Bluetooth is Not Working in Windows 10: Restore it in 5 Steps

For some of our readers, Bluetooth is not turning on on Windows 10. For others, the system doesn’t recognize certain Bluetooth accessories. If your Bluetooth is not working on Windows 10 (error code 43), it might be because of outdated drivers.

When you can’t add a Bluetooth device to Windows, it’s possible that you’re not following the pairing instructions carefully.

Before you start, please ensure that Bluetooth is turned ON on both devices, press the pairing button and that the device is in pairing mode. Bluetooth won’t detect devices on your PC if you don’t do that.

What can I do if Bluetooth stops working in Windows 10?

1. Reinstall the Bluetooth device

1. 1. Go to Search, type device manager, and open Device Manager.

   

2. 2. Double-click on the Bluetooth option to expand it.

3. 3. Right-click on any driver there and select Uninstall device.

   

4. 4. Now, tick the Attempt to remove the driver for this device option.

5. 5. Click the Uninstall button to confirm the action.

   

6. 6. Finally, restart your PC, and the driver will be reinstalled automatically thus fixing the Intel wireless Bluetooth driver error.

If your Bluetooth is not working on an HP, Dell, Lenovo, or Asus Windows 10 laptop, you might need to uninstall and reinstall the driver to make it work.

You can easily remove and install a new driver via Device Manager. Simply navigate to the section for Bluetooth devices and choose to remove the driver for them.

However, if Windows does not reinstall the driver automatically, you can go to the manufacturer’s website to download the latest version.

2. Update drivers

1. Go to Device Manager and double-click on the Bluetooth option.
2. Right-click on your driver and select Update driver.
3. Choose the Search automatically for drivers option.
4. Wait for the search to complete and install the available updates.

Another solution to try for the Bluetooth not working on Windows issue after reinstalling your driver is to update it. The Windows built-in updater will help you detect any update available for the driver for installation.

Also, you can enter your Bluetooth Manufacturer ID on the official website to download and install the driver.

Alternatively, instead of the stressful and sometimes confusing process of installing drivers manually, we recommend using professional software that performs an in-depth scan and downloads the most suitable drivers for your PC with just a few clicks.

Dedicated software can also automatically fix damaged drivers to ensure your PC is always running at its best.

We recommend using specialized driver updaters because they are lightweight and easy to use. In addition, it is compatible with any Windows PC starting from Windows 7.

⇒ Get PC HelpSoft Driver Updater

3. Check if the Bluetooth service is running

1. Press the Windows key + S and type services.msc. Select the Services option.
   
2. Find the Bluetooth Support Service and right-click it.
3. If the service is not enabled, select the Start option.
   
4. If it’s enabled, right-click it and select Restart.
   
5. Wait for the process to finish then restart your computer. The Bluetooth not working on Windows 10 after update issue will be solved.

4. Run the Troubleshooter

1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
2. Select the Updates & Security option.
   
3. Click Troubleshoot in the left pane. 
   
4. Select the Additional troubleshooters option.
   
5. Now, choose Bluetooth.
   
6. Finally, click the Run the troubleshooter button.
   
7. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process and restart your computer. The Bluetooth stopped working issue will be solved afterward.

If Bluetooth and other wireless connections like WiFi are not working on Windows 10, the built-in troubleshooter is one of the practical tools to fix them. Remember to restart your PC after the troubleshooting process is complete.

5. Change Power Saving options

1. Open Device Manager then expand the Bluetooth section and double-click the driver.
2. When the Properties window opens, navigate to Power Management and uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power. Finally, click OK.

Although it may seem unrelated, your power-saving settings may disable the Bluetooth device.

Sometimes, you can’t find your Power Plans when you need them the most. In that case, we recommend you run the troubleshooting and try again.

Users who reported the following similar errors will also be able to fix them with the solutions above:

• Bluetooth is not available on Windows 10 – If Windows 10 says this Bluetooth is not available on this device, you’ll likely see an error message. Use that error message to investigate the problem further.
• The Bluetooth unable to connect on Windows 10 – Bluetooth connection problems are usually the most common Bluetooth-related problems.
• Bluetooth disappeared from Windows 10 – A particular system error can cause Bluetooth to disappear from Windows 10 completely.
• Bluetooth not detecting devices on Windows 10 – Although everything looks just fine, it’s possible that the Bluetooth service isn’t able even to detect other devices.

Why is my Bluetooth not in Device Manager?

If you can’t find your Bluetooth device in the Device Manager, it might be because of an outdated or faulty driver. You can fix this quickly by updating or reinstalling your driver, as shown in this guide.

Another known cause of the issue is an outdated PC. Updating your operating system should help restore normalcy here.

That’s about it. We hope at least one of these solutions helped you resolve the Bluetooth problem in Windows 10.

If you updated to the latest version of the OS, we prepared a separate guide on how to fix your Bluetooth in Windows 11.

While troubleshooting this problem, you might also be interested in our guide on what to do if your Bluetooth headphones are not working in Windows 11.

If you have any questions or suggestions, just let us know in the comments below.