Fix Bluetooth problems in Windows

If you’re setting up a new device and Bluetooth is missing, check the product specifications to make sure it has Bluetooth capabilities. Some devices don’t have Bluetooth.

If you're using a laptop with a physical Bluetooth switch on the body, make sure it’s switched on.

In Windows 11, there are two ways to check if Bluetooth is turned on. Here’s how:

• Check in quick settings: Select the Network, Sound, or Battery icons (  ) on the right side of the taskbar, look for the Bluetooth quick setting, then select Bluetooth  to turn it on. You’ll see “Not connected” if your Windows 11 device isn’t connected to any Bluetooth accessories.
  
  

• Check in Settings: Select Start  > Settings  > Bluetooth & devices . Make sure Bluetooth  is turned on.

Make sure your Bluetooth device is turned on, is charged or has fresh batteries, and is in range of your PC. Then, try the following:

• Turn off your Bluetooth device, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.

• Make sure your Bluetooth device is in range. If your Bluetooth device is unresponsive or sluggish, check to make sure it’s not too close to any other USB device that’s plugged into a USB 3.0 port. Unshielded USB devices can sometimes interfere with Bluetooth connections.

If you don't see your Bluetooth device displayed in the list of devices, you may need to set your Bluetooth devices discovery setting to Advanced. 

1. Select Start  > Settings  > Bluetooth & devices  > Devices .

2. Under Device settings > Bluetooth devices discovery, choose one of the following from the drop-down list:

   •  Default—displays common Bluetooth devices

   • Advanced—displays all types of Bluetooth devices 

3. If you still don't see your Bluetooth device displayed after choosing the Advanced setting, try the solutions listed below. 

On the PC you want to pair to:

• Make sure airplane mode is off: Select the Network, Sound, or Battery icons (  ) on the right side of the taskbar, then make sure the Airplane mode  quick setting is turned off.

• Turn Bluetooth on and off: Select Start  > Settings  > Bluetooth & devices . Turn off Bluetooth , wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.

• Remove the Bluetooth device, then add it again: Select Start  > Settings  > Bluetooth & devices > Devices . In Devices, select More options  for the Bluetooth device you’re having problems connecting to, and then select Remove device > Yes. To learn more about pairing your Bluetooth device again, see Pair a Bluetooth device.

Select Start  > Settings  > System > Troubleshoot  > Other troubleshooters . Next to Bluetooth , select Run and follow the instructions.

Open Troubleshoot settings

If you recently upgraded to Windows 11 or installed Windows 11 updates, the current driver may have been designed for an earlier version of Windows. To automatically check for driver updates:

1. Select Search on the taskbar, type for device manager, and then select Device Manager from the list of results.

2. In Device Manager, select Bluetooth, and then select the Bluetooth adapter name, which may include the word “radio.”

3. Press and hold (or right-click) the Bluetooth adapter, and then select Update driver > Search automatically for updated driver software. Follow the steps, then select Close.

4. After installing the updated driver, select Start > Power > Restart if you're prompted to restart, and then check whether that fixes the connection issue.

If Windows can’t find a new Bluetooth driver, visit the PC manufacturer’s website and download the latest Bluetooth driver from there.

To manually install the Bluetooth driver:

Go to your PC manufacturer's website and download the latest driver. Then do one of the following:

• If you downloaded an executable (.exe) file, just double-click the file to run it and install the drivers. That should be all you need to do.

• If you downloaded individual files, and at least one file has an .inf file name extension and another has a .sys extension, do the following:

  1. Select Search on the taskbar, type device manager, and then select Device Manager from the list of results.

  2. In Device Manager, select Bluetooth > the Bluetooth adapter name. (If it’s not listed there, check in Other devices.)

  3. Press and hold (or right-click) the network adapter, and then select Update driver > Browse my computer for drivers.

  4. Select Browse, select the location where the driver files are stored, and then select OK.

  5. Select Next, and follow the steps to install the driver. When the installation is finished, select Close.

  6. After you've updated the driver, select Start > Power  > Restart  if you're prompted to restart, and check whether that fixes the connection issue.

If you don't see the Bluetooth icon, but Bluetooth does appear in Device Manager, try to uninstall the Bluetooth adapter, and then trigger an automatic reinstall. Here's how:

1. Select Search on the taskbar, enter device manager, then select Device Manager from the results.

2. In Device Manager, select Bluetooth. Press and hold (or right-click) the Bluetooth adapter name (which may include the word “radio”), and select Uninstall device > Uninstall.

3. Select Start , then select Power  > Shut down .

4. After your device shuts down, wait a few seconds, and then turn it back on. Windows will try to reinstall the driver.

5. If Windows doesn't reinstall the driver automatically, open Device Manager and select Action > Scan for hardware changes.

