Install, Uninstall & Reinstall Bluetooth Drivers Windows 11/10

To reinstall a Bluetooth driver on Windows 11 or Windows 10, uninstall the Bluetooth adapter in Device Manager, shut down the PC, and turn it back on so Windows installs the driver again.

This guide covers a clean install through Windows Update or your PC maker's package, a full uninstall, four ways to reinstall, rolling back a bad update, the Bluetooth services, and fixes for the driver errors that follow.

How to reinstall the Bluetooth driver in Windows 11

This is Microsoft's own reset for a Bluetooth adapter that is listed in Device Manager but misbehaves. It works the same way on Windows 11 and Windows 10.

1. Select Search on the taskbar, type device manager, and open Device Manager from the results.
2. Expand Bluetooth.
3. Right-click the Bluetooth adapter. Its name often includes the word radio, or a brand such as Intel, Realtek or Qualcomm.
4. Select Uninstall device, then select Uninstall.
5. Select Start > Power > Shut down, not Restart.
6. Wait a few seconds, then turn the PC back on. Windows tries to reinstall the driver during startup.
7. If the adapter does not come back, open Device Manager and select Action > Scan for hardware changes.

If Bluetooth now works, you are done. If the adapter is missing entirely, start with the availability check below.

Why you may need to reinstall the Bluetooth driver?

A reinstall replaces the driver files and the device entry Windows keeps for the Bluetooth radio. It helps when that entry or the driver behind it is damaged, not when the radio is switched off or missing from the PC.

• Bluetooth stopped after a Windows or driver update. The new driver may not suit your adapter, or the update left a half-installed package.
• The Bluetooth toggle is gone from Settings. Windows shows the toggle only when a working Bluetooth adapter driver is loaded.
• Device Manager shows a yellow warning on the adapter, with an error such as Code 28 or Code 43 under Device status.
• Devices pair but drop, stutter or will not reconnect even after you remove and pair them again.
• You moved to a new Windows build and the driver installed for the old one no longer starts.

Microsoft notes that an outdated or incompatible driver is one of the most common causes of Bluetooth connection problems, so a clean driver is the first real fix after the basic toggles.

Why has my Bluetooth disappeared from Windows?

Bluetooth usually disappears from Windows for one of four reasons: the adapter driver failed to load, a Windows update swapped the driver, the radio is turned off in hardware or firmware, or the PC never had Bluetooth. Airplane mode switches the radio off too, so check it first.

If you are not sure the PC has a radio at all, check if your computer has Bluetooth before you change drivers. If Device Manager has no Bluetooth category at all, jump to the missing-Bluetooth steps further down; if the adapter is there with a warning, a reinstall below usually brings it back.

Which Bluetooth driver to reinstall?

Windows uses two kinds of Bluetooth drivers, and reinstalling the wrong one wastes time.

Reinstall the Bluetooth adapter driver

The adapter (or radio) driver runs the Bluetooth chip inside the PC. It is listed under Bluetooth in Device Manager with a vendor name such as Intel(R) Wireless Bluetooth(R), Realtek, Qualcomm or MediaTek. Reinstall this one when Bluetooth is missing, the toggle is gone, or every device fails.

Reinstall the driver for a Bluetooth device

Each paired device (headphones, a mouse, a controller) gets its own entries, often under Bluetooth, Sound, video and game controllers or Human Interface Devices. When only one device misbehaves, remove it in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices and pair it again; Windows sets up its device drivers again during pairing. Leave the adapter alone in that case.

Check whether Bluetooth is available and enabled

A driver cannot fix a PC that has no Bluetooth radio, and a switched-off radio looks exactly like a broken driver. Run these checks before you change anything.

1. Check your PC's product specifications on the manufacturer's site. Microsoft notes that some devices do not have Bluetooth at all.
2. On a laptop with a physical Bluetooth switch on the body, make sure it is switched on.
3. Check Bluetooth from Windows Settings: in Windows 11, select Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices and make sure Bluetooth is on. A working radio shows Discoverable as followed by your computer name.
4. Check quick wireless settings and Airplane mode: select the Network, Sound or Battery icon on the taskbar (or press Windows + A) and confirm Airplane mode is off. Airplane mode turns Bluetooth off.
5. Check Device Manager for the Bluetooth adapter: open Device Manager and expand Bluetooth. An adapter listed there means Windows sees the hardware.
6. If there is no Bluetooth category, look under Other devices for an unknown device, then select View > Show hidden devices.

