Bluetooth Game Controller can no longer connect after upgrade to Parallels Desktop 26 for mac

Discussion in 'Parallels Desktop on a Mac with Apple silicon' started by KevinQ3, Oct 18, 2025.

  1. KevinQ3

    KevinQ3

    Messages:
    3
    Before 26, we can toggle off and on Share Bluetooth option in USB & Bluetooth configuration. Now Bluetooth option is gone.
    Connecting the controller to Mac no longer make it available for Windows within Parallels (even though the new docs claim "Bluetooth is now automatically shared"). If I connect directly within Windows, it is registered as "Connected" but then automatically disconnect within 15s, making the controller unusable.
     
  2. KevinQ3

    KevinQ3

    Messages:
    3
    I did another attempt. This time erasing the bluetooth profile in Windows and Mac, and connect to Mac directly. After this, I can click "Add device" in Window's bluetooth settings and it can see the controller and connect to it. However, it is still not shown up in joy.cpl, and similarly after 15s, the status changed automatically from "Connected" to "Not connected"
     
  3. KevinQ3

    KevinQ3

    Messages:
    3
    I have tried all methods but to no avail. Is it possible to downgrade to v25 (which worked well)?
     
  4. MichaelL111

    MichaelL111

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    2
    Read this.... I would LOVE to meet whatever Bird Brain at Parallels thought this was a good idea... Literally the majority of parephrials use bluetooth now. Even serial devices for coding etc. SOO STUPID.... https://kb.parallels.com/131014
     
  5. MichaelL111

    MichaelL111

    Messages:
    2
    They suggest using a Bluetooth dongle.... on an already notoriously port limited eco system... I would totally roll back the update. One of the biggest reasons to justify the license is to be able to casually play titles on the off time. And above that I know for a fact that many headsets will be affected. Any that use a proprietary app that needs to communicate hardware passthrough directly vs emulation. An explanation would be nice..
     

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