Desktop Airplane Mode killed my Xbox Wireless Adapter

BEEateMAN · Nov 20, 2021

Hi all,

Hoping somebody might have a suggestion as to what I do next.

I normally use the Xbox Wireless Adapter on my desktop PC to connect my Turtle Beach headset, and occasionally my Series X controller.
I got the adapter December last year, initially had the XBOX ACC driver issue, but resolved that, was able to connect my Xbox devices and it's been working great since.

This afternoon I accidentally hit the Flight Mode button when checking my network connection on the Network symbol in the task bar. After some trouble fixing that issue (The flight mode button wouldn't come back, and there is no flight mode settings in the Settings menus showing at all) I was eventually able to get the button showing again and click it to turn flight mode off. Great.

Except I'd restarted as part of those attempts, and now my headset was not syncing with the adapter. I've checked the controller too and that doesn't work either. Both still connect to my Series X just fine.

I've deleted the adapter from my devices and added it back in. I've checked the drivers and they are updated, sync light flashes on the adapter and everything, but it just won't connect. My only assumption is that something was changed when I turned flight mode on, which hasn't corrected itself when I was finally able to turn it off again.

Any suggestions would be most welcome.

Many thanks,

Peter

:)

BEEateMAN

Hi Spartan,

Thanks for the reply, None of the steps worked I'm afraid.
The adaptor device auto-installs, Wake on Wireless is set correctly, both my controller and headset connect to my console without issue (used to connect to the adaptor, but no longer do)

I have not attempted it for a little while, but trying again today has shown no improvement. Any further advice would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Peter

XBF-Spartan

Hi BEEateMAN,

Thanks for reaching out to the forums! We are sorry to hear about your issue and would like to help out. I am linking you to the Xbox Support page concerning the Wireless Adapter Troubleshoot the Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows | Xbox Support and would like to ask that you attempt all troubleshooting steps listed on the page. If none of the steps work for you please come back and here and let me know so that we may further the troubleshooting process.

JulienArnaud

I had the exact same problem with my XBOX ONE controller. It wouldn't pair for the life of me, but in another computer it worked. Finally realized in the taskbar of the computer that didn't work Airplane Mode was enabled. I turned off airplane mode and
now my XBOX ONE controller will pair again. I hope this helps someone else like me that had no answer for why the controller didn't work for the longest time. Such a simple thing

Hi there. I was stucked with this trouble since a few weeks, and was about to buy a new adapter.

Removing airplane mode solved the situation. Thank you!

However, I don't know if a windows update defaulted the airplane mode, or if after a windows update the airplane mode is now causing the trouble with the adapter.

Qdoggus

So after months of preparing myself to contact Microsoft, I finally stumbled upon the answer to the problem I had. I tried multiple officially licensed controllers including Elite, Elite Series 2, both xbox wireless adapters for windows... I was
at my wits end.

Go to All Settings, search for "Turn Airplane Mode On". If you'll kindly look at the bottom where "Xbox Wireless" is in the off position, turn it on. Now your controllers will pair correctly with the Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows.

Qdoggus

So after months of preparing myself to contact Microsoft, I finally stumbled upon the answer to the problem I had. I tried multiple officially licensed controllers including Elite, Elite Series 2, both xbox wireless adapters for windows... I was
at my wits end.

Go to All Settings, search for "Turn Airplane Mode On". If you'll kindly look at the bottom where "Xbox Wireless" is in the off position, turn it on. Now your controllers will pair correctly with the Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows.

Desktop Airplane Mode killed my Xbox Wireless Adapter