No Bluetooth category, nothing under Other devices and no radio in the specifications means the PC needs a Bluetooth adapter, not a driver. To switch the radio itself on or off, turn Bluetooth on or off in Windows 11.

Use Windows Update to install Bluetooth drivers

Windows Update is the route Microsoft recommends for most hardware drivers, and the same page holds the Windows Update settings in Windows 11 you need here. Some drivers arrive as normal updates; others wait under Optional updates until you pick them.

1. Windows 11 steps: select Start > Settings > Windows Update, then select Check for updates.
2. Install everything offered and restart if asked.
3. Still in Windows Update, select Advanced options > Optional updates. Install any Bluetooth or wireless driver listed there, plus any BIOS or UEFI update from your PC maker.
4. Windows 10 steps: select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, then select Check for updates and install what it offers.
5. To target the adapter directly, open Device Manager, right-click the Bluetooth adapter, and select Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.
6. If Device Manager reports the best driver is installed, select Search for updated drivers on Windows Update in the same dialog.
7. Restart when prompted, then check Bluetooth in Settings.

Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, and recommends moving to Windows 11.

Install Bluetooth drivers from the manufacturer’s website

When Windows Update has nothing, Microsoft's advice is to get the latest Bluetooth driver from your PC maker's website. Download drivers only from the manufacturer's own site, never from a third-party download portal or a "driver updater".

Your PC maker's package is the safest first choice. Intel warns that computer makers sometimes change or replace its drivers, and a generic package can drop features they added.

1. Find your exact model number on the label under the laptop or on the box.
2. Open your PC maker's driver page, such as HP Software and Drivers, and enter the model.
3. Choose your Windows version and download the Bluetooth driver listed for it.
4. If you downloaded an .exe file, double-click it and follow the installer.
5. If you downloaded a folder containing an .inf file and a .sys file, open Device Manager, right-click the Bluetooth adapter (or the unknown device under Other devices), and select Update driver > Browse my computer for drivers.
6. Select Browse, pick the folder with the driver files, select OK, then Next. Select Close when it finishes.
7. Select Start > Power > Restart if prompted.

For Intel wireless cards, Intel publishes the Intel Wireless Bluetooth Drivers for Windows 10 and Windows 11 page, which lists every supported adapter. The Intel Driver & Support Assistant detects Intel hardware and offers matching updates.

At the time of writing, Intel's page lists Intel Wireless Bluetooth package 24.80.0 for Windows 11 and Windows 10 64-bit, and notes that the driver version installed varies with the wireless adapter. Intel also notes that PCs with Wireless-AC 9560, 9462 or 9461 adapters on 23.10 to 23.50 drivers must unpair all Bluetooth devices before upgrading, then pair them again afterwards. Our Intel Wireless Bluetooth driver download page walks through that package.

Manually install the Bluetooth driver if Windows fails

If Windows does not pick up the adapter after a restart and Windows Update offers nothing, install the driver package yourself. Device Manager's Browse my computer for drivers option (above) works for one PC; PnPUtil is the command-line route.

Manual installation from an INF file with PnPUtil

PnPUtil is built into Windows and installs a driver package from the command line. Use it when Device Manager's browse dialog fails or you are fixing several PCs. Open Command Prompt with Run as administrator first.

pnputil /add-driver C:\Drivers\Bluetooth\*.inf /subdirs /install

Replace C:\Drivers\Bluetooth with the folder where you extracted the driver. /add-driver copies every .inf package into the driver store, /subdirs also searches subfolders, and /install applies the driver to any matching device. Add /reboot to restart automatically if the install needs it.

You should see: PnPUtil reports each package it added and installed. If the package is not the highest-ranked driver for the device, PnPUtil does not force it on, and the adapter keeps its current driver.

