Windows 11 · Windows
Update or Reinstall a Bluetooth Driver in Windows 11
Source-checked About 10 minutes
Answer
Use Windows Update first, update the Bluetooth adapter in Device Manager, then uninstall and restart only if Microsoft’s Bluetooth troubleshooting calls for a reinstall.
Record the Bluetooth adapter
Open Device Manager > Bluetooth and note the adapter name before changing it. If Bluetooth is absent there, also check Other devices; use the PC model and adapter identity to avoid installing an unrelated package.
Install Windows driver updates
Open Settings > Windows Update, select Check for updates, install available updates, and restart if prompted.
Update the Bluetooth adapter
In Device Manager, expand Bluetooth, right-click the adapter, and select Update driver > Search automatically for drivers. Restart after installation if Windows requests it.
Use the PC manufacturer's driver
If Windows finds no newer driver, use the PC manufacturer's support site and select the exact PC model and supported Windows version. Avoid generic driver-download sites.
Reinstall only when needed
If updating does not help, right-click the Bluetooth adapter > Uninstall device, then restart Windows. If Windows does not restore it, open Device Manager and select Action > Scan for hardware changes.
Test Bluetooth after restart
Confirm the adapter reappears without a Device Manager warning, turn Bluetooth on, and connect one previously known device. If the failure began immediately after an update, check Adapter properties > Driver for Roll Back Driver.
Optional sponsored tool
Updating or reinstalling the Bluetooth adapter uses Windows and the PC manufacturer's driver; FixUWin is not required. Its original sponsored link remains optional, and Tech How may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
- If the adapter stays missing after Scan for hardware changes, stop repeating uninstall cycles. Record the PC model, adapter name, driver version, and Device Manager error code, then obtain the model-specific package or hardware help from the PC manufacturer.
Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Windows.
Microsoft's current Bluetooth guide documents automatic update, exact-model manufacturer drivers, uninstall and restart, and Scan for hardware changes if automatic reinstall fails.