Bluetooth not working on Windows 11, how to
Nowadays, Bluetooth is essentially a way to go wireless. Used to connect your mouse, keyboard or your favorite wireless headphones, Bluetooth is probably the best way to connect devices to your Windows 11 PC. But what happens when suddenly Bluetooth doesn’t work on Windows 11? Well, you can take matters into your own hands and try to fix the problem.
Bluetooth not working on Windows 11, how to
Almost always, Bluetooth connection problems occur when Windows freezes due to an error or has incompatible or damaged drivers. Either way, this post should help you fix Bluetooth not working on Windows 11 with some quick and easy fixes. So, let’s get straight to the point.
1. Restart your PC
Restarting your PC helps solve simple Windows 11 problems. It also closes all background processes, including those that may be interfering with Bluetooth. After the PC starts, it is a good idea to restart the Bluetooth device as well.
2. Disable airplane mode
Similar to mobile devices, Windows 11 also has a flight mode which effectively prevents your PC from communicating with any network or device. So, if you’ve accidentally enabled Airplane Mode, Windows will automatically turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
You can turn Bluetooth back on or disable Airplane Mode from the Action Center to see if it helps you fix the problem.
3. Check your Bluetooth connections
If you are using multiple Bluetooth devices at the same time on your PC, you may experience connection problems with your favorite devices. To avoid this, you can turn off Bluetooth on nearby devices or disconnect unwanted devices from your PC by following the steps below.
- Press Windows key + A to open Action Center. Right-click the Bluetooth icon to open Settings.
- Use the three-dot menu icon to disconnect unwanted devices.
4. Run the troubleshooter
Your Windows PC is loaded with troubleshooting tools that can help you identify and fix common problems on Windows. You can try to take advantage of the troubleshooting Bluetooth on Windows 11 to see if it can fix the problem. That’s how.
- Click the Search icon from the system tray, type le troubleshooting settings and press Enter.
- Go to More Troubleshooting Tools.
- Then, click the Run button next to Bluetooth and follow the onscreen instructions to run the troubleshooter.
5. Remove the device and pair it again
If the problem with Bluetooth not working on Windows 11 is limited to a particular device, the device may not have been paired correctly. You can remove the device and pair it again.
For this, you can open the Windows Settings app and click on Bluetooth & Devices in the left column. Click Devices, click the three vertical dots on the right side of the devices and select Remove device. Then pair it again.
6. Restart the Bluetooth service
Windows 11 has a service for almost all functions that starts every time the PC starts up. If the Bluetooth service does not work on Windows 11 or does not start properly or there was an error during the operation, you can fix it by simply restarting the service on Windows. That’s how.
- Press Windows key + S to open Windows Search, type services and press Enter.
- In the Services window, scroll all the way down to find the Bluetooth support service. Right-click on it and select Restart from the list.
Now go ahead and check if the Bluetooth is working properly now.
7. Update or reinstall the drivers
The Bluetooth driver on your PC helps Windows interact and connect with your wireless devices. So, if those drivers are outdated or incompatible, the Bluetooth may not work on Windows 11. Therefore, you can try to update the Bluetooth driver from Device Manager to see if it helps. That’s how.
- Click the Search icon from the system tray, type Device management and click on the first displayed result.
- Find and expand Bluetooth, right-click on the problematic device and select Update Driver from the list.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the driver update. You will need to repeat these steps for other Bluetooth devices.
If no updates are available and the problem persists, try uninstalling the annoying Bluetooth driver. Following the above steps and then restart your PC.
8. Update Windows 11
Windows usually responds quickly when it comes to releasing bug and error fixes. So, if the Bluetooth issue is due to a faulty update, Windows may have already released a newer update that fixes the current Bluetooth issues you are facing. Therefore, you can check and install any pending updates for your Windows 11 PC.
Connect again
Bluetooth has become a reliable tool for connecting devices and always having a tidy desk. With different devices using Bluetooth, you may face this problem sometime. Hopefully, the above mentioned solutions helped you to fix Bluetooth issues on Windows 11.