7

TPuppy Author

Level 1

7 points

Nov 14, 2018 4:58 PM in response to Loner T

By default it was set to auto for me at soon as I installed Windows 10 so I didn't have to actually change anything. So it should have been set the auto before step 1. I assume that it would be the same for everyone else.

Will give it another try tonight and force it to always on and see if there's any difference.

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Answer 8

Jimb0@

Level 1

4 points

Nov 30, 2018 10:01 AM in response to TPuppy

exact same issue mbp mid2017. I have found that a PRAM reset before going into bootcamp works without having to repair the devices (Avoiding all steps above). House hold has various Macs from the what was top end 15" late 2013 back in the day handed down to the mrs after I bought the 2017. Macbook airs and Mac Minis 2014/2011 respectivly, I only have this issue on the 2017! For giggles mrs only works in bootcamp so I thought i would boot up into osx and see if the mouse works and hey ho! it did! boot back into Windows and hey ho carried on working! Not the case with the 2017. I have spent many hours on this and it flat out refuses to install the Apple Broadcom Bluetooth driver which is on the other devices (Am not trying to install the same version I am using the correct driver downloaded from bootcamp assistant). Very annoying the 2017 mbp its stuck on the 2006 windows BT Driver. I have seen from other forums it also might be an issue from Windows 1803 just to throw that into the conundrum.

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Answer 9

Loner T

Level 9

59,526 points

Nov 30, 2018 2:06 PM in response to Jimb0@

W10 Forces updates and the idea that you can install a driver based on a partial PID/VID is disastrous. It should never replace the BC driver, but it does. 2018 Models are even worse due to the T2. The newer Macs also use SPI drivers compared to your 2013 models, which use the native chipset drivers.

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Answer 10

Floroz

Level 1

9 points

Jan 16, 2019 5:07 AM in response to TPuppy

Same Issue

MBP 2017 i7 running Windows 10 (April .ISO).

My bluetooth has been working on and off and appeared to work under Sierra using the unpair/pair trick.

After updating to Mojave the installation of windows got corrupted and I formatted both Windows and Mac. Now Bluetooth does not recognise any new device (Magic Mouse, Bluetooth Speaker) and I cannot find a solution for this nowhere...

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Answer 11

Jan 21, 2019 9:19 AM in response to Loner T

TPuppy: You mentioned that BT works if you cold boot straight into Windows but not if you restart from macOS. I have the 2016 MBP and it does the same thing for me. A user suggested I always do a cold boot into Windows rather than a restart and so far BT is working.

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