Bluetooth normally appears next to Wi‑Fi in the Windows 11 quick settings, but it disappeared this morning. Restarting the laptop and running the Bluetooth troubleshooter didn't help. This has happened before after a bad startup or lost connection, but this time Bluetooth is completely missing, including from Device Manager. I also installed the latest Bluetooth driver from Intel, but nothing changed. What else should I check?
3 Answers
If the adapter is missing completely, install the Bluetooth and chipset drivers from your laptop manufacturer’s support page rather than relying only on a generic Intel package. The manufacturer may also provide a wireless LAN package that includes the Bluetooth driver. After installing, restart fully—not just by closing the lid—and check Device Manager again.
In Device Manager, enable View > Show hidden devices and check under Bluetooth, Network adapters, and Unknown devices. If you find the Bluetooth adapter, uninstall the device, restart the laptop, and let Windows detect it again. You can also use Action > Scan for hardware changes afterward.
I checked Device Manager, but Bluetooth doesn’t appear there at all, even before trying to uninstall anything.
Check whether Bluetooth or the wireless adapter has been disabled with a physical wireless key, Fn shortcut, or BIOS/UEFI setting. Also look in Windows Settings under Bluetooth & devices and run Windows Update, including optional driver updates. If the adapter still doesn’t appear anywhere after the correct drivers and a restart, the internal Bluetooth hardware may not be initializing properly, and a USB Bluetooth adapter can help confirm that.
Installing the Intel Bluetooth driver didn’t change anything, so I’ll try the laptop maker’s Bluetooth and chipset packages instead.