Fix Bluetooth problems in Windows 10

If you run into problems trying to connect to a Bluetooth device, here are some troubleshooting steps to try.

Note: For general info about how to connect a Bluetooth device to your PC, see Connect a Bluetooth device in Windows.

Before you start

Check these things before you start troubleshooting Bluetooth on your device:

Check your product information

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.

Make sure Bluetooth is turned on

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.

When you turn Bluetooth on in Settings, the following message appears immediately:

«Now discoverable as computer_name>«

Check your Bluetooth device

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.

Check your PC

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 Connect a Bluetooth device.

When Bluetooth doesn’t work or the Bluetooth icon is missing

Try these steps if your Bluetooth isn’t working. Here are some other common problems:

The Bluetooth icon is missing or Bluetooth can’t be turned on or off.

Bluetooth doesn’t work after a Windows 10 update is installed.

Bluetooth doesn’t work after you upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 8.1 or Windows 7.

Bluetooth doesn’t appear in Device Manager, and there are no unknown devices listed.

To get started, select a heading to see more info.

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.

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:

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

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

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.

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.

Important: An outdated or incompatible driver is one of the most common causes of Bluetooth connection problems.

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:

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

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

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

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

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

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:

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

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.

Select Start , then select Power > Shut down .

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

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

Note: You may need to contact your PC or other hardware manufacturer to obtain the latest drivers for your Bluetooth adapter.

If these methods don’t fix your Bluetooth problem, use Windows Feedback Hub to file a bug. This helps Microsoft determine the root cause of this issue.

Include details about what you were doing or specific steps you were taking when the bug occurred. For example, if you started having Bluetooth problems after updating Windows or changing Windows versions, include this information.

Note: If your school or workplace manages your device and you don’t see the Bluetooth icon, it may be disabled by your organization. Check with your system administrator.

Troubleshoot problems with Bluetooth accessories

If you can turn on Bluetooth but are having problems pairing or using a Bluetooth accessory, use the following methods for troubleshooting common problems with Bluetooth accessories.

You should also check your device manufacturer’s website, especially if you have other Bluetooth devices that are working. The device manufacturer will probably have more detailed, product-specific information and troubleshooting steps.

To get started, select a heading to see more info.

If you’re prompted to enter a PIN to use your device, but you don’t know the PIN:

Check the device’s documentation for a pin, or look for one on the device itself.

Try 0000 or 1234.

If you’re prompted to enter a PIN, but you don’t see a place to enter one on your PC’s screen, type 0000 on your Bluetooth keyboard and press Enter.

Try to remove the device, then pair it again. Your device might be paired, but not connected—Bluetooth keyboards, mice, and pens connect only when necessary.
To remove a Bluetooth device, select Start button, then select Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices . Select the Bluetooth device that’s paired but not working, then select Remove device > Yes. After that, pair the device again. For more info on pairing devices, see Connect a Bluetooth device.

If you’re having problems connecting a Bluetooth audio device or hearing sound:

Make sure the audio device is within range of your PC.

Make sure the audio is playing through the Bluetooth device. Select Start , then select Settings > System > Sound . In Choose your output device, select the Bluetooth device.

If your device displays as Paired but you can’t hear audio, make sure it’s connected. Select Start , then select Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices . In Bluetooth, select the device, and then select Connect.

Try unpairing, then re-pairing, the device. To unpair a device, select Start , then select Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices . Select the Bluetooth device that’s paired but not working, then select Remove device > Yes. After that, pair the device again. For more info on pairing devices, see Connect a Bluetooth device.

If your device is connected, but the audio quality is poor:

Make sure the audio is playing through the Bluetooth device. Select Start , then select Settings > System > Sound . In Choose your output device, select the Bluetooth audio device.

Pause other things that might be using Bluetooth, such as file-sharing over Bluetooth. For more info, see Fix sound problems in Windows 10.

Verify that stereo is selected for the Bluetooth device in order to ensure the best quality audio. To do this:

On the right side of the taskbar, click Volume and then select the chevron icon to choose a playback device.

Select the Bluetooth device, and make sure the Stereo option is selected. (The lower-audio quality option is Hands-Free.)

If stereo is not available as an option, remove the device in Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices and then re-add the device. Then, check the Volume panel again to make sure that stereo is selected.