Run pnputil /scan-devices afterwards to make Windows re-check the hardware, the same as Scan for hardware changes in Device Manager.

Uninstall the Bluetooth driver

A plain uninstall removes the adapter so Windows can set it up again. Ticking the driver-removal box also deletes the driver package, which forces Windows to fetch a fresh copy instead of reusing the damaged one.

1. Save your work, because the last step restarts the PC.
2. Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
3. Expand Bluetooth. Select View > Show hidden devices if you also want to see adapters that are no longer connected.
4. Right-click the Bluetooth adapter and select Uninstall device.
5. To remove the driver package too, tick Attempt to remove the driver for this device on Windows 11, or Delete the driver software for this device on Windows 10.
6. Select Uninstall.
7. Shut down or restart the PC.

Tick the driver-removal box only when you have a replacement ready: a package from your PC maker, or a working internet connection for Windows Update. Without one, the adapter may come back as an unknown device with no driver.

Check the Bluetooth running driver version

Note the current driver version before you uninstall, then check it again afterwards, so you can tell whether Windows put back the same driver or a different one.

1. Open Device Manager and expand Bluetooth. The adapter should appear with no yellow exclamation mark.
2. Right-click the adapter, select Properties, and read Device status on the General tab. It should show no error code.
3. Open the Driver tab to confirm the provider and version match the package you installed.
4. Select Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices. The Bluetooth toggle should be present and show Discoverable as your computer name when on.
5. Pair one device through Add device and confirm it connects.

From an administrator terminal, pnputil /enum-devices /problem lists every device Windows reports a problem with. A healthy Bluetooth adapter does not appear in that list.

Reinstall the Bluetooth driver

Microsoft's own steps are short: open Device Manager, expand Bluetooth, uninstall the adapter and restart, and Windows reinstalls the Bluetooth driver automatically. Pick the reinstall route that matches how you uninstalled. Each one below ends with a working adapter under Bluetooth in Device Manager.

Method	What to do	When it works
Method 1: Restart the PC after uninstalling the driver	Select Start > Power > Shut down, wait a few seconds, and turn the PC on	The driver package is still on the PC, which is the case after a plain uninstall
Method 2: Scan for hardware changes in Device Manager	Open Device Manager and select Action > Scan for hardware changes	Windows did not pick the adapter up at startup
Method 3: Reinstall using a downloaded driver package	Run the PC maker's .exe, or use Update driver > Browse my computer for drivers with the .inf folder	You removed the driver package, or the built-in driver is the faulty one
Method 4: Use Windows Update after reinstalling	Select Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates, then Advanced options > Optional updates	Windows installed a basic driver and your PC maker publishes a newer one

Microsoft specifically says to use Shut down rather than Restart for Bluetooth, so the radio gets a complete power cycle. Holding Shift while you select Shut down gives the most complete reset.

Start the Bluetooth services

The Bluetooth Support Service (bthserv) is stopped, or a setting is blocking the radio.

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Right-click Bluetooth Support Service and select Restart, or Start if it is stopped.
3. Double-click the service and set Startup type to Automatic if Bluetooth stops working after every restart, then select OK.
4. Confirm Airplane mode is off in quick settings.
5. Select Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters, then select Run next to Bluetooth.
6. On Windows 11, you can also run the Bluetooth troubleshooter in the Get Help app.

Roll back a Bluetooth driver after a bad update

If Bluetooth broke right after a driver update, the previous driver is usually still on the PC. Rolling back restores it without any download. You need administrator rights.

1. Open Device Manager and expand Bluetooth.
2. Right-click the Bluetooth adapter and select Properties.
3. Select the Driver tab.
4. Select Roll Back Driver. If the button is greyed out, there is no earlier driver to return to.
5. Follow the prompts, then restart the PC.

What to do if Bluetooth is missing completely?

Windows has no driver for the radio, it is hidden, or the hardware is switched off at the firmware level.

1. Open Device Manager and check Other devices for an unknown device.
2. Select View > Show hidden devices and look under Bluetooth again.
3. Select Action > Scan for hardware changes.
4. Hold Shift, select Start > Power > Shut down, then turn the PC back on.
5. Install the Bluetooth driver from your PC maker's support page, and any BIOS or UEFI update under Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates.

