If Bluetooth is missing or failing on Windows 11, work through the fixes in order: confirm the PC has Bluetooth and that it is switched on, remove and re-pair the device, run the built-in Bluetooth troubleshooter, then update the Bluetooth adapter driver in Device Manager. If the adapter still misbehaves, uninstall it, shut the PC down and start it again so Windows reinstalls the driver. These steps follow Microsoft's own support guidance.
Who this is for and what you will have at the end
This guide is for anyone whose Windows 11 PC cannot see a Bluetooth device, will not pair a mouse, keyboard, headset or speaker, or has lost the Bluetooth switch from Settings. At the end you will know whether the fault is the device, the Windows setting, or the adapter driver, and you will have a clear next step if none of the fixes work. Menu names below match Microsoft's Windows 11 help pages. Taskbar icons and some labels can look different on PCs where the maker has added its own software.
Before you start
- Check that the PC has Bluetooth at all. Microsoft advises looking at the product specifications, because some devices do not include it. A desktop without a Bluetooth card or USB dongle has nothing to pair with.
- Charge the accessory or put fresh batteries in it, and keep it close to the PC.
- If your PC has a physical Bluetooth switch, make sure it is on.
- Note whether the problem began after a Windows update or a driver change. That points to the driver steps later in this guide.
Step 1: Turn Bluetooth on and check the basics
Use Quick settings or Settings
Microsoft describes two routes:
- Select the Network, Sound or Battery icons on the right side of the taskbar, then select the Bluetooth quick setting to turn it on. It shows "Not connected" when no accessory is connected.
- Or select Start, then Settings, then Bluetooth & devices, and turn Bluetooth on.
When Bluetooth is on, Settings shows a "Discoverable as" message followed by the computer name. If there is no Bluetooth switch at all in Settings or Quick settings, skip ahead to the Device Manager steps.
Check Airplane mode and toggle Bluetooth
Make sure the Airplane mode quick setting is off. Then turn Bluetooth off in Settings, wait a few seconds and turn it on again. This simple reset clears many temporary faults.
Check the accessory
- Confirm the device is on, charged or has fresh batteries, and is in range.
- Turn the device off, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on.
- Move it away from USB 3.0 devices. Microsoft notes that unshielded USB devices can interfere with Bluetooth.
- Put the accessory into pairing mode. How to do this depends on the device, so check its manual.
Step 2: Remove the device and pair it again
A stale pairing record is a common reason a previously working device stops connecting.
- Select Start, then Settings, then Bluetooth & devices, then Devices.
- Find the device and select More options for it.
- Select Remove device, then Yes.
- Put the device back into pairing mode.
- Pair the device again from Settings, Bluetooth & devices, following the on-screen prompts.
If the device is missing from the list when you scan, look at the discovery setting in the next step.
Step 3: Change the Bluetooth discovery setting
Windows 11 can limit which types of device it shows during a scan.
- Select Start, then Settings, then Bluetooth & devices, then Devices.
- Under Device settings, find Bluetooth devices discovery.
- Set it to Default to see common devices, or Advanced to see all device types.
If a less common accessory does not appear under Default, switch to Advanced and scan again.
Step 4: Run the Bluetooth troubleshooter
Microsoft offers two ways to run an automated check.
- Get Help app: open the Get Help app and run the Bluetooth troubleshooter.
- Settings: select Start, then Settings, then System, then Troubleshoot, then Other troubleshooters. Next to Bluetooth, select Run and follow the instructions.
The troubleshooter can change settings or restart services for you. Run it before touching drivers, because it is the least invasive fix.
Step 5: Update the Bluetooth driver
An out-of-date or damaged driver is a frequent cause, especially after a major Windows update. Microsoft gives these steps:
- Type Device Manager in the taskbar search and open it.
- Select Bluetooth to expand it, then select your adapter. The name may include the word "radio".
- Right-click, or press and hold, the adapter and select Update driver.
- Select Search automatically for updated driver software, then Close.
- If you are prompted to restart, select Start, then Power, then Restart.