If your Bluetooth volume controls no longer work after you install a Windows update, follow these steps.

Warning: Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. For added protection, back up the registry before attempting to modify it.

Make sure you’ve installed the latest updates from Windows Update. (A solution for this issue was included in the October 24, 2018—KB4462933 (OS Build 17134.376) update for Windows 10 version 1803.)

To check for updates, select Start , and then go to Settings > Update & security > Windows Update > Check for updates.

Manually disable the Absolute Volume feature by making a change in the registry. To do this, select Start and type cmd. Right-click Command Prompt in the Search results and select Run as administrator.

In the Command Prompt window, type the following command:

reg add HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Bluetooth\Audio\AVRCP\CT /v DisableAbsoluteVolume /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

You may need to restart Windows for the registry change to take effect.

To re-enable the Absolute Volume feature, type the following command in the Command Prompt window:

reg add HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Bluetooth\Audio\AVRCP\CT /v DisableAbsoluteVolume /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

How to turn on & use Bluetooth in Windows 10

To most, Bluetooth, often means the ability to connect their headset wirelessly, computer, smartphone to each other. But there are several other uses of Bluetooth. Today in this post, we will see how to turn on or enable – and use Bluetooth in Windows 10, to send & receive files.

Enable or Turn On Bluetooth in Windows 10

Click open the Sart Menu. Next open Settings and select Devices to open the Windows 10 Devices Settings. Now in the left panel, you will see Bluetooth. Click on it to open the following settings.

To turn on Bluetooth, toggle the Bluetooth slider to the On position.

Your PC will start searching for other devices to pair up with. So make sure that you have turned on Bluetooth on your smartphone or another device.

Once the device is found, it will be displayed there. Click on it to expand it. You will see a Pair button.

Clicking on Pair will connect your PC to your other device.

Before the devices are paired, you will have to confirm that the passcode displayed on both the devices is the same.

Once you have confirmed this, click on Yes – and the devices will be connected via Bluetooth.

Incidentally, clicking on More Bluetooth settings (first image above) will open up the following panel where you will be offered more settings like – Allow Bluetooth devices to find this PC, Alert me when a new Bluetooth device wants to connect, Show the Bluetooth icon in the notification area, etc.

Coming back, once the devices are connected, you can use the Bluetooth connection to send or receive files.

You might want to also read about Infrared on Windows 10.

How to use Bluetooth in Windows 10

Click on the Send or receive files via Bluetooth link displayed in the settings (first image above). The following wizard will open.

It is an easy-to-understand wizard and you can use it o Send files or Receive files via Bluetooth.

How to Turn on Bluetooth on Windows 10 [Solved]

How to fix it if your Bluetooth won’t turn on? Here’s the real fix!

Last Updated: 1 year ago

To connect your Bluetooth device (headphones, mouse, etc.), or to transfer files from your iPhone to your PC via Bluetooth, you need to turn on Bluetooth on Windows 10 first.

How to Turn on Bluetooth on Windows 10 (and how to fix it if it won’t turn on)

In this guide you’ll learn:

How to Turn on Bluetooth on Windows 10

Normally you can turn on Bluetooth in Windows 10 in three easy steps:

1. On your keyboard, hold down the Windows logo key and press the I key to open the Settings window.
2. Click Devices.
3. Click the switch (currently set to Off ) to turn on Bluetooth. (The status will change to On .)But if you don’t see the switch and your screen looks like the below, there’s a problem with Bluetooth on your computer.

There’s no need to panic. We’re about to show you how to fix Bluetooth on your Windows 10 computer and get that switch back for you.

What to do if you can’t turn Bluetooth on in Windows 10

Here are the top three ways to fix Bluetooth issues in Windows 10. Just work your way down the list until you find the one that works for you.

Here’s how you can check if your computer support Bluetooth:

On your desktop, right-click on the Start button to select Device Manager.

In Device Manager, check to see if there’s Bluetooth section or if there’s any Bluetooth adapter located in the Network adapters section. The Bluetooth adapter could also be listed under the Other devices section due to some errors.

a) If you do find one or more Bluetooth adapters in Device Manager, your Windows 10 computer supports Bluetooth then. Move on to the solutions to continue solve your problem.

b) If you can’t find any Bluetooth adapter in Device Manager, your Windows 10 computer doesn’t support Bluetooth then. But don’t worry, a Bluetooth receiver can easily solve the problem for you.

