How To Fix Windows 11 Bluetooth Not Working

From connecting headphones to our phone to using a mouse on the computer, Bluetooth is something many of us rely on every day.

The ability to easily connect to nearby wireless devices is great, but only when it’s working properly. Bluetooth issues are extremely frustrating, and if you’re reading this article, they’re probably affecting you right now.

However, all hope is not lost. There are many Bluetooth issues in Windows 11 that can be fixed without waiting for an update to fix it. Here are nine things to try.

Make sure Bluetooth is on

It seems incredibly obvious, but it’s worth checking that Bluetooth hasn’t been accidentally disabled. If you’ve adjusted volume, brightness, and Wi-Fi in the Action Center, a single click or tap can disable Bluetooth.

Click the Wi-Fi, volume, or battery icons in the taskbar to bring up the Action Center, then check to see if the Bluetooth icon (highlighted in red below) is on. Otherwise, click to activate, then select the right arrow next to it to see available devices.

Make sure Airplane mode is off

Bluetooth can still work with Airplane mode on, but it will automatically turn off every time you turn it on.

Go back to the action center and make sure the airplane mode icon (which looks like an airplane) isn’t on.

Enable Bluetooth here or via Settings > Bluetooth & devices. It’s also worth checking to see if a message that says “Discoverable as…” indicates that everything here is working as expected.

Restart your device

Another obvious problem, but you might be surprised how many problems a simple restart can fix, including those related to Bluetooth:

1. Open the start menu

2. Click the power icon, which looks like a circle with a small vertical line

3. In the menu that appears, click “Restart”

Once your computer is back up and running, try connecting to a Bluetooth device as you normally would.

Run the Bluetooth troubleshooter

Windows 11 integrates various troubleshooters into the Settings app, and Bluetooth is one of them. To run it:

1. Head to Settings > System > Troubleshoot

2. Select “Other convenience stores”

3. Under the “Other” subheading, you should see a Bluetooth option. Click “Run”

After a few seconds, the troubleshooting will be complete. If any issues were found and resolved, check if Bluetooth is working properly.

Restart Bluetooth services

The Windows 11 device itself isn’t the only thing you can restart. You can do the same with the Bluetooth service, which may fix any issues with them:

1. Use Windows + R to open the Run menu, then type ‘services.msc’ and press Enter

2. In the Services window that appears, look for anything that mentions Bluetooth in the alphabetical list. There should be three in total: Audio Gateway, Support and User Support

3. Double-click each one, then set the “Startup type” to “Automatic” and click “Start” if it’s not greyed out. Click ‘OK’ to confirm

4. Once all three are done, restart your device

Update Bluetooth Drivers

Most Windows 11 drivers are updated automatically in the background, but there may still be updates that haven’t been installed yet. Check:

1. In the search bar next to the start menu, type “device manager” and open the corresponding application

2. Double-click on the “Bluetooth” section to expand it, then locate the specific Bluetooth adapter for your device. It must mention Intel, Realtek or Broadcom

Tip: If you don’t see Bluetooth in the list, click “Show” at the top of the window, then “Show hidden devices.”

3. Right-click on the Bluetooth adapter and select “Update Driver”

4. In the window that appears, click “Search automatically for drivers”

After a few seconds, Windows 11 will check if you have the latest drivers. Otherwise, the latest version will be installed.

But Device Manager can’t find any driver updates, it’s worth rechecking via third-party software. IOBit’s Driver Booster 10 is our top pick, and the free version offers everything you need here.

Reinstall Bluetooth Drivers

If you managed to install a driver update but nothing changed, it’s worth trying to reinstall them:

1. Go back to Device Manager and identify the Bluetooth adapter again

2. Right-click on it, but this time choose “Uninstall device”

3. In the pop-up window that appears, click “Uninstall” to confirm

4. Restart your device and the driver will be automatically reinstalled

Wait for a few minutes and then check if the issue has been resolved.

Prevent Bluetooth from turning off automatically

In order to save power, Windows 11 sometimes puts features like Bluetooth to sleep. This is generally correct, but it may affect your connection. To disable this:

1. Go back to Device Manager and identify the Bluetooth adapter again

2. Right click on it, but this time choose “Properties”

3. Select the “Power Management” tab at the top

4. Uncheck the box next to “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power”

5. Click ‘OK’ to confirm, then restart your device

Update Windows 11 software

Bluetooth issues may be caused by a bug in the version of Windows 11 you’re using. Installing a new update is the easiest way to fix this issue:

1. Head to Settings > Windows Update

2. Download and install any updates already present (this will require a reboot), then click “Check for updates”

3. After a few seconds, all available ones will appear. If nothing shows up, go to Advanced Options > Optional Updates and also install everything you see there.

But if nothing is available and you are sure that a faulty update is causing the Bluetooth problems, you can uninstall it and revert to the previous version:

1. Head to Settings > Windows Update > Update History

2. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click “Uninstall updates”

3. Locate the most recently installed one, then click “Uninstall” followed by “Uninstall” again to confirm

This process will take several minutes and your device should restart automatically. None of your files or settings will be affected.

At least one of the solutions above will fix the vast majority of Bluetooth issues you’re having on Windows 11. If not, it’s likely to be related to the devices you’re connecting rather than your computer itself.

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