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To stop most Windows 11 “Add a device” pop-ups without disabling Bluetooth, turn off Swift Pair connection notifications: open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices and switch off Show notifications to connect using Swift Pair. The exact label or location can vary by Windows release, Bluetooth driver, or PC maker. If the alerts continue, a nearby accessory may still be in pairing mode—or another Bluetooth utility may be generating its own prompt.

Turn off Swift Pair notifications

  1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
  2. Select Bluetooth & devices, then Devices.
  3. Find the device-related settings and turn off Show notifications to connect using Swift Pair.

Swift Pair can show a connection prompt when a compatible Bluetooth device is nearby, discoverable, and in pairing mode. Disabling its notifications should stop those prompts while leaving Bluetooth available for devices you pair manually. It does not necessarily suppress every Bluetooth alert or a notification from an accessory maker’s software. Microsoft explains how Swift Pair and Bluetooth pairing work.

If you do not see that setting, check that Bluetooth is available under Settings > Bluetooth & devices, then look again under Devices. Windows feature updates, OEM configurations, and Bluetooth drivers can affect the wording and availability. Do not rely only on the notification’s three-dot menu: its controls may be missing or greyed out.

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If the pop-ups continue, identify what is triggering them

A phone, headset, speaker, keyboard, mouse, controller, or other accessory may be waiting to pair. If it is yours, finish pairing it or cancel pairing mode. Otherwise, turn the accessory off, disable its Bluetooth, move it farther away, or check whether it keeps re-entering pairing mode. A nearby device can prompt Windows simply by being discoverable; the prompt alone does not show that it has connected.

Windows also lets you add a device manually through Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices > Add device. That Settings window is different from a Swift Pair pop-up. If an “Add device” window opens by itself, close it and check for an OEM Bluetooth utility or other software that may be opening it.

Turn Bluetooth off for the most reliable Windows-side stop

If you want to prevent Bluetooth discovery prompts altogether, switch Bluetooth off:

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  • In Settings, open Bluetooth & devices and switch Bluetooth to Off.
  • Or select the network, sound, or battery area on the taskbar to open Quick Settings, then select the Bluetooth tile to turn it off.

This disconnects Bluetooth accessories, including wireless keyboards, mice, headphones, speakers, and controllers. Turn Bluetooth back on when you need those devices. Microsoft documents both the Settings and Quick Settings controls in its Bluetooth pairing guidance.

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Remove an unfamiliar paired device

Review Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices. For a device you do not recognize, select its More options button, choose Remove device, and confirm. Removing a saved pairing clears that relationship, but it does not prevent the same or another nearby device from being detected again if it remains discoverable.

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Try the classic Bluetooth setting if it is available

Some PCs expose an older notification control in classic Bluetooth settings. Search Windows for Bluetooth settings, or open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers. Select More Bluetooth settings if shown, then check the Options tab for a setting such as Alert me when a new Bluetooth device wants to connect and clear it if present.

This is a legacy fallback, not a control available on every Windows 11 PC. The menu path and label can differ, and Microsoft Q&A discussions describe it as a workaround rather than a universal fix: example and another recurring-alert case.

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When the setting is missing or the alert will not stop

  • Check for a separate Bluetooth utility: A USB adapter or PC maker may include software with its own pairing prompts and notification controls.
  • Restart the PC: Do this after changing settings if the prompt continues, then check whether it returns.
  • Check the adapter in Device Manager: Look for the Bluetooth adapter and, if the problem appears to be a malfunction, check for an available driver update from Windows or the PC manufacturer.
  • Use Services only as troubleshooting: Search for services.msc to open the Services console if Bluetooth appears stuck. Restarting Bluetooth-related services can briefly disconnect accessories; it is not the normal way to turn off Swift Pair prompts.

If a notification menu is greyed out, or the Swift Pair toggle is absent, the prompt may be controlled by a system component, driver, policy, or vendor utility rather than a normal app notification. Microsoft Q&A users have reported unavailable notification controls; see this example. Avoid registry edits unless you have a verified instruction for your exact Windows version and configuration.

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Is an unfamiliar prompt a security threat?

Not by itself. A discovery or Swift Pair prompt generally means Windows can see a nearby device that is available for pairing; it does not mean that device has paired or accessed your PC. Do not select Connect for a device you do not recognize. Remove unfamiliar saved devices, stop your own accessories from remaining in pairing mode, and turn Bluetooth off if you want to stop discovery while you investigate.

Quick Recap

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