Why Bluetooth Stops Working on Your PC and How to Fix It

The most common reasons Bluetooth fails on a PC

Bluetooth on your PC stops working because of one of five things: the adapter is turned off in Windows settings, the driver software is outdated or corrupted, the device itself is out of range or needs to be re-paired, Windows has lost the connection record, or a hardware conflict is blocking the signal. Most of the time it is the first two — a setting you can flip back on, or a driver you can update in about five minutes.

The second most common cause is that your PC's Bluetooth adapter has straightforward been disabled. This happens after Windows updates, when you restart, or when you accidentally toggle it off. Unlike WiFi, Bluetooth does not always show up in your system tray, so you might not notice it is off until you try to connect a device.

Less often, the Bluetooth adapter itself is failing or was never turned on in the BIOS (the firmware layer that runs before Windows loads). If you have tried the steps below and nothing works, the hardware may be dead.

Key Takeaways

Check the Windows Settings app under Bluetooth & devices to confirm Bluetooth is toggled on — this fixes the problem about half the time.
Open Device Manager, find Bluetooth in the list, right-click it, and select "Update driver" to refresh the software that controls the adapter.
If the adapter does not appear in Device Manager at all, restart your PC and check the BIOS to see whether Bluetooth is disabled at the hardware level.
Forget the device in Windows settings and re-pair it from scratch — Windows sometimes corrupts the pairing record and a fresh connection fixes it.
If Bluetooth works for a few minutes then cuts out, the adapter may be overheating or conflicting with WiFi; move away from the router or restart the adapter.

Turn Bluetooth on in Windows Settings

Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings", then click the Settings icon. Go to Bluetooth & devices on the left sidebar. At the top of the page, you will see a toggle for Bluetooth. If it is gray or shows "Off", click it to turn it on.

Wait about 10 seconds for Windows to set up the adapter. If you see a list of devices below the toggle, Bluetooth is now on. If the toggle is already on but grayed out, restart your PC — sometimes Windows gets stuck and a restart clears it.

If the toggle does not appear at all, or if it appears but will not turn on, your adapter may not have a driver installed. Move to the Device Manager step below.

Update or reinstall the Bluetooth driver

Press the Windows key and type "device manager", then open the Device Manager app. Look for Bluetooth in the list. If you see it, click the arrow next to it to expand the category. You should see one or more devices listed — often called "Intel Wireless Adapter" or "Realtek Bluetooth" depending on your PC's hardware.

Right-click the Bluetooth device and select Update driver. Choose "Search automatically for updated driver software". Windows will check for a newer version online and install it if one exists. This usually takes one to three minutes. Restart your PC when it finishes.

If no newer driver is found, right-click the device again and select Uninstall device. Restart your PC. Windows will automatically reinstall the driver from its built-in library when it boots up. This clears out corrupted files that an update alone might miss.

Check the BIOS if the adapter does not appear in Device Manager

If you expanded the Bluetooth category in Device Manager and saw nothing, or if Bluetooth does not appear as a category at all, the adapter may be disabled in the BIOS. Restart your PC and watch the screen as it boots. You will see a message like "Press F2 to enter Setup" or "Press Del to enter BIOS" — the key varies by manufacturer. Press that key repeatedly until the BIOS menu opens.

Look for a section called Integrated Peripherals, Onboard Devices, or Advanced. Inside, find an option for Bluetooth, Wireless, or the name of your adapter (like "Intel Wireless"). Make sure it is set to Enabled. Save and exit the BIOS — usually by pressing F10 and confirming "Yes".

Your PC will restart. Go back to Device Manager and check whether Bluetooth now appears. If it does, update the driver as described above. If it still does not appear, the adapter hardware is likely faulty and will need to be replaced.

Forget and re-pair your Bluetooth device

Sometimes Windows keeps a broken pairing record that prevents a device from connecting. Go back to Settings > Bluetooth & devices. Under "My devices", find the device that is not working. Click it and select Remove device. Confirm the removal.

Now put your Bluetooth device into pairing mode. For most devices, this means holding the power button for three to five seconds until a light blinks or the device says "pairing mode". Check your device's manual if you are not sure.

In Settings, click Add device at the top of the Bluetooth section. Select Bluetooth. Wait for your device to appear in the list, click it, and follow any on-screen prompts. Once it connects, test it to see whether it works properly now.

Restart the Bluetooth adapter if it keeps disconnecting

If Bluetooth connects but then cuts out after a few minutes, or if it works for a while and then stops, the adapter may be overheating or conflicting with your WiFi. First, try moving your PC away from your WiFi router — Bluetooth and WiFi both use the 2.4 GHz frequency and can interfere with each other if they are too close.

If moving the router does not help, restart the adapter. Go to Device Manager, find your Bluetooth device under the Bluetooth category, right-click it, and select Disable device. Wait 10 seconds, then right-click it again and select Enable device. Windows will restart the adapter and reconnect your devices.

If the problem returns after a few minutes, the adapter may be failing. Note the exact model name from Device Manager and search online for that model plus "driver read" — sometimes the manufacturer has a newer driver than Windows offers. If a newer driver exists, read it from the manufacturer's website and install it manually.

Check for hardware conflicts or power settings

If you have tried all the steps above and Bluetooth still does not work, a power-saving setting may be turning off the adapter to save battery. Go to Settings > System > Power & battery. Under "Power mode", make sure you are not in "Power saver" mode — this mode disables Bluetooth on some PCs. Switch to "Balanced" or "Best performance".

You can also check whether Windows is allowing the adapter to turn itself off. Go to Device Manager, right-click your Bluetooth device, and select Properties. Click the Power Management tab. Uncheck the box that says "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power". Click OK and restart your PC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Bluetooth work for a few minutes then disconnect?

This usually means the adapter is overheating, conflicting with your WiFi, or running an old driver. Move your PC away from your WiFi router first. If that does not work, update the driver in Device Manager or disable the power-saving setting that lets Windows turn off the adapter.

My Bluetooth adapter does not show up in Device Manager at all. What do I do?

Restart your PC and enter the BIOS to check whether Bluetooth is disabled at the hardware level. If it is enabled in the BIOS but still does not appear in Device Manager after restart, the adapter hardware may be faulty and will need replacement.

I updated the driver but Bluetooth still will not turn on. What is next?

Try uninstalling the driver completely in Device Manager, then restart your PC so Windows reinstalls it from scratch. If that does not work, the adapter may be disabled in the BIOS — restart and check the BIOS settings for Bluetooth or Wireless options.

Can I use a USB Bluetooth adapter if my PC's adapter is broken?

Yes. You can buy a USB Bluetooth adapter for about fifteen to thirty dollars and plug it into any USB port. Windows will recognize it automatically or ask you to install a driver. This works on almost all PCs and is much cheaper than replacing the built-in adapter.

Why does Bluetooth work on my phone but not my PC?

Your phone and PC have separate Bluetooth adapters. If it works on your phone, the problem is with your PC's adapter, driver, or settings — not with the Bluetooth device itself. Follow the steps above to check whether Bluetooth is on in Windows Settings and whether the driver is up to date.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.