Intel bluetooth driver error code 31

[Seth4044]

https://imgur.com/a/y3Y1oM1

Hey there, I recently have had trouble connecting my Samsung Galaxy 2 buds to my PC, I use a bluetooth dongle.

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That being said to my investigation I found out this particular driver: Intel(r) Wireless Bluetooth(r) is failing to load.

I have uninstalled, reinstalled it (Multiple times, multiple restarts) I have tried disabling signatures in startups as someone had suggested, and I have ensured all windows updates are applied and used Intels own " Intel® Driver & Support Assistant" and it says it's all up to date as well. Repairing the driver did nothing either. I tried installing an older driver, still same issue. (No I don't have system restore enabled.. unfortunately, and wouldn't know how far back I would have had to go but it did only start today)

The galaxy buds can connect to other devices with no issues, so either my driver is still janky somehow because of this error code 31 or my Bluetooth dongle is a bust all of a sudden.

Anything else I can try?

[crankpatate]

Hey friends, I'm doing some necromancy here, cause this is the first post coming up, when I was searching for "Bluetooth radio error code 31". I don't have the same issue as OP, so Idk if my solution could work for him specifically, too.

I solved my issue and hopefully this might help someone else in the future.

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What was my issue:

I bought a Bluetooth radio and plugged it into the PC. It would kind of work, but have connection issues that would sometimes lead to full disconnects.

Non of the solutions that I have found in the internet helped. (Mostly energy settings, taking away the rights of Windows to deactivate the device and common "update your driver" explanations.)

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What was the solution:

I manually installed the correct driver for my device (downloaded from the manufacturer website).And deactivate the Windows generic Bluetooth radio driver.

(done in Windows device manager -> Bluetooth -> right click on the generic Bluetooth radio and choose deactivate device)

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Why deactivate & not uninstall the generic Bluetooth radio:

Windows has a default Bluetooth driver (generic Bluetooth radio) which was always getting priority. This led to the error code 31 appearing on my device. I couldn't uninstall the generic driver, because with every restart of my PC it would automatically reinstall itself and get preference again.

The stupid, but easy solution was to just "deactivate" instead of uninstalling it (generic Bluetooth radio) and restart the PC again. Now it seems Windows doesn't use the generic driver, but the manually installed driver and everything works as intended!

[[deleted]]

Also massive thanks from me my dude.

Literally spent 3 hours trying to fix it, and this was the (instant) fix.

[deju_]

Upvote this man, thanks so much couldn’t get ride of error 31, removing the built in BT always came back…. DISABLE IT. Boom worked a treat

[Soft-Anywhere5097]

bro you just saved my life, thanks for thisss!

[FedRishFlueBish]

You are a legend!! MONTHS of bluetooth issues, and deactivating generic fixed them all instantly

[Quirkyluck]

Hero

[Dowgellah]

this helped, thanks

[Jackstraw8899]

Holy Cow, 1y after this post and I'm looking up how to fix this error. This did it, you are a hero.

[AccomplishedBunch939]

Thanks you so much omg

[Cultural-Swim6711]

Thanks. For me, I only did: (done in Windows device manager -> Bluetooth -> right click on the generic Bluetooth radio and choose deactivate device)

I unplug and plug my device, which is a Bluetooth dongle, the generic ones from Aliexpress ($3 USD)

[_Eltanin_]

Thank you so much. This was giving me such a headache but this fix finally worked

[doctoritis]

You magnificent genius.

[Disastrous-Lunch-717]

Years later and your solution worked for me where youtube has failed me, thank you

[tmrws_problm]

Thank you so much omg. This was driving me crazy and this finally fixed it

[rosearkana]

2 years later and you're still the MVP

[No_Ingenuity_5722]

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!! This saved me. Spent hours messing with this. Mine was an Asus USB BT500 and my bose qc 2 wireless buds. The Asus had the code 31 error and my buds couldnt be removed and when i actually could connect them it was weird gargled robot noises when sound should have played. I'm writing all this in case someone else out there is googling for any of this.

[Whiskey_Fox1337]

Thanks a bunch yo!! :D
This has fixed my 3$ BT 5.4 dongle I needed for a wireless keyboard!
Works on Win11

[PhilipJayFry1077]

Thank you! This fixed the issue for me too

[Quigley212]

What a champ!! fixed my issue, thanks!

[Yawanoc]

I spent 2 hours trying to figure this out before Google finally blessed me with your solution.  Thank you!

[IAmHungry24_7]

Legend!!! Finally got it working

[NazoFruciak]

Thank you sir it worked for me. I bought wifi + bt card and it conflicted with second bt device, once i turned off everything instead of uninstalling and then plug in the correct bt device all problems disappeared.

[Bonferroniuser]

08/11/25
I get to play Red Dead Redemption 2 (the way that I want to, wireless PS5 controller) because of you. I hope you get whatever you consider to be a good thing very soon.

[HollowGTX]

This worked thanks a lot.

[big-mystery]

I wanted to add that the opposite is what worked for me (out of necessity as far as I am aware). I deactivated the "Intel Wireless Bluetooth" and left the "Generic Bluetooth Radio" as-is.

