CCleaner ruined my computer! OMG, I spent about 20 hours on this. I'm so mad! I finally fixed it though. The only way was to completely re-install Windows 11 and BLOCK the "recommended" Avrcp Transport driver update for your Bluetooth speaker.
The driver will be under the Bluetooth section. For all you folks out there that use Bluetooth speaker as your computer audio DO NOT INSTALL THIS RECOMMENDED BLUETOOTH DRIVER UPDATE IN CCLEANER! It will BREAK your Bluetooth to only connect your speakers as a headset and there is no way to fix this other than to re-install Windows. I have now skipped this driver, but the damage and time I spent on this is done. There's no getting back those 20 hours. After a 2nd Windows reinstall I connected 2 new speakers (Sony and Bose) CCleaner recommended the Avrcp Transport update from 2014 for both of them. I installed it and MY Bluetooth BROKE AGAIN! I had to reinstall Windows for a 3rd time.
Attached is a screenshot.
I have a Bluetooth speaker that I use for my computer audio. It's been working flawlessly forever. CCleaner recommends driver updates. I've NEVER had issues in the past. All of a sudden, CCleaner recommends a "Avrcp Transport" driver update for my speaker. I proceeded without paying much attention, because I knew I could revert the driver back.
Look closely at the screenshot. The driver release date is from July 25, 2014! The current version installed is from 2022. Why in the heck is CCleaner trying to download something so old?
What happens? My Bluetooth speaker I have to reconnect to Windows, but it connects as a headset. The audio is HORRIBLE! If I go to Control Panel > Sound, there is NO WAY for me to switch it from headset to speaker. I right-click, click Connect, and nothing happens. I disable the headset and try everything to get my audio on "speaker" and it simply refuses to connect after this driver update.
I spent countless hours in Device Manager uninstalling drivers and reinstalling. NOTHING fixes the issue! I tried to revert back the driver in CCleaner, but it doesn't work! I reboot the computer, open CCleaner, go to Driver Update, and it shows "installed." There's zero options to revert it since I already did it once. So, reverting it worked, but didn't. CCleaner still reports it as installed.
I really like CCleaner despite all the hate they get, but this has totally got me thinking I need to reconsider CCleaner as a product going forward. They claim the Driver Updater is "Safe," but this week's experiences 100% prove them wrong.
I reinstalled Windows. Reinstalled all my apps, and ran Driver Updater AGAIN. At this time, I didn't know it was CCleaner causing the problem on my 2nd attempt to reinstall Windows. I even went as far as buying 2 new Bluetooth speakers! When connecting a Sony and a Bose speaker they both were affected too. Windows ONLY wanted to play as a "headset" and not a "speaker." By this time I reinstalled Windows a THIRD time. I paid real close attention and when I got the Driver Updater I noticed the release date from 2014 and realized this is what's causing the problem.
CCleaner, PLEASE FIX THIS! I have the driver "skipped" for now, but you REALLY need to fix this so others don't lose their Bluetooth speakers as well. I was going crazy thinking it was something much worse hardware related. The Bluetooth speakers works PERFECTLY up until this "recommended" driver update is installed. Once it's installed, there's no reverting it. I reverted it, but it didn't actually do anything.
How to replicate the issue? Connect a Bluetooth speaker to your Windows 11 computer. It needs to be a newer speaker. An old Bose speaker from 2013~ was not affected. It doesn't matter on the brand. I bought the Bose Soundlink Revolve II, a Sony SRS-XB23, and my Earfun UBOOM speaker I bought from Amazon. Run CCleaner Driver Updater and install the Avrcp Transport update for your Bluetooth speaker as shown in the screenshot. Your Bluetooth is now broken.