Microsoft release out-of-band update to fix Windows 11 Bluetooth

Microsoft has been forced to release yet another emergency patch for Windows 11, this time to address the issue of Bluetooth devices not appearing in settings menus.

Even if Bluetooth devices are connected to Windows 11 and functioning as expected the inability to access their setting was causing frustration for many people. The bug also affects the Settings app, causing devices to be invisible here as well.

The update that Microsoft has pushed out is the out-of-band Hotpatch KB5084897. But there is something to keep in mind. While the Bluetooth issue affected quite a range of Windows 11 users, not everyone is getting the fix just yet.

As this is Hotpatch rather than a regular update, it is something that is currently only available to enterprise users – specifically those running Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024 with hotpatching enabled.

In the release notes for the KB5084897 update, Microsoft says:

The following summary outlines key issues addressed by this out-of-band update. The bold text within the brackets indicates the item or area of the change.

• [Bluetooth] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where Bluetooth devices may not appear on the Bluetooth & devices page in Windows Settings or in Quick Settings, even if the devices are connected and functioning as expected. This issue could also prevent users from adding new devices because available devices did not appear in the list for connection.

The release notes also indicate that the update is aimed at Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2 but separate downloads for non-enterprise and non-hotpatch-enabled devices has not yet been made available.

Microsoft has also not given any indication of when such an update may be made available more widely, so if you are a non-enterprise user who is experiencing this Bluetooth issue, you will just have to wait to see when Microsoft decides to release a fix for you.

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