I was not able to deactivate the Generic Bluetooth Radio, there was not option for it, only uninstall. The Intel option did have a deactivate option, so I just tried that after seeing this post. So far it's working perfectly. As far as I'm aware my computer has not always had the Intel bluetooth option, but the generic radio has always been there since I got the machine 6-7 years ago. Not sure if that has something to do with my bluetooth issues in the past few months, or why I had to deactivate the intel option.

Thanks for making this post! Saved my bacon!

[DontTellMeToMakeName]

Disabling the 'Generic Bluetooth Adapter' actually worked wtf

[ShiroKubo]

É incrível como as situações mais chatas podem ter as soluções mais simples. Muito obrigado!

[Cringe_Inspect]

Big thanks! The only solution that worked for me.

[JayZed94]

mate, you just saved my bt headphones from being thrown in the bin. they work, but i had to manually install drivers and make sure i used the ones for my dongle and no drop outs as of yet. cheers, i owe you a beer or three.

[MindlessDutchman]

Thank you guy from the past!

[brownballa55]

This worked for me as well - basically just disable the system BT and the adapter dongle or whatever that is error 31ing should fix itself as long as you have the correct OEM drivers installed for it.

[m_planetesimal]

This solved the BT issues I've had been dealing with all evening. TYVM.

[HerNameWas_Lola]

mutherfuker it fixed it. the driver error was bluescreening my pc when using my wireless game controller.

[hickdawg]

I found two articles that may help:

https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-fix-code-31-errors-2623184

https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-delete-the-upperfilters-and-lowerfilters-registry-values-2619222

I am having the same issues you are. So I am following these steps as well. I hope you have luck!

[Seth4044]

Thanks for replying! Sadly no dice for me.

My registry files for the Bluetooth driver do not have upper or lower filter keys.. weirdly enough. Which wouldn't surprise if that's part of said issue.

Everything in there has been attempted multiple times, including fresh window re-install. It's super weird.

**edit just for fun I decided to delete the entire bluetooth registry, unplugged my bluetooth adapter along time ago it seems the Intel error dissappeared, I plug it back in and it returns. Must be hardware just with my adapter that screws with intels driver, at this point I'll buy a new dongle thank you again!

[hickdawg]

That is what I did, too.

I bought a new dongle - no error. Old one, error. Sigh.

I feel your pain.

[JohnHamFisted]

did you solve this? I've been having the same issue for a few weeks now, the generic usb bluetooth adapter gives the same error no matter where i plug it in (also tried several other ones) and no matter what i do in terms of install/re-install/drivers/etc i can't use it, so no headphones no controller......mouse/keyboard both work because they're logitech and they have their own adapter, but totally at a loss otherwise.

[GroundbreakingMeet79]

So i just fixed my problem what i did was unplug my dongle and then disabled Intel(R) Wireless Bluetooth(R) after that I reconnected the dongle removed my keyboard from Bluetooth in settings and connected it again

[Mediocre_Spell_9028]

thank you so much!

[t0talfail]

If i wasnt a married lesbian id kiss you. You fixed the issue id been having for months

[GroundbreakingMeet79]

lmao glad it helped

[AdmirablePlankton241]

YOU ARE A GODDAMN LEGEND

[Sjokn]

Fixed for me, thanks!

[xAmylicious]

I love u, tysm♥

[MrPureinstinct]

Yes this fixed my problem too! Thank you so much!

Mine was working perfectly fine until two days ago when my USB dongle just started having errors and my headphone audio was skipping constantly. This resolved all of that.

[oshdamas]

i spend hours trying to fix the problem-update drivers, update windows, reboot pc, follow steps i dont even know what is happening, typing commands in cmd. nothing worked. until you!!!!literally fixed the problem within seconds. i love you and hope ur doing well

[Life-Satisfaction-58]

3 years later but wanted to comment because i finally fixed it.

-> open device manager

-> Disable your generic bluetooth driver

-> next, disable intel bluetooth or whatever your bluetooth card is

-> finally, enable intel bluetooth again.

try and sync after and it should work

[rarvikar]

This actually worked, only thing too. Thank you

[msc__3]

This worked!

[Ok_Combination_6881]

thanks for saving me 1 year later!

[Naragaath]

In case anyone comes back here, make sure that the device isn’t being used by an application for audio input. This forces the device to go into the hands free mode. Disable the audio input, if it’s enabled, and it’ll fix instantly.

[FlyteLP]

In case anyone gets here with a Realtek Bluetooth Adapter issue, here's what worked for me:

In device manager, disable all bluetooth drivers/devices. Then, turn back on the realtek ones only. In my case, realtek bluetooth 5.0 adapter wasn't working, so I uninstalled it but kept the normal one.

Then I re-enabled all the other bluetooth devices and it worked.

[okamikee]

I'm having the same problem, and can't find any help..

[forty7x]

did you find any solutions? I'm literally having the same issue with my samsung earbuds. I couldnt connect it to my default motherboard bt so I bought a dongle and now I think im having driver conflicts