Bluetooth: Is Bluetooth not working on your laptop or PC? Fix the issue with this step-by-step guide of 10 methods..

If Bluetooth suddenly stops working on your Windows 11 laptop or PC, it can be quite frustrating, especially if you rely on it for wireless mice, headphones, speakers, or other smart devices. Sometimes the Bluetooth toggle disappears, pairing fails, or connected devices keep disconnecting. The good news is that this isn't usually a major hardware problem; in most cases, it can be fixed with a few simple steps. This guide will show you how to troubleshoot and fix Bluetooth issues on your Windows 11 device step-by-step.

1. Check if Bluetooth is turned on
Press Windows key + A to open the Quick Settings Panel.
Check if the Bluetooth icon is turned on. If it's off, turn it on.
You can also manually toggle Bluetooth in Settings > Bluetooth & Devices.

2. Run the Bluetooth Troubleshooter
Windows 11 comes with a built-in troubleshooting tool that can automatically detect and fix Bluetooth problems.

Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
Scroll down and click the Run button next to Bluetooth.
Follow the on-screen instructions and let Windows find the problem.

3. Restart Bluetooth Services
If the Bluetooth service isn't running correctly in the background, it can cause connectivity issues.

Press Windows + R and type services.msc
Scroll down and find these three services: Bluetooth Audio Gateway Service, Bluetooth Support Service, and Bluetooth User Support Service.
Right-click on each one and select Restart.

4. Update Bluetooth Drivers in Device Manager
Outdated or corrupted Bluetooth drivers can also be the cause of this problem.

Open Start > Device Manager.
Expand the Bluetooth section.
Right-click on your Bluetooth adapter (such as Intel, Qualcomm, or Realtek) and select Update driver > Search automatically.

If this doesn't work, uninstall the device driver and restart your system. Windows will automatically reinstall the driver after a reboot.

5. Turn Airplane Mode On/Off
Sometimes, toggling Airplane mode helps reset Bluetooth glitches.
Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Airplane Mode, turn it on, then turn it off again.

6. Install Windows Updates
Microsoft periodically releases updates to fix Bluetooth-related bugs.

Go to Settings > Windows Update and click on Check for updates.
Install all pending updates and restart your system.

7. Ensure Bluetooth is Not Disabled in BIOS or at the Hardware Level
Some laptops (especially HP, Dell, and Lenovo) may have Bluetooth disabled in the BIOS settings.

Restart your system and enter the BIOS (usually by pressing F2 or the Del key).
Go to the Wireless or Connectivity tab and ensure that Bluetooth is enabled.

8. Reset the Bluetooth Adapter
Sometimes, resetting the adapter also works. To do this, right-click on the Bluetooth device in Device Manager and select Disable device, then enable it again.

9. System Restore or Reset
If nothing else works, you can try the System Restore or Reset this PC option. This can revert your system to a state where Bluetooth was working correctly.

10. Everything Failed? Try an External Dongle
If all the above steps fail, your Bluetooth adapter might be faulty. In this case, try using a USB Bluetooth dongle to see if that resolves the problem.

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