If Windows finds no new driver
Download the latest driver from the PC manufacturer's website or the adapter maker's website. Use the support page for your exact model. Microsoft describes two ways to install what you download:
- If the download is an .exe file, run it and follow the installer.
- If you have separate files, such as .inf and .sys files, open Device Manager and select Bluetooth, then the adapter. If it is missing, check under Other devices. Right-click the adapter, select Update driver, then Browse my computer for drivers. Select Browse, choose the folder holding the files, select OK, then Next, then Close. Restart if prompted.
Avoid downloading drivers from sites that are not the PC or hardware maker, because a wrong or modified driver can cause more problems than it solves.
Step 6: Uninstall the adapter and let Windows reinstall it
If an updated driver does not help, or the Bluetooth entry shows a warning symbol, a clean reinstall of the adapter is the next step.
- In Device Manager, expand Bluetooth.
- Right-click, or press and hold, the adapter and select Uninstall device, then Uninstall.
- Select Start, then Power, then Shut down. Use Shut down rather than Restart, as Microsoft specifies.
- Wait a few seconds, then turn the PC back on. Windows should reinstall the driver automatically.
- If it does not, open Device Manager and select Action, then Scan for hardware changes.
If Windows still does not install a working driver, get the latest adapter driver from your PC or hardware manufacturer, as in Step 5.
Common symptoms and where to look
| Symptom | What to try first |
|---|---|
| No Bluetooth switch in Settings or Quick settings | Confirm the PC has Bluetooth, then check Device Manager for a Bluetooth section and run Steps 5 and 6 |
| Device is not found when scanning | Put it in pairing mode, move it away from USB 3.0 devices, set discovery to Advanced |
| Device was paired but no longer connects | Remove the device and pair it again (Step 2) |
| Problem started after a Windows update | Update the driver, then reinstall the adapter (Steps 5 and 6) |
| Connects but has audio or disconnection problems | Search support.microsoft.com for an article on that symptom |
For audio or repeated-disconnection problems, search support.microsoft.com for a dedicated article on that symptom after trying the steps above.
Verification
After each step, check whether the fix worked before moving on:
- Open Settings, then Bluetooth & devices and confirm the Bluetooth switch is present and on.
- Confirm the "Discoverable as" message appears with your computer name.
- Pair the accessory and test it: move the mouse, type on the keyboard or play audio.
- In Device Manager, confirm the Bluetooth section shows the adapter without a warning symbol.
- Restart the PC once and confirm the device reconnects without you pairing it again.
Troubleshooting when nothing works
- Bluetooth entry never appears in Device Manager. Check Other devices for an unrecognised entry. If the PC has no Bluetooth hardware, adding a Bluetooth adapter is the only fix; choose one whose maker lists Windows 11 support.
- Only one accessory fails. Test that accessory with a phone or another PC. If it fails there too, the accessory is the problem, not Windows.
- Pairing works but disconnects often. Move USB 3.0 devices and hubs away from the PC's Bluetooth antenna or adapter, and keep the accessory in range.
- A manufacturer utility controls wireless. Some PCs have vendor software or a function key that turns wireless radios off. Check the maker's support page for your model.
If the adapter still does not work after a driver reinstall and a shutdown, the hardware may be faulty or disabled in the firmware. Contact the PC manufacturer's support for your model.
Checklist
- Confirm the PC has Bluetooth hardware.
- Turn Bluetooth on, turn Airplane mode off, then toggle Bluetooth off and on.
- Charge the accessory, restart it and put it into pairing mode.
- Remove the device in Settings and pair it again.
- Set Bluetooth devices discovery to Advanced if the device is not listed.
- Run the Bluetooth troubleshooter.
- Update the adapter driver in Device Manager, or install one from the PC maker.
- Uninstall the adapter, shut down, start the PC and scan for hardware changes if needed.
For other everyday Windows problems, see Windows 11 slow PC fixes.
References
- Microsoft Support, Fix Bluetooth problems in Windows: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/723e092f-03fa-858b-5c80-131ec3fba75c
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