Are you having trouble connecting a Bluetooth device to your Windows PC? Although Bluetooth devices should be able to connect automatically, that’s not always the case. Fortunately, there are ways to resolve the problem.
Keep 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 repair the Bluetooth connection on a Windows PC.
Check the Device Manager
If the Bluetooth driver is incompatible with your operating system version, it won’t appear in the Device Manager. Here’s what you need to do to install a compatible driver:
- Tap “Start” and find the Device Manager using the search bar.
- Launch the program and enlarge the “Other Devices” section.
- Select and right-click the unknown device.
- Choose “Properties” and click on “Details.”
- Pick the “Hardware IDs” option from the “Properties” menu.
- Navigate to the “Value” field and find the hardware identification.
- Right-click the identification and press “Copy.”
- Paste the hardware identification into your web browser to learn the manufacturer and device name.
- After retrieving the information, go to the manufacturer’s web page.
- Download and install a new driver that’s compatible with your operating system.
Reinstall Driver
Sometimes a temporary glitch can disrupt the driver and prevent it from working correctly. In that case, reinstalling the driver should optimize the Bluetooth connection. Follow the steps below to do so:
- Tap the “Start” icon and type “Device Manager” in the search bar.
- Press the top result to launch the program.
- Select the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” section to expand it.
- Hover the cursor over “Unknown USB device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)” and hit the “Uninstall” button.
- Click on “Uninstall” to confirm your decision.
- Reboot 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, head to the Device Manager. The app should now detect the Bluetooth device without difficulty.
Fix Connection on a Paired Device
If a paired Bluetooth device is struggling to connect, follow the instructions below to repair the issue:
- 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” in the bottom-right of the window.
- Click on 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’s documentation. However, the default PIN is usually just “1234” or “0000.”
Windows Bluetooth Not Working After Update
Windows updates are meant to restore the operating system’s functionality. But some users have reported Bluetooth doesn’t work on their devices after installing updates. If you’re facing the same issue, don’t worry. There are several methods that will help you repair the Bluetooth connection.
Enable Bluetooth
You might have forgotten to enable Bluetooth on your PC. The following instructions will help you do so quickly:
- Hold “Win + I” to launch the “Settings” app.
- Head to “Bluetooth & 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 malfunctions, it might prevent you from pairing the Bluetooth device with your Windows computer. Most users can restart the service without difficulty. Here’s how to do so:
- Press “Win + R” to open the Run dialog box.
- Type “
services.msc” in the Run window and click on “Enter.”
- Head to “Bluetooth Support Service.”
- If the service isn’t running, right-click on it and select “Start.”
You should now be able to pair your Bluetooth device without issue.
Tweak Your PC’s Bluetooth Settings
The update could have changed your Bluetooth settings, preventing devices from finding the PC. Follow the below instructions to fix the issue:
- Launch settings.
- Access “Devices.”
- Click on “Bluetooth & 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” section.
- Press “Allow Bluetooth Devices to Find this PC.”
Use the Troubleshooting Tool
The Windows troubleshooting tool is handy for repairing countless system issues. It also handles Bluetooth connection problems and could help you pair your Bluetooth device to a Windows PC.
Here’s what you should do on a Windows 11 computer:
- Press the “Start” icon on the bottom left of the desktop and type “Settings” in the search bar.
- Go through 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 repair Bluetooth issues:
- Press “Start” and launch “Settings.”
- Select the “Update & Security” option.
- Click “Troubleshoot” and head to the “Additional Troubleshooters.”
- Go to “Find and fix other problems” tab.
- Choose “Bluetooth” and hit “Run the Troubleshooter.”
Windows Bluetooth Not Turning On
If you can’t turn on Bluetooth, try running the troubleshooter. Follow these steps to launch the program in Windows 10:
- Click on the “Start” icon and select the “Setting” tab.
- Choose “Update & Security” from the list of options.
- Press “Troubleshoot.”
- Navigate to the “Find and Fix Other Problems” section and tap “Bluetooth.”
- Select the “Run the Troubleshooter” option and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the task.
System bugs can interrupt a Bluetooth connection on a Windows 11 computer. Luckily, the troubleshooting tool can handle the situation and remove the glitch, allowing you to use your paired Bluetooth device. Here’s how you can open the program in Windows 11:
- Tap the “Start” icon in the lower-left of the screen and type “Settings” in the search box.
- Select the app from the search results.
- Click on “System” and tap the “Troubleshoot” option.
- Press “Other Troubleshooters.”
- Navigate to the “Bluetooth Section” and hit the “Run” button.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the task.
Another way of repairing the problem is uninstalling the Bluetooth adapter and activating an automatic reinstallation. Here’s what you need to do:
- Type “Device Manager” in the search field on the taskbar and choose the app from the search results.
- Select the “Bluetooth” option.
- Right-click (or tap and hold) the name of the Bluetooth adapter and click on “Uninstall Device.”
- Press “Uninstall.”
- Shut down 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 fails to do so, you’ll need to complete the task manually. The process is relatively straightforward.
- Open the Device Manager.
- Press “Action.”
- Select “Scan for Hardware Changes.”
Disable Airplane Mode
If Airplane mode is activated on your computer, it will interfere with your Bluetooth devices. After deactivating Airplane mode, your Bluetooth devices should function correctly. The steps below will guide you through disabling the mode:
- Head to “Settings” and navigate to “Network and Internet.”
- Find the “Airplane Mode” section and tap the slider beneath it.
Try using the paired device to check whether this method was successful.
Keep Your Bluetooth Running
Bluetooth issues are frustrating, but they’re usually caused by a minor glitch and only require a quick fix. The good news is that you can successfully pair your Bluetooth device to a Windows PC by reinstalling the driver, running the troubleshooter, or using the Device Manager program.
Have you encountered Bluetooth problems on your computer? Which of the above methods helped you resolve it? Let us know in the comments section below.
