With default settings, when Bluetooth is turned on, the Bluetooth icon appears in the notification area or system tray of the taskbar. The Bluetooth icon in the system tray allows you quickly access Bluetooth settings, join a personal area network, add a new Bluetooth device, send and receive files.
Many Windows 10 users have complained about the missing Bluetooth icon from the system tray. If the Bluetooth icon is missing from the system tray or the notification area, use the following solutions to restore it back to the system tray.
Turn on the Bluetooth via Settings
As said before, the Bluetooth icon appears in the system tray only when Bluetooth is turned on. In short, if the Bluetooth is turned off, the Bluetooth icon won’t appear in the system tray. Here is how to check the status of Bluetooth and turn it on/off.
Step 1: Open the Settings app by either clicking the Settings icon on the left side of the Start menu or using the Windows logo + I keyboard shortcut.
Step 2: Navigate to Devices > Bluetooth and other devices page.
NOTE: If the Bluetooth page missing, refer to our Bluetooth missing from Windows 10 Settings app guide.
Step 3: Turn on the option labeled Bluetooth to turn it on. Likewise, move the switch to the off position to turn off the Bluetooth.
Since you want to restore the missing Bluetooth icon in the system tray, please turn on the Bluetooth. The Bluetooth icon should immediately appear in the system tray after turning on the feature.
Add Bluetooth icon to system tray/notification area
If turning on Bluetooth didn’t help you get back the missing Bluetooth icon, it’s likely because the system tray icon of Bluetooth has been disabled under Bluetooth settings. Follow the given below directions to enable the Bluetooth’s system tray icon.
Step 1: Navigate to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices page.
Step 2: Scroll down the page to see Bluetooth related settings and options. Make sure that the Bluetooth is turned on, and then click the link labeled More Bluetooth options to open Bluetooth Settings dialog.
Step 3: Under the Options tab, check the option labeled Show the Bluetooth icon in the notification area, and then click Apply button. That’s it! If it’s already selected, uncheck it, click Apply. Wait for a while, check the option, and then click the Apply button again to see the Bluetooth icon in the system tray.
The Bluetooth icon should now appear in the system tray area of the Windows 10 taskbar.
Reinstall the driver to fix the issue
You can also fix the missing Bluetooth icon issue by reinstalling its driver. Refer to our how to reinstall the Bluetooth driver in Windows 10 guide for step-by-step directions.
You might also like to read our fix to the missing battery icon in Windows 10.
Magnus Bohlin says
Useless information – must be a outdated instruction!
Doreen says
Just brought this HP laptop home . Have tried every option given none works.
This is unbelievable…..
Can someone help
Jobson Yalipitan says
My Panasonic PC has Bluetooth but does not have the ICON to start up. Can you help me to down load and install please?
REDLINE007 says
ONLY RESTART COMPUTER HELPS!!! Nothing else works, it is simply missing from all settings, there is no Bluetooth icon in the action menu, no Bluetooth in the settings, nowhere. It only appears back when I restart my laptop (my laptop is Microsoft SyrfaceBook 2, 13.5″ full spec 16gb/1TB,Gforce).
Ron Binding says
Missing Bluetooth icon from device manager, tray and everywhere else. This has a been a problem since at least 2016 according to this thread so why hasn’t MS fixed it?
Priyashi says
Thank you so much
PARIS Coleman says
I was using my Bluetooth headphones while viewing YouTube without a problem and was able to toggle the settings. However, mid-use my Bluetooth headset disconnected, I was unable to find the Bluetooth toggle to reconnect. I did not reset the computer, add/uninstall any programs, or make any changes.
I also switched from manual to automatic to keep the Bluetooth running through services.msc method. There is still no toggle present.
I’m a windows 10 users on a new Acer Aspire laptop. Based on comments I believe this to be a Microsoft issue not the manufacturer of the laptop. What is the resolution??
Jack says
This page is full of s…; as others- advice is not matching the actual layout of W10. Waste of time
Joe Merieux says
I follow the steps above, but there is no Bluetooth on / off slider in my Windows 10.
I thought one of the points of Windows 10 was that the world would be on the same version and 1 set of problem solving instructions would work. But my Windows 10 menus don’t have these options.
Very frustrating.
j says
Nice of you to offer advice, but did not resolve my issue.
Devany says
There is not an option ANYWHERE on my HP Laptop to turn on the Bluetooth. It keeps telling me to turn it on…WHERE!?!?!?!?!??!!?!
Eric says
I want the bluetooth icon to STAY in my taskbar when it’s turned OFF. If I turn it off, it disappears from the taskbar. This doesn’t make any sense. I don’t want my bluetooth always ON. I want to be able to click it in the taskbar to turn it to ON.
Gary Young says
Bluetooth has completely disappeared from my computer.
Gary Young says
I have the same problem as several others, namely that Bluetooth has completely disappeared from everywhere on the computer.
Brian H says
Bluetooth toggle is located in the Quick Actions menu.
mike says
bluetooth works ok, all neccessary boxes ticked and applied, but still no symbol in tray to control it with.
comments please.
windows 10
Darlington says
It seems laptop bluetooth was meant to be on forever,switch it off and you lose it permanently
Shame
Georg says
but why would anyone programme a software liuke this?? We need a buton in the system tray even when BT is off – too simply turn it on when needed. It seems such a no brainer, very smartphone can do it……………. oh Microsoft…….
k. l. m. says
I have same problem as J. David. Bluetooth has completely vanished from computer. Can’t figure out which bluetooth driver to download from Microsoft driver pages….
J. David Bennett says
I cannot use this method since jthe word BLUETOOTH is missing from the list under DEVICES .