Event ID 16, Bluetooth fails to connect [Fix]

If the Event ID 16, Bluetooth fails to connect keeps troubling you; this post may help. Event ID 16 appears in the Windows Event Viewer if your computer has failed to establish a Bluetooth connection. It can occur for various reasons, such as incompatible drivers, software conflicts, or hardware issues.

Fix Event ID 16, Bluetooth fails to connect

To fix Event ID 16, Bluetooth fails to connect error that you may see in Windows Event Viewer when trying to make a Bluetooth connection, follow these suggestions:

1. Run Bluetooth Troubleshooter
2. Update Bluetooth Driver
3. Disable power-saving settings
4. Re-pair the Bluetooth device
5. Roll back Windows Update
6. System Restore to a point before the error occured
7. Check your Bluetooth Adapter

Now let’s see these in detail.

1] Run Bluetooth Troubleshooter

Before starting with different troubleshooting methods, run the Bluetooth troubleshooter on your Windows device to fix any errors with Bluetooth and its drivers. Here’s how:

1. Press Windows Key + I to open Settings.
2. Scroll down and select Troubleshoot > Other Troubleshooters.
3. Click on Run beside Bluetooth.
4. Once the process is complete, restart your device to see if the error has been resolved.

2] Update Bluetooth Driver

Next, try updating the Bluetooth drivers on your device. Outdated or corrupted drivers can also be responsible for why Event ID 16 occurs. Update your Bluetooth drivers and check if the issue gets fixed. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Open Settings and navigate to Update & Security > Windows Update.
2. Right under it, look for a clickable link— View optional updates.
3. Under Driver Updates, a list of updates will be available, which you can choose to install if you are facing an issue manually.

Alternatively, you can also use Intel Driver & Support Assistant to install the latest Intel drivers and AMD Driver Autodetect to install the latest AMD drivers.

3] Disable Power-Saving Settings

Windows devices automatically turn off some things that temporarily use a lot of power to extend the battery life. Disable this setting and see if the error’s fixed. Here’s how:

1. Open the Device Manager and expand Bluetooth.
2. Right-click on your Bluetooth device and select Properties.
3. Navigate to the Power Management tab and uncheck the option that allows the computer to turn off the device to save power.
4. Click on Ok to save the changes.

4] Re-pair Bluetooth device

If the Event ID 16 still isn’t fixed, try re-pairing the Bluetooth device you have the error with. Here’s how:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Navigate to Bluetooth & devices, click on three dots above your Bluetooth device and select Remove device.
3. Restart your device once done, pair the device again and see if the error’s fixed.

5] Roll back Windows Update

If the issue occurred after Windows Updates, you might consider uninstalling the Update. A broken or corrupted file installed with the system update sometimes makes applications crash. To Uninstall Windows Updates in Windows 11, do the following:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type appwiz.cpl and hit Enter.
3. In the Uninstall or view a program page click on View Installed Updates.
4. Right-click on the recently installed update and select Uninstall.

If it occurred after you installed a Feature Update, this post will show you how to roll back the Feature Update.

6] System Restore to a point before the error occured

If the Event ID 16 still isn’t fixed, perform a system restore. It will repair your device by reinstalling the previous version of Windows you’ve saved in the restore point. Here’s how you can perform a System Restore. Note that this can be done only if you’ve created a System Restore Point earlier.

7] Check your Bluetooth Adapter

Lastly, if these suggestions didn’t help, check your Bluetooth adapter. It’s possible the error lies within your device’s Bluetooth adapter and can’t be fixed manually. If so, take your device to its OEM manufacturer’s service center.

Read: Try connecting your device again Bluetooth Error in Windows 11

I hope this helps.

How do I fix Bluetooth not connecting?

If Bluetooth is not connecting on your Windows device, try running the Bluetooth troubleshooter and update the drivers. If that doesn’t help, disable power-saving settings and perform a system restore.

What does it mean when Bluetooth says authentication failed?

If connecting to a Bluetooth device says authentication failed, try pairing it again using the correct pairing code. However, if that doesn’t help, update the Bluetooth drivers and run the Bluetooth troubleshooter.