Windows 11 Bluetooth not working? 8 fixes to try

2 min read · 8 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

Bluetooth trouble on a Windows PC is usually one of three things: Bluetooth is switched off, the device is paired wrongly, or the driver of the Bluetooth adapter has a problem. The steps below go in that order.

These steps are for Windows 11. The pictures are simplified diagrams of the Settings window, not screenshots, so colours and spacing on your PC look a little different.

Step by step

1. Switch Bluetooth on

   Open Settings with Windows + I and click Bluetooth & devices. Make sure the Bluetooth switch at the top is on. If there is no Bluetooth switch at all, the PC may have no Bluetooth, or the driver is missing.

   Done

2. Turn airplane mode off

   Click the network, sound and battery icons at the right end of the taskbar. If Airplane mode is lit, click it to switch it off.

   Done

3. Check the Bluetooth device

   Switch the headphones, mouse or keyboard off, wait a few seconds and switch it on again. Make sure it is charged and close to the PC. Microsoft also advises keeping it away from unshielded USB 3.0 devices, which can disturb Bluetooth.

   Done

4. Switch Bluetooth off and on

   In Settings, Bluetooth & devices, switch Bluetooth off, wait a few seconds and switch it on again.

   Done

5. Remove the device and pair it again

   In Bluetooth & devices, click Devices. Click the three dots next to the device and choose Remove device. Then click Add device and pair it again.

   Done

6. Set discovery to Advanced

   If the device does not appear in the list, scroll to Device settings on the Devices page and set Bluetooth devices discovery to Advanced. Windows then shows every kind of Bluetooth device.

   Done

7. Run the Bluetooth troubleshooter

   Open Settings, System, Troubleshoot, Other troubleshooters. Click Run next to Bluetooth and follow the steps.

   Done

8. Update or reinstall the driver

   Type device manager into the search box on the taskbar and open it. Open Bluetooth, right-click the adapter and choose Update driver, then Search automatically for drivers. If that does not help, choose Uninstall device and restart the PC. Windows installs the driver again by itself.

   Done

Good to know

If the Bluetooth entry is missing from Device Manager altogether, install the Bluetooth driver from the website of the maker of your PC.

The first pairing is described in how to connect Bluetooth headphones to a Windows 11 PC.

If the headphones are connected but silent: no sound on Windows 11: 7 fixes to try.

In short: Bluetooth on, airplane mode off, restart the device, toggle Bluetooth, remove and pair again, discovery Advanced, troubleshooter, driver.