Bluetooth driver errors and solutions

Symptoms below come from Microsoft's Bluetooth support articles and the questions readers ask after a reinstall. Device Manager error codes appear under Device status in the adapter's Properties.

Bluetooth disappeared after a Windows update

The new build may not suit the old driver, or the update replaced the driver with one that does not work on your hardware.

1. Open Device Manager, right-click the adapter, and select Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver if it is available.
2. If rollback is unavailable, select Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.
3. Check Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates for a newer Bluetooth driver.
4. If none is offered, install the driver from your PC maker's support page.

"The drivers for this device are not installed. (Code 28)"

Windows found the hardware but has no compatible driver for it.

1. Go to the website of the company that makes the PC or the Bluetooth adapter.
2. Download the most recent Bluetooth driver for your model and Windows version.
3. Run the installer, or use Update driver > Browse my computer for drivers with the extracted folder.
4. Restart the PC.

Error code 43 in Device Manager

Device Manager shows "Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43)".

The driver reported that the device failed.

1. Right-click the adapter and select Uninstall device > Uninstall.
2. Shut down the PC fully, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on.
3. If Code 43 returns, repeat the uninstall with Attempt to remove the driver for this device ticked, then install your PC maker's driver.
4. If the error persists with a fresh driver, contact the PC maker, as the radio itself may be faulty.

Bluetooth device not recognized

The old pairing no longer matches the reinstalled adapter.

1. Select Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices.
2. Select More options (…) next to the device, then Remove device > Yes.
3. Put the device into pairing mode and move it close to the PC.
4. Select Add device and pick the device from the list.
5. If it does not appear, set Bluetooth devices discovery to Advanced under Device settings.

Bluetooth toggle missing

The toggle in Settings > Bluetooth & devices and in quick settings only appears when the adapter driver is running.

1. Open Device Manager and check the adapter under Bluetooth for a warning icon.
2. If the adapter shows a down arrow, right-click it and select Enable device.
3. Uninstall the adapter, shut down fully and turn the PC back on.
4. Start the Bluetooth Support Service as shown above.
5. If the toggle is still missing, install the Bluetooth driver from your PC maker's support page.

Bluetooth audio delay

Lag between video and sound on Bluetooth headphones comes mostly from the audio codec and the connection, not a broken driver, but an old driver can make it worse.

1. Install the latest Bluetooth and audio drivers from Windows Update optional updates or your PC maker.
2. Move the headphones closer to the PC and away from USB 3 ports, hubs and Wi-Fi routers that share the 2.4 GHz band.
3. Remove the headphones in Bluetooth & devices and pair them again so Windows rebuilds the audio endpoints. Earbuds that play in one ear only after this need to be re-paired for stereo sound.
4. In apps that offer it, such as video players, use the audio-delay or sync setting to line the sound up.

Tasks after installing the Bluetooth driver

A fresh driver starts with a clean device list, so finish these jobs before you call it fixed.

1. Verify Bluetooth services are running: confirm Bluetooth Support Service shows Running in services.msc.
2. Reconnect your Bluetooth devices: select Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Add device > Bluetooth, put each device in pairing mode and pick it from the list. Devices that support Swift Pair show a notification when they are nearby and discoverable.
3. Check Optional updates: open Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates for a newer Bluetooth or audio driver from your PC maker.
4. Confirm the driver version on the adapter's Driver tab matches the package you installed.
5. Troubleshoot if Bluetooth still does not work: use the errors and solutions section above, starting with the Bluetooth troubleshooter.

Reinstalling vs updating Bluetooth driver

Updating swaps the current driver for a newer version and keeps the device entry. Reinstalling removes the device entry (and, if you tick the box, the driver package) and lets Windows set it up from scratch. Update first when Bluetooth works but is flaky; reinstall when the adapter shows an error, the toggle is gone, or an update did not help. Microsoft's own order is the same: update the driver, and if that does not help, uninstall and reinstall it.

