Windows 11 Bluetooth Not Working? Try These Fixes

Common causes

• Bluetooth turned off or airplane mode turned on
• A device that isn’t in pairing mode or is out of range
• A low battery in the Bluetooth device
• An outdated or incompatible Bluetooth driver
• Interference from unshielded USB devices
• A Bluetooth hardware error caused by drivers or firmware
• A PC without a Bluetooth adapter

Step-by-Step Solutions

Start with the quick checks at the top, try your device again after each step, and leave the driver steps for last.

1. 1

   Step 1: Make sure Bluetooth is on

   Bluetooth can be checked from quick settings or from Settings.

   Select the Network, Sound, or Battery icon next to the time and date, then select the Bluetooth tile to turn it on. When Bluetooth is on, the tile is highlighted and says Connected, Not connected, or shows the device it’s connected to. If it’s off, the tile isn’t highlighted and might say Off.

   You can also select Start, then Settings, then Bluetooth & devices. Next to Bluetooth, switch Bluetooth On.

   Airplane mode can disable Bluetooth. Press Windows + A to open quick settings and make sure Airplane mode is turned off.

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

   Good to know

   If the Bluetooth tile isn’t visible in quick settings, the Bluetooth action might need to be added.

2. 2

   Step 2: Run the Bluetooth troubleshooter

   On Windows 11, Microsoft recommends starting with the automated troubleshooter.

   Run the automated Bluetooth troubleshooter in the Get Help app. It runs diagnostics automatically and attempts to fix most Bluetooth problems.

   You can also select Start, then Settings, then System, then Troubleshoot, then Other troubleshooters. Next to Bluetooth, select Run and follow the instructions.

3. 3

   Step 3: Check your Bluetooth device

   The device needs power, range and pairing mode to connect.

   Make sure your Bluetooth device is turned on, is charged or has fresh batteries, and is in range of your PC. It must also be in pairing mode. How you make a device discoverable depends on the device, so check its documentation or the manufacturer’s website.

   Turn off your Bluetooth device, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on. Move it closer to your PC to get a stable signal.

   Some Bluetooth devices don’t enter pairing mode or keep a connection when the battery is low. Charge the device fully, turn it off and back on, then try pairing again.

   If the device is unresponsive or sluggish, make sure it isn’t too close to another USB device plugged into a USB 3.0 port. Unshielded USB devices can sometimes interfere with Bluetooth connections.

   Good to know

   For rechargeable headphones or speakers, leave the device connected to power while you pair it.

4. 4

   Step 4: Turn Bluetooth off and on, then restart

   Turning Bluetooth off and on resets it, and restarting helps resolve temporary system issues.

   Select Start, then Settings, then Bluetooth & devices. Turn Bluetooth off, wait, then turn it back on and try to pair your device. Turning Bluetooth off and on resets Bluetooth and might help with connection issues.

   If that doesn’t help, restart your PC: select Start, then Power, then Restart. Restarting helps resolve temporary system issues affecting Bluetooth.

5. 5

   Step 5: Remove the device and pair it again

   If the device is listed but won’t connect, remove it and add it again.

   Select Start, then Settings, then Bluetooth & devices, then Devices. Select More options for the device you’re having trouble with, then select Remove device, then Yes.

   Put the device in pairing mode. Select the Network, Sound, or Battery icon on the taskbar, select the Manage Bluetooth devices chevron on the Bluetooth quick setting, then select the device under New devices. Follow any additional instructions, then select Done.

   If your device doesn’t appear in the list, go back to Bluetooth & devices, then Devices. Under Device settings, set Bluetooth devices discovery to Advanced, which displays all types of Bluetooth devices. Default displays only common ones.

   Good to know

   If your device supports Swift Pair, Windows shows a notification when it’s nearby and in pairing mode. Select Connect. The first time, Windows asks to allow Swift Pair; select Yes.

6. 6

   Step 6: Fully shut down your PC

   If the Bluetooth icon or toggle is missing or grayed out, a full shutdown powers off the Bluetooth hardware.

   A missing or grayed-out Bluetooth icon or toggle can mean your PC’s Bluetooth hardware has encountered an error, so you can’t turn Bluetooth on or off.

   Hold the Shift key on your keyboard. While holding Shift, select Start, then Power, then Shut down. Once your PC turns off, wait for 1 minute, then turn it back on and check whether Bluetooth works again.

   Good to know

   Select Shut down, not Restart, so your PC and its Bluetooth hardware power off completely.

7. 7

   Step 7: Install Windows and optional updates

   Your PC manufacturer may provide optional BIOS or UEFI updates that help with Bluetooth.

   Select Start, then Settings, then Windows Update. Select Check for updates and let it download and install any available updates.

   Some Bluetooth issues can be caused by firmware problems. On the Windows Update page, select Advanced options, then Optional updates. If there are any optional updates for your PC, check the box and select Download & install. When it’s done, select Restart now.

   If no optional updates are available, visit your PC manufacturer’s support website to check for newer BIOS, UEFI or firmware updates for your model.

8. 8

   Step 8: Update the Bluetooth driver

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

   If you recently upgraded to Windows 11 or installed updates, your driver may have been designed for an earlier version of Windows.

   Select Search on the taskbar, type device manager, then select Device Manager. Select Bluetooth, then find your Bluetooth adapter, whose name may include the word “radio.” Right-click it, select Update driver, then Search automatically for updated driver software. Follow the steps, then select Close, and restart if you’re prompted.

   If Windows can’t find a new Bluetooth driver, download the latest one from your PC manufacturer’s website. If you downloaded an .exe file, double-click it to run it and install the driver.

9. 9

   Step 9: Reinstall the Bluetooth adapter

   Uninstalling the adapter lets Windows reinstall its driver automatically.

   Try this if you don’t see the Bluetooth icon but Bluetooth does appear in Device Manager.

   Open Device Manager and select Bluetooth. Right-click the Bluetooth adapter name and select Uninstall device, then Uninstall.

   Select Start, then Power, then Shut down. After your PC shuts down, wait a few seconds and turn it back on. Windows will try to reinstall the driver.

   If it doesn’t, open Device Manager and select Action, then Scan for hardware changes.

10. 10

    Step 10: Check the audio output for headphones and speakers

    If a Bluetooth audio device connects but you hear nothing, make sure it’s selected as the audio output.

    Select the Sound icon on the taskbar and make sure the correct Bluetooth device is selected as the audio output.

    You can also select Start, then Settings, then System, then Sound, and under Output confirm your Bluetooth device is set as the output.

    Good to know

    For higher-quality audio streaming, check the device’s documentation or the manufacturer’s website to make sure it supports the A2DP protocol.

Frequently Asked Questions

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