Windows 11 · Windows 11
Fix Bluetooth Missing from Device Manager in Windows
Source-checked About 15 minutes
Answer
Run the Bluetooth troubleshooter, turn Airplane mode off, restart Windows, and scan Device Manager for hardware changes. Install the Bluetooth driver from Windows Update or the PC maker. If no Bluetooth adapter appears after that, confirm the computer actually includes Bluetooth or test the removable adapter.
- Check the hardwareSome desktop PCs do not include Bluetooth.
- Run Get HelpMicrosoft's troubleshooter checks common settings automatically.
- Use the maker's driverAvoid third-party driver download sites.
Confirm Bluetooth should exist
Check the computer's model specifications or the removable USB adapter. A Wi-Fi feature alone does not guarantee Bluetooth.
Check Airplane mode
Open Quick Settings with Windows + A, turn Airplane mode off, and look for the Bluetooth control.
Run the Bluetooth troubleshooter
Open Get Help, search for Bluetooth troubleshooter, and follow its checks.
Restart Windows
Save your work and choose Start > Power > Restart. Recheck Quick Settings and Device Manager afterward.
Scan Device Manager
Open Device Manager, choose View > Show hidden devices, then Action > Scan for hardware changes. Look under Bluetooth and Network adapters.
Install the correct driver
Open Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates. If none is offered, use the exact computer or adapter model on its maker's official support page.
Test the adapter
For a USB Bluetooth adapter, try another direct USB port or another computer. For an internal adapter that remains absent, run the PC maker's hardware diagnostics.
If it does not work
- If Bluetooth has a warning symbol, open Properties and save the device-status code before reinstalling anything.
- If Bluetooth vanished after sleep, install the PC maker's chipset, Bluetooth, and firmware updates.
- If the adapter fails the maker's test or disappears on another PC, replace or service the hardware.
Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Windows 11.
The written instructions were checked against the current official pages linked below. The older video is kept for reference and may show different menus.