A nearby TCL air conditioner keeps appearing as connected to my Windows laptop, even though I never paired it. Its Bluetooth name is `tcl_AC_t*ap_08CWD`. I already made sure my laptop is not discoverable, checked the Bluetooth settings and connected-device list, removed my known Bluetooth devices, and restarted the laptop. The AC still appears when I open the full device list, while the taskbar shows "Connected (1)." I want to keep Bluetooth enabled so I can use wireless earbuds, but I would like to remove or block this unknown device.
2 Answers
The simplest way to prevent any unknown Bluetooth connection is to disable Bluetooth, but that would also prevent your earbuds from working. Since the AC is not listed among paired devices, check Device Manager and the Bluetooth troubleshooter, then remove any hidden or stale Bluetooth entries. You may also need to reset the Bluetooth adapter instead of only removing devices from Settings.
Try turning Bluetooth off temporarily, then restart the laptop and turn it back on. You can also reset the Bluetooth adapter or uninstall and reinstall its driver through Device Manager. If the AC still does not appear in the normal paired-device list, the taskbar count may be a Windows Bluetooth display bug rather than an active connection.
I already removed the Bluetooth devices that were listed and restarted the laptop, but the taskbar still shows one connected device. It may be a Windows tray issue.
I need Bluetooth for my earbuds, so disabling it is not a practical solution. I am trying to determine whether the AC is actually connected or whether Windows is displaying an incorrect count.