How-To: 9 Ways To Fix Bluetooth Problems In Windows 11

Whether you connect headphones to your phone or use a wireless mouse with your computer, Bluetooth is a feature that many people use every day. The ability to easily connect to nearby wireless devices is great, but only when it works. Bluetooth malfunction is a very frustrating problem, and if you are reading this article, you are probably facing a Bluetooth problem.

There are many Bluetooth issues with Windows 11, and there are ways to fix them without waiting for an update. Here are nine solutions.

Check Bluetooth Power

It’s a good idea to check that you haven’t accidentally turned off Bluetooth. This is because you can disable Bluetooth without realizing it while adjusting volume, brightness, Wi-Fi, etc. in the notification center. Click the Wi-Fi, volume, and battery icons in the taskbar, then make sure the Bluetooth icon in notification center is turned on. If not, click to enable it and select the right arrow next to it to see available devices.

check airplane mode

Bluetooth can be used even when Airplane Mode is on, but it is automatically turned off whenever Airplane Mode is on. Make sure the Airplane mode icon is enabled in Notification Center. You can also enable Bluetooth in Settings > Bluetooth & devices.

Restart

It’s obvious, but you’d be surprised how many problems a simple restart can fix. The same goes for Bluetooth issues.

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Tap the power icon.
3. Click on ‘Restart’ in the menu.

After the computer restarts, connect to the Bluetooth device as usual.

bluetooth repairman

Windows 11’s Settings app offers a number of troubleshooters, and Bluetooth is one of them. The execution method is as follows.

1. Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot.
2. Click “Other troubleshooters”.
3. Right under “Others” you will find a Bluetooth option. Click Run.

After a few seconds, the troubleshooter will exit. If the problem has been found and fixed, check that Bluetooth is working properly.

restart the bluetooth service

Windows 11 devices aren’t the only ones that can reboot. You can do the same with the Bluetooth service to fix the related issue.

1. Use Windows + R to open a run window, then type “services.msc”.
2. When the service window appears, find the Bluetooth item. There should be a total of 3 Audio Gateway Services, Support Services, and User Support Services in the list.
3. After double-clicking each one, set the “Startup Type” to “Automatic” and click “Startup” below.
4. When everything is done, restart the device.

Bluetooth driver update

Most Windows 11 drivers update automatically in the background, but some updates may not have been installed yet. The confirmation method is as follows.

1. Type “device manager” in the search bar next to the Start menu.
2. Double-click “Bluetooth” and find your Intel, Realtek or Broadcom adapter (TIP: If you don’t see Bluetooth in the list, just click “Show” at the top of the window, then click “Show hidden devices ”).
3. Right-click on the Bluetooth adapter and select “Update Driver”.
4. Click ‘Search automatically for driver’.

After a few seconds, Windows 11 will check if you have the latest drivers and install them if so. If you can’t find a driver update in Device Manager, it’s a good idea to check with third-party software (I recommend IOBit’s Driver Booster 10).

reinstall bluetooth driver

If you installed a driver update and nothing worked, you can reinstall the driver.

1. Right-click on the Bluetooth adapter in Device Manager, but this time select “Uninstall device”.
2. When the pop-up window appears, click “Uninstall”.
4. Restart and the driver will be automatically reinstalled.

Then wait for a few minutes and check if the issue is resolved.

Disable Bluetooth Auto Pause

Windows 11 sometimes puts features like Bluetooth into sleep mode to save power. This is usually ok, but it may affect connectivity. Here’s how to disable this feature.

1. Right-click on the Bluetooth adapter in Device Manager and select “Properties”.
2. Click on the “Power Management” tab at the top.
4. Uncheck the box next to “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power”.
5. Click OK and restart the device.

Windows 11 Software Update

Bluetooth issues may be caused by a bug in the version of Windows 11 you’re currently using. Installing new updates is the easiest way to fix this issue.

1. Go to Settings > Windows Update.
2. Click Check for Updates.
3. After a few seconds, available updates will appear. If nothing is displayed, go to Advanced options > Optional updates and install the displayed updates.

However, if there are no updates available and the Bluetooth problem was caused by a faulty update, you can uninstall that update and roll back to the previous version.

1. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Update History.
2. Go to the bottom of the page and click “Uninstall updates”.
3. Find the most recently installed update and tap “Uninstall”.

This process will take a few minutes and your device will restart automatically. No files or settings are affected.

At least one of the nine solutions we’ve reviewed will fix most Bluetooth issues in Windows 11. However, if that doesn’t work, the problem is likely with the connected device rather than the computer itself.
editor@itworld.co.kr