Are you having trouble connecting a Bluetooth device to your Windows PC? Although Bluetooth devices should be able to connect automatically, this is not always the case. Fortunately, there are ways to solve the problem.
Continue reading to learn how to resolve connectivity issues with Bluetooth devices on a Windows computer.
Windows Bluetooth not working
Let’s look at several ways to fix Bluetooth connection on Windows PC.
Check Device Manager
If the Bluetooth driver is not supported by your operating system version, it will not appear in Device Manager. Here’s what you need to do to install a compatible driver:
- Tap “Start” and search for Device Manager using the search bar.
- Start the program and expand the “Other devices” p.
- Select and right click on the unknown device.
- Choose “Properties” and click “Details.”
- Choose the “Hardware ID” option from the “Properties” menu.
- Navigate to the “Value” field and find the hardware ID.
- Right click on the ID and press “Copy”.
- Paste the hardware ID into your web browser to find out the manufacturer and name of the device.
- After retrieving the information, go to the manufacturer’s website.
- Download and install a new driver that is compatible with your operating system.
Reinstall the driver
Sometimes a temporary fault can affect the controller and prevent it from working properly. In that case, reinstalling the driver should optimize the Bluetooth connection. Follow the steps below to do it:
- Tap the “Start” icon and type “Device Manager” in the search bar.
- Press the top result to start the program.
- Select the “Universal Serial Bus Controllers” p to expand it.
- Hover over “Unknown USB device (device descriptor request failed)” and press the “Uninstall” button.
- Click “Uninstall” to confirm your decision.
- Restart your PC to complete the task.
After the computer restarts, your operating system will automatically reinstall the driver. To check if the method was successful, go to Device Manager. The app should now detect the Bluetooth device without difficulty.
Repair the connection on a paired device
If a paired Bluetooth device is having difficulty connecting, follow the instructions below to troubleshoot:
- Launch “Settings” and select the “Devices” option.
- Press “Bluetooth” and select the appropriate device.
- Make sure the device appears as “Paired” or “Connected.”
- Tap “Remove Device” at the bottom right of the window.
- Click the “Yes” button to confirm your decision.
- Reconnect the device to establish a stable Bluetooth connection.
Your device may require a PIN to pair. You can usually find this information in the device documentation. However, the default PIN is usually simply “1234” or “0000.”
Windows Bluetooth not working after update
Windows updates are intended to restore the functionality of the operating system. But some users have reported that Bluetooth is not working on their devices after installing the updates. If you are facing the same problem, don’t worry. There are several methods that will help you repair the Bluetooth connection.
Enable Bluetooth
You may have forgotten to enable Bluetooth on your PC. The following instructions will help you do it quickly:
- Press and hold “Win + I” to launch the “Settings” app.
- Go to “Bluetooth and devices.”
- Navigate to the “Bluetooth” option in the middle of the screen and tap the slider to activate it.
Restart support service
When the Bluetooth support service is not working properly, it may prevent you from pairing the Bluetooth device with your Windows computer. Most users can restart the service without difficulty. Here’s how to do it:
- Press “Win + R” to open the Run dialog box.
- Guy “
services.msc” in the Run window and click “Enter.”
- Go to “Bluetooth Support Service”.
- If the service is not running, right-click on it and select “Start.”
You should now be able to pair your Bluetooth device without any problems.
Modify your PC’s Bluetooth settings
The update could have changed the Bluetooth settings, preventing devices from finding the PC. Follow the instructions below to fix the problem:
- Start setup.
- Go to “Devices”.
- Click “Bluetooth and other devices.”
- Scroll to the bottom of the screen and find the “Related Settings” tab.
- Select “More Bluetooth options.”
- Navigate to the “Options” tab and go to the “Discovery” p.
- Press “Allow Bluetooth devices to find this PC.”
Use the troubleshooting tool
Windows troubleshooting tool is useful in fixing countless system problems. It also fixes Bluetooth connection issues and could help you pair your Bluetooth device with a Windows PC.
Here’s what you need to do on a Windows 11 computer:
- Press the “Start” icon at the bottom left of the desktop and type “Settings” in the search bar.
- Review the search results and select “Settings.”
- Press the “System” option and tap “Troubleshoot.”
- Choose “Other Troubleshooters.”
- Select the “Run” button next to “Bluetooth” and follow the on-screen instructions.
The tool works well on Windows 10 computers. Here’s how to use it to fix Bluetooth issues:
- Press “Start” and launch “Settings.”
- Select the “Update and security” option.
- Click “Troubleshoot” and go to “Additional Troubleshooters.”
- Go to the “Find and fix other problems” tab.
- Choose “Bluetooth” and press “Run the troubleshooter.”
Windows Bluetooth does not turn on
If you can’t turn on Bluetooth, try running the troubleshooter. Follow these steps to start the program in Windows 10:
- Click the “Start” icon and select the “Settings” tab.
- Choose “Update & Security” from the list of options.
- Press “Troubleshoot.”
- Navigate to the “Find and fix other problems” p and tap “Bluetooth.”
- Select the “Run the troubleshooter” option and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the task.
System errors can interrupt a Bluetooth connection on a Windows 11 computer. Fortunately, the troubleshooting tool can handle the situation and eliminate the problem, allowing you to use your paired Bluetooth device. Here’s how you can open the program in Windows 11:
- Tap the “Home” icon at the bottom left of the screen and type “Settings” in the search box.
- Select the app from the search results.
- Click “System” and tap the “Troubleshoot” option.
- Press “Other troubleshooters”.
- Navigate to the “Bluetooth Section” and press the “Run” button.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the task.
Another way to fix the problem is to uninstall the Bluetooth adapter and activate an automatic reinstallation. This is what you should do:
- Type “Device Manager” in the taskbar search field and choose the app from the search results.
- Select the “Bluetooth” option.
- Right-click (or long-press) the Bluetooth adapter name and click “Uninstall Device.”
- Press “Uninstall.”
- Turn off your computer.
- After a few seconds, turn on the PC again.
Your Windows operating system should reinstall the driver automatically. If for some reason Windows does not do this, you will have to complete the task manually. The process is relatively simple.
- Open Device Manager.
- Press “Action.”
- Select “Scan for hardware changes.”
Turn off airplane mode
If Airplane mode is enabled on your computer, it will interfere with your Bluetooth devices. After turning off Airplane mode, your Bluetooth devices should work properly. The steps below will guide you to disable the mode:
- Go to “Settings” and navigate to “Network & Internet.”
- Find the “Airplane Mode” p and tap the slider below it.
Try using the paired device to check if this method was successful.
Keep your Bluetooth working
Bluetooth problems are frustrating, but they are usually caused by a minor issue and only require a quick fix. The good news is that you can successfully pair your Bluetooth device with a Windows PC by reinstalling the driver, running the troubleshooter, or using the Device Manager program.
