Is the Bluetooth icon missing from Windows 11 taskbar? Do you want the Bluetooth icon always visible on the Windows 11 taskbar? This guide will show you how to add or restore the missing Bluetooth icon to Windows 11 taskbar.
The Bluetooth icon on the Windows 11 taskbar gives you quick access to various settings. Right-clicking on the Bluetooth icon on the taskbar shows Add a Bluetooth Device, Show Bluetooth Devices, Send a File, Receive a File, Join a Personal Area Network, and Open Settings.
If the Bluetooth icon is missing, it’s likely because the Bluetooth option has been turned off under Bluetooth settings.
Add missing Bluetooth icon to Windows 11 taskbar
Step 1: Open the Settings app using search or Windows + I hotkey.
Step 2: In the left pane of the Settings app, click on Bluetooth & devices. Now, on the right side, click Devices.
Step 3: Scroll down the resulting page (Bluetooth & devices > Devices) to see Related settings. In the Related settings section, click on the More Bluetooth settings link to open the classic Bluetooth Settings dialog.
Step 4: Here, under the Options tab, select the checkbox labeled Show the Bluetooth icon in the notification area. Click on the Apply button. That’s it!
The Bluetooth icon should now appear in the notification area of the taskbar. If it’s not visible, click on the up-arrow icon to see hidden icons. You can drag and drop it to the taskbar from the hidden icons box if you want to see the Bluetooth icon right on the taskbar.
Remove Bluetooth icon from Windows 11 taskbar
If at any point, you want to remove the Bluetooth icon from the taskbar, you can do so with ease. Here is how.
Step 1: Perform a right-click on the Bluetooth icon on the taskbar and then click the Remove icon option. The icon immediately disappears from the taskbar.
To see the Bluetooth icon again, you need to complete the directions mentioned at the beginning of this article.
Tip: You can quickly access Bluetooth settings by opening the Quick Settings flyout (Windows + A or click on the battery/volume/Wi-Fi icon to reveal Quick Settings flyout), right-clicking on the Bluetooth icon, and then clicking the Go to the Settings option.
Reinstall the Bluetooth driver to restore the missing icon
If the above solution does not work for you, you can try reinstalling the Bluetooth driver. Refer to our how to reinstall the Bluetooth driver in Windows 11/10 guide for step-by-step directions.
Our how-to check the Bluetooth version number in Windows 11/10 guide might also interest you.
Doni says
Well explained, thanks! Worked like a charm.
Bo says
Worked for me but apparently it constantly goes back to hidden after some Windows 11 updates.
Shaz says
Worked for me, thank you so much for clear and easy instructions!
A.M. says
Worked well for me. Thanks!
Johnny Guitar says
This no longer works in May 2024. You can open the dialog box and click the button, but the bluetooth icon only appears in the taskbar when bluetooth is currently in use and it disappears the second you stop using it, making it impossible to re-enable without entering the settings menu again.
Tom Booth says
thankyou
nice clear instructions – my taskbar bluetooth icon disappeared but now restored
Coralie says
I followed your steps to try and put the Bluetooth icon back onto the computer and when I got to the related topics these tabs were missing:
send and receive files via Bluetooth
more Bluetooth settings
device and printers.
Only Sound and display is there.
I don’t know how to add the icon back to my taskbar where the internet and flight mode are.
Coralie 2/6/23
Trevor says
I’ve disabled my icon 3 times by accident because Microsoft loves making things unusable.
Yannick says
Typical, like often when you search this type of issues, the solutions proposed don’t exist and the screens on my windows 11 are different, really great. In my “related settings”, there is no “More bluetooth settings”!!! So typical.
kevin says
Thanks. Somehow turned mine off, and none of the other instructions I clicked before this had the right answer for me. I’d never have found it on my own
Nicola says
It’s so simple when you see it so well explained. Just a case of not seeing the wood for the trees. Some of these options (and their scattered locations) are not easy to find or illogical! So THANKS!!
Tamer says
Thank you