If you’re setting up a new device and Bluetooth is missing, check the product specifications to make sure it has Bluetooth capabilities. Some devices don’t have Bluetooth.

If you're using a laptop with a physical Bluetooth switch on the body, make sure it’s switched on.

In Windows 10, there are two ways to check if Bluetooth is turned on. Here’s how:

• Check in the taskbar. Select action center ( or ). If you don’t see Bluetooth, select Expand to reveal Bluetooth, then select Bluetooth to turn it on. You’ll see “Not connected” if your Windows 10 device isn’t paired to any Bluetooth accessories.

• Check in Settings. Select Select the Start  button, then select Settings  > Devices   > Bluetooth & other devices . Make sure Bluetooth is turned on.

  Turn on Bluetooth in Settings

Make sure your device is turned on, is charged or has fresh batteries, and is in range of the PC you want to connect to. Then, try the following:

• Turn off your Bluetooth device, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.

• Make sure your Bluetooth device is in range. If your Bluetooth device is unresponsive or sluggish, check to make sure it’s not too close to any other USB device that’s plugged into a USB 3.0 port. Unshielded USB devices can sometimes interfere with Bluetooth connections.

If you don't see your Bluetooth device displayed in the list of devices, you may need to set your Bluetooth devices discovery setting. 

1. Select Start  > Settings  > Bluetooth & other devices.

2. In the Bluetooth settings window, click More Bluetooth options (on the right or under Related Setting").

3. The Bluetooth Settings dialog box will open.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

4. Go to the Options tab.

5. Check the box labeled Allow Bluetooth devices to find this PC for the PC to be discoverable.

On the PC you want to pair to:

• Make sure airplane mode is off: Select Start , then select Settings > Network & Internet  > Airplane mode . Make sure Airplane mode is turned off.

• Turn Bluetooth on and off: Select Start , then select Settings  > Devices  > Bluetooth & other devices . Turn off Bluetooth, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.

• Remove the Bluetooth device, then add it again: Select Start , then select Settings  > Devices  > Bluetooth & other devices .. In Bluetooth, select the device you’re having problems connecting to, and then select Remove device > Yes. To learn more about pairing your Bluetooth device again, see Pair a Bluetooth device.

Select Start , then select Settings > Update & Security  > Troubleshoot . In Find and fix other problems, select Bluetooth, and then select Run the troubleshooter and follow the instructions.

Open Troubleshoot settings

If you recently upgraded to Windows 10 or installed Windows 10 updates, the current driver may have been designed for an earlier version of Windows. To automatically check for driver updates:

1. In the search box on the taskbar, search for Device Manager, and then select Device Manager from the list of results.

2. In Device Manager, select Bluetooth, and then select the Bluetooth adapter name, which may include the word “radio.”

3. Press and hold (or right-click) the Bluetooth adapter, and then select Update driver > Search automatically for updated driver software. Follow the steps, then select Close.

4. After installing the updated driver, select the Start  button, select Power  > Restart  if you're prompted to restart, and then check whether that fixes the connection issue.

If Windows can’t find a new Bluetooth driver, visit the PC manufacturer’s website and download the latest Bluetooth driver from there.

To manually install the Bluetooth driver:

Go to your PC manufacturer's website and download the latest driver. Then do one of the following:

• If you downloaded an executable (.exe) file, just double-click the file to run it and install the drivers. That should be all you need to do.

• If you downloaded individual files, and at least one file has an .inf file name extension and another has a .sys extension, do the following:

  1. In the search box on the taskbar, type Device Manager, and then select Device Manager from the list of results.

  2. In Device Manager, select Bluetooth > the Bluetooth adapter name. (If it’s not listed there, check in Other devices.)

  3. Press and hold (or right-click) the network adapter, and then select Update driver > Browse my computer for driver software.

  4. Select Browse, select the location where the driver files are stored, and then select OK.

  5. Select Next, and follow the steps to install the driver. When the installation is finished, select Close.

  6. After you've updated the driver, select the  Start  button, select Power  > Restart  if you're prompted to restart, and check whether that fixes the connection issue.

If you don't see the Bluetooth icon, but Bluetooth does appear in Device Manager, try to uninstall the Bluetooth adapter and trigger an automatic reinstall. Here's how:

1. In the search box on the taskbar, enter device manager, then select Device Manager from the results.

2. In Device Manager, select Bluetooth. Press and hold (or right-click) the Bluetooth adapter name (which may include the word “radio”), and select Uninstall device.

3. Select Start , then select Power  > Shut down .

4. After your device shuts down, wait a few seconds, and then turn it back on. Windows will try to reinstall the driver.

5. If Windows doesn't reinstall the driver automatically, open Device Manager and select Action > Scan for hardware changes.