Most desktop computers and laptops come with a built-in Bluetooth adapter. Although Bluetooth is not as useful as Wi-Fi these days, your PC must have Bluetooth to connect all kinds of Bluetooth devices (such as the headset, speaker, and phone) to your PC.
If you have turned on the Bluetooth but are unable to connect an external Bluetooth device to your PC or are unable to pair your phone with your PC, it could be because of a faulty or corrupt Bluetooth driver.
While we recommend trying other troubleshooting methods out there before uninstalling or reinstalling the Bluetooth adapter driver, uninstalling and then reinstalling the Bluetooth driver fixes the issue in most cases.
Uninstall or reinstall the Bluetooth driver in Windows 10/11
Complete the directions given below to uninstall or reinstall the Bluetooth driver in Windows 10/11.
NOTE: Before uninstalling or reinstalling the Bluetooth driver, we recommend you try restoring the Bluetooth driver to the previous version to check if it addresses the issue.
Step 1: Open the Device Manager. To do that, right-click on the Start button on the taskbar and then click on the Device Manager option.
Step 2: In the Device Manager, expand the Bluetooth category tree to see the Bluetooth adapter’s entry.
Step 3: Right-click on the Bluetooth adapter’s entry and then click the Uninstall device option. This will open the Uninstall device dialog.
Step 4: Check the Delete the driver software for this device option and then click on the Uninstall button.
Step 5: The Bluetooth driver will now be uninstalled from your device. We recommend you reboot your PC once after uninstalling the driver.
Step 6: To reinstall the Bluetooth driver, simply navigate to Settings app > Update & Security > Windows Update page (Windows 10) or Settings > Windows Update page (Windows 11) and then click the Check for updates button. Windows 10 will automatically download and install the Bluetooth driver.
If it does not automatically install the required Bluetooth driver, please manually download it from your PC manufacturer’s website and run the setup file to install it.
Our how-to check the Bluetooth version in Windows 10/11 guide might also interest you.
musa shuaibu says
i cant find the Bluetooth option on my device manager, what do I do?????
Allen says
My PC Windows 10 lost the Bluetooth App when I moved it. Windows update says the PC is updated. Bluetooth is not in the Device Manager. When I reboot the computer, does not change anything, What more can I do?
dominic says
hi i cant find bluetooth on my device manager
Rahul says
hi
i am using the toshiba laptop . I can not reinstall or uninstall the bluetooth in the pc . Can you give the any sujections
Corey Moore says
@Farell I’m getting the same problem. Ever find anything to fix that?
Tajbiul says
i cant find the Bluetooth option on my device manager, what do I do?????
Akshit says
i simply uninstalled the bluetooth driver and restarted my pc and the driver was installed and working properly with all kind of errors fixed
Andres Salazar says
I purchased my OMEN LAPTOP and suddenly my bluetooth dissapeared, just like that I cant use wireless headsets as before, I’ve been trying to reinstall the driver and still doesnt work, any other suggestions?
Trina says
5 times I get Bluetooth error 45. Five times I
Had to uninstall and reinstall Bluetooth. Why does my HP Envy x360 continue to make my Bluetooth inaccessible. I just bought the computer in January.
Farell says
Hi, I have an issue that lately annoys me every time I’m playing games with my bluetooth headset.
The issue is: whenever I use a communicating app (Discord, Line, Skype, Steam, Online Games), I have to change my Headset into Handsfree mode.
I can’t use the Stereo mode as the Communicating device. So when I play games with others, I have to use the bad quality speaker to hear others.
This didn’t happen to me back then, but for some reason, it does. I didn’t change any audio drivers, or messing with audio, bluetooth.
For info: I’m using Sony WH CH700n on my HP Pavilion Gaming 15, Windows 10
admin says
Dave, are you getting any error? Why are you not able to uninstall?
Dave says
I cannot install bluetooth drivers