Your situation	Use this	Why
Bluetooth worked before and suddenly stopped	Uninstall in Device Manager, then shut down	Windows reloads its best-matching driver with no download
New PC, fresh Windows install, or no Bluetooth driver at all	Windows Update, including Optional updates	Many Bluetooth drivers ship through Windows Update
Windows Update finds nothing, or you need your PC maker's version	Driver package from the PC manufacturer's support page	Microsoft sends you there when Windows cannot find a driver
Intel wireless card and no model-specific package	Intel Wireless Bluetooth driver page or Intel Driver & Support Assistant	Intel publishes a generic package for its adapters
You have loose .inf and .sys files	Device Manager Browse my computer for drivers, or PnPUtil	No installer to double-click
Bluetooth broke right after a driver update	Roll Back Driver on the adapter's Driver tab	Restores the previous driver without a download
Error Code 28, 43 or a missing Bluetooth category	The troubleshooting section below	Each code points to a different cause

Start with an uninstall in Device Manager followed by a full shut down, and only reach for Windows Update's optional drivers or your PC maker's package if the adapter does not come back working. The built-in reinstall needs no download and fixes most corrupted setups. Your PC maker's driver is the tested version for your hardware, which is why Microsoft and Intel both point you there before any generic package.

Bluetooth driver FAQ

How do I know if my PC actually has Bluetooth hardware?

Open Device Manager and look for a Bluetooth category with an adapter inside it. If there is none, check Other devices and View > Show hidden devices, then check the product specifications on your PC maker's site. Some PCs, especially desktops, ship without Bluetooth.

What should I do if Bluetooth disappeared after a Windows update?

Roll back the driver from the adapter's Properties > Driver tab if the option is available. Otherwise update the driver in Device Manager, check Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates, and install your PC maker's Bluetooth driver if Windows offers nothing.

Is it better to install Bluetooth drivers from Windows Update or the manufacturer’s website?

Start with Windows Update, which Microsoft recommends for most drivers and which needs no manual download. Use the PC manufacturer's website when Windows Update finds nothing or the driver it installs does not work, because that package is built for your exact model.

Will uninstalling my Bluetooth driver remove my paired devices?

Be ready to pair them again. If a device will not reconnect after the reinstall, remove it in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices and add it again. Intel requires unpairing all devices before certain driver upgrades on Wireless-AC 9560, 9462 and 9461 adapters.

Is it safe to reinstall the Bluetooth driver?

Yes. Uninstalling the adapter in Device Manager only removes the device entry, and Windows sets it up again at the next start. Keep a replacement driver or an internet connection ready if you also tick the box to remove the driver package.

Will reinstalling the Bluetooth driver delete my files?

No. A driver reinstall touches only the driver and the device entry. Your documents, apps and settings stay as they are; at most you pair your Bluetooth devices again.

Do I need internet access to reinstall Bluetooth drivers?

Not for a plain uninstall and restart, because the driver package stays on the PC. You need a connection, or a driver package saved from your PC maker, if you removed the driver package or Windows has no built-in driver for your adapter.

Can reinstalling fix Bluetooth pairing issues?

It can when every device fails, because the adapter driver is the common factor. When only one device fails, removing and pairing that device again is usually enough.

What can I try if Bluetooth still does not work after reinstalling the driver?

Shut down while holding Shift, restart the Bluetooth Support Service in services.msc, confirm Airplane mode is off, and run the Bluetooth troubleshooter. If Device Manager shows Code 43 with a fresh driver, contact your PC maker, because the hardware may be at fault.

How do I download Bluetooth drivers for Windows 10?

Run Windows Update from Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, or download the driver for your model from your PC maker's support site. Intel adapters also have a combined Windows 10 and Windows 11 package on Intel's Wireless Bluetooth driver page.

How do I install a Bluetooth driver from an INF file?

In Device Manager, right-click the adapter, select Update driver > Browse my computer for drivers, and pick the folder with the .inf file. From an administrator terminal, pnputil /add-driver with the path to the .inf and /install does the same job. The same steps work when you install other device drivers manually from an INF package.

Why does Device Manager say the best driver is already installed?

That message only covers the places Windows has already checked. Select Search for updated drivers on Windows Update in the same dialog, check Optional updates, or install the package from your PC maker to get a newer version.