How to fix Bluetooth not working on Windows

The short answer

Most Bluetooth issues on Windows are fixed by toggling Bluetooth off and on, running the built-in troubleshooter, or updating your Bluetooth driver.

Quick fixes to try first

Start with the simplest solutions before moving on to anything more involved:

  • Toggle Bluetooth off and on — Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices and flip the switch off, wait a few seconds, then flip it back on.
  • Turn off Airplane mode — Airplane mode disables all wireless connections including Bluetooth. Check the quick settings panel in the taskbar.
  • Restart your PC — A simple restart clears temporary glitches that can block Bluetooth from working properly.

Run the Bluetooth troubleshooter

Windows has a built-in tool that detects and fixes common Bluetooth problems automatically.

  1. Open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters
  2. Find Bluetooth and click Run
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions and apply any suggested fixes

This catches issues like disabled services or misconfigured settings.

Update or reinstall the Bluetooth driver

Outdated or corrupted drivers are one of the most common causes of Bluetooth failure.

  1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager
  2. Expand the Bluetooth section
  3. Right-click your Bluetooth adapter and choose Update driver
  4. Select Search automatically for drivers

If updating does not help, try Uninstall device instead, then restart your PC. Windows will reinstall the driver automatically on reboot.

Restart the Bluetooth service

Sometimes the background service that manages Bluetooth connections stops running.

  1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter
  2. Find Bluetooth Support Service in the list
  3. Right-click it and select Restart
  4. Double-click it and make sure Startup type is set to Automatic

When should you worry?

If Bluetooth is missing entirely from Device Manager and Settings, your Bluetooth hardware may have failed or become physically disconnected. On a laptop, check your BIOS settings to make sure Bluetooth is enabled. On a desktop, confirm that your Bluetooth adapter (usually a USB dongle or part of your Wi-Fi card) is properly seated. If none of these steps work, the hardware itself may need replacing.

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