Bluetooth missing from Device Manager: how to get it back

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When Bluetooth is missing from Device Manager, Windows is either not detecting the Bluetooth radio or has no working driver for it. Start with Airplane mode and a full shutdown, then install driver and BIOS/UEFI updates from Windows Update or your PC maker.

Applies to:Windows 11Windows 10support ended October 14, 2025
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What it means

Normally Device Manager has a Bluetooth category listing your radio, with a name like "Intel Wireless Bluetooth" or "Realtek Bluetooth Adapter". If that category is gone, Windows isn't seeing the radio, or it sees something it has no driver for. In the second case the device may be listed under Other devices as an "Unknown device", or it may not appear at all.

Microsoft's Bluetooth pages treat this as a driver, firmware or hardware-detection problem. For Windows 11 they say the cause is usually drivers or firmware from the PC maker. For Windows 10 they list stopped system services and recent Windows updates as possible causes. Laptops, desktops with an internal Wi-Fi/Bluetooth card and USB Bluetooth dongles can all be affected.

If the adapter is still listed in Device Manager but Bluetooth is missing from Settings or the taskbar, that is a slightly different problem: see Bluetooth not working in Windows 11. If the adapter shows up with a "cannot start" warning, see Code 10 in Device Manager.

Symptoms and causes

You are likely dealing with this problem if:

  • There is no Bluetooth section in Device Manager.
  • The Bluetooth toggle and the Bluetooth & devices page are missing in Settings.
  • The Bluetooth tile is missing from quick settings.
  • It often appears after a Windows update, driver change or firmware change.

The usual causes, most common first:

Missing, corrupt or incompatible driver
Microsoft calls this one of the most common causes of Bluetooth problems. An update can leave the radio without a working driver.
Manufacturer drivers or firmware
On Windows 11, Microsoft says problems usually trace back to the PC manufacturer's drivers or firmware (BIOS/UEFI).
Radio switched off
Airplane mode, a hardware switch or an Fn key can turn the radio off.
No Bluetooth hardware, or a dongle that isn't detected
Some PCs have no Bluetooth at all, and a USB dongle may not be recognised if it is loose or in a faulty port.
Stuck device state
This is general troubleshooting reasoning, not a Microsoft statement: a device that has stopped responding can sometimes be cleared by cutting its power completely, which is why a full shutdown is worth trying.
Hardware failure
The card or dongle itself may be dead. Driver fixes cannot help then.
Stopped services or recent updates (Windows 10)
Microsoft lists stopped system services and recent Windows updates as possible causes on Windows 10.

How to fix it

Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and move to deeper repairs; stop as soon as the problem is gone.

1.Turn off Airplane mode and check the hardware switch

Easy

A switched-off radio is the simplest explanation and takes seconds to rule out.

  1. Press WinA to open quick settings and make sure Airplane mode is off.
  2. Check your laptop for a physical wireless switch or a wireless/Bluetooth Fn key (the key varies by model). Toggle it and look at Device Manager again.

2.Do a full shutdown, not a restart

Easy

Microsoft's Windows 11 page recommends a full shutdown, which fully powers off the Bluetooth hardware.

  1. Hold Shift and click Start > Power > Shut down.
  2. Wait about 1 minute, then turn the PC back on and check Device Manager.

3.Run the Microsoft Bluetooth troubleshooter

Easy

Microsoft's own tool checks for common Bluetooth faults and suggests fixes.

  1. Open the Bluetooth troubleshooter in the Get Help app at aka.ms/GetHelp-BluetoothTroubleshooter and follow the prompts.
  2. Alternatively, on Windows 11 go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.

4.Look for an unknown device and scan for changes

Easy

Without a driver the radio may be listed as an unknown device instead of under Bluetooth.

  1. Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
  2. Look under Other devices for an "Unknown device" or anything that looks like a Bluetooth adapter.
  3. Click Action > Scan for hardware changes.

5.Install Windows Update, including optional updates

Easy

Driver and BIOS/UEFI updates can be delivered as optional updates.

  1. On Windows 11, open Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates and install any BIOS/UEFI or driver updates, then restart.
  2. On Windows 10, open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Check for updates.

6.Update the Bluetooth driver

Moderate

If the adapter is listed (even as an unknown device), the right driver may fix it. Use drivers from your PC or adapter maker, not driver-updater tools.

  1. In Device Manager, expand Bluetooth, right-click the adapter and choose Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.
  2. If nothing is found, download the Bluetooth driver from your PC or adapter manufacturer's support site and run the .exe installer.
  3. If you only have loose .inf or .sys files, choose Update driver > Browse my computer for drivers and point to the folder.

7.Uninstall the adapter and let Windows reinstall it

Moderate

Forces Windows to detect and set up the adapter again. Only works if the adapter is listed.

  1. In Device Manager, right-click the Bluetooth adapter and choose Uninstall device.
  2. Shut down the PC, wait about 30 seconds, then power on.
  3. If the adapter doesn't return, click Action > Scan for hardware changes.

8.Reseat a USB Bluetooth dongle

Easy

A dongle that is loose or in a bad port won't be detected.

  1. Unplug the dongle, plug it into a different USB port (directly on the PC, not a hub) and check Device Manager.
  2. If your PC has no built-in Bluetooth, a USB dongle is the way to add it.

9.Install a BIOS/UEFI update and contact the manufacturer

AdvancedChanges settings

Microsoft points to PC-maker firmware as a usual cause on Windows 11, and recommends contacting the manufacturer when other steps fail.

Before you start: A failed BIOS update can leave a PC unable to start. Use only the update from your PC maker, keep a laptop on mains power, and do not interrupt it.

  1. Install any BIOS/UEFI update offered by your PC manufacturer, following their instructions.
  2. If the adapter still doesn't appear, contact the PC manufacturer. It may be a hardware fault, and a replacement card or a USB dongle is the workaround.

Check that it worked

  • A Bluetooth category with your adapter appears in Device Manager, with no warning icon.
  • The Bluetooth toggle shows in Settings > Bluetooth & devices and you can pair a device.

If it still fails

  • If the adapter is absent even after scanning for hardware changes and updating firmware, driver fixes won't help. Suspect BIOS/firmware, a dead card or a missing module.
  • Contact your PC manufacturer for support, or use a USB Bluetooth dongle as a workaround.
  • On Windows 10, remember that support ended on October 14, 2025, so consider upgrading if your PC is eligible.

Sources

  1. Fix Bluetooth disappeared in WindowsOfficial · Microsoft Support
  2. Fix Bluetooth problems in WindowsOfficial · Microsoft Support
  3. FIX: Windows 11/10 Bluetooth Missing · HelpDeskGeek

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