PS4 Controller says "Paired" not "Connected" with Bluetooth and doesn't work.

Think I found the solution - If you are using a Bluetooth USB Adapter, take it out and plug it in again.

Hi,

this is by far the most popular post of Microsoft forums I found on this topic. I have very similar issue:

My expectation is that when turning the Xbox Elite Controller 2 on it will automatically connect to the PC over Bluetooth (if already paired), however, it doesn't work for me. Light on the controller is flashing steadily but it never connects.

Controller works fine over USB. It's displayed as "Paired" in Bluetooth & other devices.

Controller's firmware has been updated over USB using Xbox Accessories application.

What have I tried already:

1. Ensuring my Bluetooth adapter is working fine by connecting wireless headphones - it's OK. I also moved the adapter to the front of the chassie.
2. Ensuring controller's Bluetooth is working fine by connecting the controller to a MacBook.
3. Restarting PC, controller, Bluetooth services (and changing them to automatic), turning Bluetooth off & on before and during controller sync.
4. Uninstalling Bluetooth drivers, updating them via Windows, downloading new drivers from my MOBO (AsRock Z390 Pro4) manufacturer.
5. Removing the controller from Bluetooth devices and trying to pair it again - controller is visible either as "Input" or as "Xbox Elite Wireless Controller" however it takes a lot of tries to connect it as the device is not responding (controller light is
   flashing rapidly as it should in sync mode).

After successful pairing I observed the controller sometimes stays connected and works fine over Bluetooth and sometimes it just switches back to the "turn on mode" (light flashing steadily), which brings me to the beginning of this problem - controller
is paired but does not connect to PC.

My Xbox Wireless Controller won't connect to my Bluetooth at all but it connects by USB to my computer, it also flashes when I click the pairing button and my Bluetooth is turned on, whenever I go to the pair devices and try to pair the Xbox controller
it doesn't show up. Is there a way I can reset the controller without the console?

Its suppose to flash when pairing also what are you trying to pair it to

the controller will always remain paired to the console without issue.

Hi,

There is a very good reason for this. On the console, the controller doesn't use Bluetooth, it uses its own proprietary wireless connection. The original Xbox One controllers didn't have Bluetooth on release and could only be connected via a micro USB cable,
the newer controllers have the BT feature, but still work with the original Xbox One (think Xbox One Fat 2013).

It can't re-pair automatically because it has two types of wireless sync technologies built in. The only way I believe you can make the controller sync automatically would be via the Xbox One Gaming receiver for Windows 10. The receiver doesn't use Bluetooth.

I hope that makes sense.

That's interesting information, but it's still an issue.

When I plug my phone into my PC, it doesn't forget the bluetooth pairing. Plugged in or not I can use the phone companion app just fine, and I don't have to re-pair it when I unplug it.

When I pair a soundbar to my PC, it works just as well as when I unplug it and use it through bluetooth, and again no re-pairing needed.

When I plug in my Sennheiser wireless headphones to charge it, it's still paired to my PC through bluetooth when I unplug it.

For some unknown reason when you plug in an Xbox One controller, it or Windows 10 (or both) deletes or resets the bluetooth profile associated with it, which requires Windows 10 to pair with it again. It's the only device I know of that loses bluetooth pairing
because you plugged it in. Having two different radio technologies is not an excuse. It would make sense if I was connecting the controller to the PC through bluetooth and then plugging it into an Xbox, but that isn't the case. I don't even have an Xbox anymore.

The controller/Windows 10 has no real reason for clearing/resetting the bluetooth profile when plugging the controller in.

Looking at the guide it says thus:

"The Xbox Wireless Controller that comes with Xbox Series X|S includes a feature that allows for quickly switching between a paired Bluetooth device and an Xbox console or a PC using Xbox Wireless. If the controller is connected to a Bluetooth device, double-press the Pair button and the controller will immediately switch its connection to the last Xbox Wireless connection it was paired to. Then, to switch back to the paired Bluetooth device, press and hold the Pair button to start pairing mode".

This only works between a the controller paired to a PC with Bluetooth or another PC or Xbox paired via the proprietary 'Xbox Wireless' protocol. So, if you're using an Xbox Adaptor on your laptop and also own an Xbox you can only pair it to one of them. If you want to quickly swap between console and PC you'll have to use Bluetooth on the PC.

It's the same issue you'd get if you owned two consoles, you can only pair a controller to one console.