tp-link bluetooth allow a device to connect greyed out

hi to everyone here this is my first post and apologies that it is a plea for help, but a big hi from galway ireland :-}now to my questiom, i have recently bought a new pc running win 10 version 21H1 (os build 19043.1083) it came with a free tp-link usb dongle for bluetooth now windows recognizes it and evrything seems fine except that when i click the symble in the tool bar the allow a device to connect is greyed out. im no expert on computers and i have spent hours on google and got no where i hope someone here can help me.
many thanks in advance.
paul

I have a couple tp-link Bluetooth 4.0 Nano USB Adapter UB400. Is yours like that? have had no problems with them.


I see this in the taskbar tray for Bluetooth.


What do you see if you go to Settings > Devices? Is Bluetooth turned on there?

hi MisterEd thank you for getting back,
yes i have the same tp-link plus in my taskbar bluetooth icon i have the same options as your photo and with the allow a device to connect greyed out( is it supposed to be greyed out?) and in my settings i have the same as you but when i try to connect my phone if finds my desktop but says it cannot connect. My main problem is i want to buy bluetooth speakers but im worried they may not work. I hope you can give me some advice.
thanks in advance paul

Have you tried to connect to a Bluetooth device? Here is an example connecting to Arctis 3 Bluetooth headset
Start pairing mode on headset by holding down power button until green light flashes rapidly. Note every device is different.

In Bluetooth settings click on Add Bluetooth or other device



Click on Bluetooth



Wait for headset to appear in list
When it does click on Bluetooth headset



Arctis 3 Bluetooth headset is connected and ready to use



It is now in list of Audio devices with status Connected voice. music



When Arctis 3 Bluetooth is turned off status is Paired.
Next time headset is turned on it will automatically connect

hi MisterEd thanks once again for helping i really appreciate it. when i click from the icon in the taskbar "add a bluetooth device" it just seaches for ever and dosnt find anything, when i search from my phone it finds my desktop so i click connect, it trys to par for a minute then says "cant communicate with device" i must be doing something wrong grrrrr

imback said:

hi MisterEd thanks once again for helping i really appreciate it. when i click from the icon in the taskbar "add a bluetooth device" it just seaches for ever and dosnt find anything, when i search from my phone it finds my desktop so i click connect, it trys to par for a minute then says "cant communicate with device" i must be doing something wrong grrrrr

What device are trying to pair to? In order to pair with a Bluetooth device the device must be in pairing mode. How this is done depends upon the device. Read the manual for each device to find out how.

It wasn't obvious how to start pairing mode on my phone. By accident I started it by turning Bluetooth Off and then On on the phone. After that I found it on my computer in the list.

Here are a couple examples:

Arctis 3 Bluetooth headset Bluetooth pairing

Turn off headset. To start pairing mode press and hold the Power button for 6 seconds (power LED will blink rapidly).

On your computer scan for Bluetooth devices and select Arctis 3 Bluetooth.

Xbox One Wireless Controller Bluetooth pairing

Turn on controller. To start pairing mode press and hold the Pair button until Xbox button flashes rapidly.

On your computer scan for Bluetooth devices and select Xbox Wirless Controller.

me again, i have done everything you suggested but no luck, i have ploughed through Google tried all sorts of guaranteed fixes but nothing works, i have tried shutting down my kaspersky, wsafe mode. At first my phone would find the desktop but fail to connect now it cant even find it but it can find next doors ohone . So im reeady to give up , thank you so much for your time and patience MisterEdyou do a great job. thanks.,

imback said:

me again, i have done everything you suggested but no luck, i have ploughed through Google tried all sorts of guaranteed fixes but nothing works, i have tried shutting down my kaspersky, wsafe mode. At first my phone would find the desktop but fail to connect now it cant even find it but it can find next doors ohone . So im reeady to give up , thank you so much for your time and patience MisterEdyou do a great job. thanks.,

I don't know why you are trying to find your phone. With a little effort I can find my phone and connect to it. But is waste because I have nothing I want to do with the phone anyways.

Bluetooth is used to connect to certain devices like earphones, earbuds, speakers, etc to your phone, computer, or TV.

Don't you have any Bluetooth earbuds, earphones, speakers, etc. to test with your computer? Of course if you have a phone with Bluetooth you try connecting to the same things.

I use either Wi-Fi or a USB cable to connect my computer to my phone. I can then copy files to my computer. I can also use Wi-Fi to project my phone or laptop to my TV.

Are you sure you don't have a TP-Link Wi-Fi USB adapter instead of a Bluetooth one? They are totally different and have different uses.

Please click on show blotoot device, then click on the name of the paired device, after a new bar appears, scroll to the top and remove the checkbox in the box, it will work