BT controller won't connect after pairing

I have a brand new Gulikit switch controller. It’s a third party controller.

I can pair to a Windows 10 PC desktop that has a cheapo no brand USB Bluetooth dongle. But when I turn off the PC or the controller and then turn it back on, it won’t reconnect automatically. Sometimes it reconnects after 5 minutes, sometimes never.

I have to re-enter pairing mode on the controller and repair it using Windows 10 Bluetooth settings. Same thing for a 2016 vintage ASUS laptop. But it works fine and reconnects automatically with a brand new 2020 model Acer laptop. If the Acer laptop is on, I just turn on the controller and it auto reconnects in a few seconds.

Wired works fine. Perhaps I should buy a branded USB Bluetooth dongle?