How to fix missing Bluetooth in Settings on Windows 11

On Windows 11, if the Bluetooth option is not available in the Settings app, there is likely one of three things that could be happening. The Bluetooth adapter might be disabled on the computer, you are dealing with a driver problem that prevents the system from detecting the adapter, or the device doesn’t have Bluetooth hardware.

Regardless of the reason, there’s a solution. You could use Device Manager to enable the adapter or confirm if the computer has a Bluetooth adapter. Also, you can reinstall or update the Bluetooth driver to fix the problem.

This guide will teach you the steps to fix the Bluetooth adapter to allow the feature to be available from the Settings app on Windows 11.

Fix missing Bluetooth on Windows 11

To fix the Bluetooth option in the Settings app on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Start on Windows 11.

2. Search for Device Manager and click the top result to open the app.

3. Expand the Bluetooth branch.

4. Right-click the Bluetooth adapter and select the Enable device option.

   

Once you complete the steps, the Bluetooth option will be available in the Settings app.

Resolve Bluetooth driver problems

If the Bluetooth option is missing from the Settings app, but the adapter is present in Device Manager, the problem could be related to the driver.

In this case, reinstalling or updating the device driver could resolve the problem on Windows 11. However, the driver you need will depend on the adapter you have. For example, the hardware usually comes built into the wireless hardware on laptops or motherboards, or it can be a standalone adapter like USB Bluetooth adapters.

Reinstall driver

To reinstall the Bluetooth driver on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for Device Manager and click the top result to open the app.

3. Expand the Bluetooth branch.

4. Right-click the adapter and select the Uninstall device option.

   

5. Click the Uninstall button.

6. Restart your computer.

After you complete the steps, Windows 11 will try to reinstall the device driver automatically, fixing any issues with Bluetooth, and the option should be available in the Settings app.

Update driver

If you have to update the driver, you’ll have to download the package from the manufacturer’s support website and use its instructions to install the update. However, you can also refer to the steps below to update the device driver.

To update the Bluetooth driver, use these steps:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for Device Manager and click the top result to open the app.

3. Expand the Bluetooth branch.

4. Right-click the adapter and select the Update driver option.

   

5. Click the “Browse my computer for drivers” option.

   

6. Click the Browse button.

   

7. Select the folder containing the Bluetooth driver.

8. Click the Next button.

9. Click the Close button.

Once you complete the steps, the option to add Bluetooth devices should appear in the Settings app.