Fix 1: Update the Bluetooth driver on your computer

Bluetooth needs the supporting hardware and software to work. When you’re sure your computer supports Bluetooth, but it’s still not working, the first thing you should do is update your Bluetooth driver.

There’re two ways you can update your Bluetooth driver: manually and automatically.

To manuall y update the driver, head to your computer manufacturer’s website and search for the most recent correct Bluetooth driver. Make sure the choose the right driver for your version of Windows (32-bit or 64-bit).

But if you don’t have the time, patience or computer skills to update your Bluetooth driver manually, you can do it automatically with Driver Easy . Driver Easy will automatically find the correct Bluetooth driver for your computer, download it, and install it correctly. Here’s how:

1. Download, install and run Driver Easy.
2. Click Scan Now. It will detect all of your computer’s driver issues (including your Bluetooth driver) in less than a minute.
3. If you have the Free version of Driver Easy, click the Update button next to the flagged Bluetooth driver to automatically download the correct driver, then you can manually install it.

But if you have the Pro version you can click Update All to automatically download and install all of the missing or outdated drivers on your computer.

(If you click the Update All button in the Free version you’ll be asked if you want to upgrade to the Pro version.)

Restart your computer.

On your keyboard, hold down the Windows logo key and press the I key to open the Settings window.

Do you see the option to switch Bluetooth on now? If you do, great. You’ve fixed the problem. But if it’s still not there, there’s something else you can try…

Fix 2: Re-enable the Bluetooth driver software in Device Manager

1. Right-click on the Start button. and select Device Manager.
2. Right-click on your Bluetooth device in the Bluetooth section, and choose Disable device. (If you’re asked to confirm, click Yes.)
3. Right-click on the device again and click Enable device.
4. On your keyboard, hold down the Windows logo key and press the I key to open the Settings window.

Is the Bluetooth switch appearing now? If it’s not, we have something else you can try…

Fix 3: Make sure the Bluetooth Support Service is running

1. Hold down the Windows logo key and press the R key to bring up the Run box.
2. Type services.msc and press Enter.
   
3. Right-click Bluetooth Support Service, then click Start. (If the Start option grayed out, then click Restart.)
4. Right-click on Bluetooth Support Service again, and this time click Properties.
5. Set its startup type to Automatic. click Apply, and then click OK.
6. Finally, hold down the Windows logo key and press the I key to bring up the Settings window, and make sure the Bluetooth option is there.

What to do if the above suggestions don’t work: Switch to ChromeOS

Windows is a very old technology. Sure, Windows 10 is relatively new, but it’s still just the latest iteration of a decades-old operating system, designed for a bygone era (pre-internet).

Now that we have the internet, fast connection speeds, free cloud storage, and endless web apps (like Gmail, Google Docs, Slack, Facebook, Dropbox and Spotify), the entire Windows way of doing things – with locally installed programs and local file storage – is totally outdated.

Why is that a problem? Because when you’re constantly installing uncontrolled third-party programs, you’re constantly opening the door to viruses and other malware. (And Windows’ insecure permission system compounds this problem.)

Plus the way Windows manages installed software and hardware has always been a problem. If your computer shuts down unexpectedly, or a program installs, uninstalls or updates incorrectly, you can get ‘registry’ corruptions. That’s why Windows PCs always slow down and become unstable over time.

Also because everything’s installed and saved locally, it doesn’t take long before you run out of disk space, and your disk gets fragmented, which makes everything even slower and more unstable.

For most people, the simplest way to solve Windows problems is to ditch Windows altogether, and switch to a faster, more reliable, more secure, easier to use and cheaper operating system…

ChromeOS feels much like Windows, but instead of installing heaps of programs to email, chat, browse the internet, write documents, do school presentations, create spreadsheets, and whatever else you normally do on a computer, you use web apps. You don’t need to install anything at all.

That means you don’t have virus and malware problems, and your computer doesn’t slow down over time, or become unstable.

And that’s just the start of the benefits…

To learn more about the benefits of ChromeOS, and to see comparison videos and demos, visit GoChromeOS.com.

Hopefully this has fixed your Bluetooth problem. Please feel free to comment below with your experiences, and to share this post with friends and colleagues, if they’re having Bluetooth troubles.