Bluetooth does not work on a laptop: why and what to do?

02/08/2017 windows | for beginners | laptops

After reinstalling Windows 10, 8 or Windows 7, or simply deciding one day to use this function to transfer files, connect a wireless mouse, keyboard or speakers, the user may find that Bluetooth does not work on the laptop.

The topic has already been partially touched upon in a separate instruction - How to turn on Bluetooth on a laptop; in this material there is more detail about what to do if the function does not work at all and Bluetooth does not turn on, errors occur in the device manager or when trying to install the driver, or it does not function correctly , As expected.

1. Let's find out why Bluetooth doesn't work
2. Bluetooth adapter disabled
3. Laptop function keys to turn on Bluetooth
4. Enabling Bluetooth using Windows 10, 8 and Windows 7
5. Utilities for Asus, Acer, HP, Lenovo, Dell laptops to turn Bluetooth on and off
6. How to enable Bluetooth in BIOS (UEFI)
7. Installing Bluetooth drivers on a laptop
8. Additional Information

Solution 1: Change and expand the Action Center menu

The Notification Center consists of two parts. At the top you will find messages from various installed applications, as well as from the system itself. At the bottom there is a quick actions menu, which contains all the shortcuts for basic settings. To save space or when a number of toast notifications appear, Windows collapses this list.

Simply click the Expand button to reveal all available radio buttons.

Not all shortcuts appear in the Quick Actions menu. However, the Bluetooth icon, although enabled by default, may be disabled accidentally. You need to add it again.

1. Open Notification Center and click Manage Notifications in the top right corner.
2. Once Windows Settings opens, click “Edit Quick Actions Menu.”
3. This will launch Action Center again, but this time it will give you the option to add/remove shortcuts.
4. Click the "Add" button.
5. A list of all available shortcuts that are not yet active will appear. Select Bluetooth and the system will add it to the Quick Actions menu.
6. Click Finish to save your settings.

Note that in edit mode you can also drag and drop shortcuts in any order.

Bluetooth turns on by itself

Most often, Bluetooth turns on itself due to applications that have access to it. Surely each of you saw notifications with Allow buttons when you first launched the program after downloading. It's likely that you didn't think twice about allowing Bluetooth to start automatically.

To find out which applications can launch Bluetooth on their own, you need to:

• Go to Smartphone Settings.
• Next, go to Applications and find the Permissions section.
• Scroll to Bluetooth.
• See which applications have access to it and block it if necessary.

Check application permissions for certain functions.

Another thing is that I don’t understand why turn off Bluetooth in 2021? In our Yandex.Zen, we have long dispelled the myth that Bluetooth drains the battery.

There is a second reason. Often applications rely on Bluetooth to determine location. If it is important to you that your smartphone does not track you , it is better to disable this function:

• Go to Settings.
• Next, click on Location.
• Then go to the Search section.
• Turn off the toggle switch opposite Search for Bluetooth devices.

Disable Bluetooth in location settings.

Well, here the shutdown is quite justified. Many users carefully control all settings in order to prevent any surveillance of their device as much as possible.

Solution 2: Run the troubleshooter

All versions of Windows come with a set of troubleshooting tools that allow the system to diagnose itself and fix any errors it finds.

1. Press the Win + I combination to open Windows Settings.
2. Search for: Bluetooth Troubleshooting and select the appropriate option.
3. In the pop-up window that appears, click “Apply fixes automatically” and then click “Next”.
4. The system will try to fix the problem or suggest a solution after running the scan.

Checking network disconnection

In operating systems of the Windows family, in addition to the main presentation of the Bluetooth wireless adapter, there is a function for servicing its data transmission channel. If there is no connection on the laptop, you will have to check the network settings. To do this, go to the list of existing adapters.

1. In Windows XP - Control Panel - Network Connections.

2. In Windows 7 - PC click on the network icon near the clock, select Network and Sharing Center from the menu. After that, in the left column you need to select Change adapter settings.

The window lists available network connections. One of them has a signature blue badge. This is a Bluetooth network connection. To check its status, turn it on or off, click on the PC mouse icon and select Enable (Enable) from the drop-down menu.

Solution 3: Update, remove and reinstall drivers

If a problem occurs with the connection of a specific device, one of the reasons may be outdated or damaged drivers. You need to go to the manager and update the corresponding application.

1. Press Win + X, and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the Bluetooth section.
3. This section displays the drivers of all devices ever connected to the computer.
4. Select the problematic application from the list, right-click on it, and click Update.
5. Next Run automatic search and update.

1. When the process is complete, restart your computer.
2. If this does not help, you will need to reinstall the driver.
3. Go to Device Manager again, right-click on the application, and select Uninstall.
4. After that, visit the official website of the manufacturer of the problematic device and download the current version of the driver.
5. Run the automatic installer and reboot again.

Additional Tips

In most cases, these manipulations are enough to solve the problem. But there are a couple more points that will help solve the problem of finding devices for synchronization via Bluetooth:

1. If the wireless module on Apple or Android gadgets does not see available devices, try resetting the settings to standard. If this does not help, most likely the adapter is faulty and you need to contact service.
2. The adapter works and turns on on the smartphone, a connection occurs, but no data is transferred. There may be a problem with outdated firmware. Update the software on your phone, turn on the radio, which will find available devices and exchange files.
3. If a laptop with Bluetooth turned on cannot find a smartphone to sync and transfer data, the issue may be in the discovery settings on the phone. The fact is that smartphones have a time limit for connecting via Bluetooth. Perhaps you simply do not have time to complete the connection.

It turned out to be a voluminous article, although in essence everything is simple here - activate the wireless adapter, update the firmware (if necessary) and make a connection. If you still have problems (Bluetooth does not turn on, does not see available devices, does not transfer files), write in the comments. We will try to resolve the issue together!

Solution 4: Scan for hardware changes

As a result of installing third-party programs, some system files may have been changed. It is necessary to diagnose and restore them if necessary.

1. Open Device Manager again.
2. Right-click on your computer's name and select "Scan for hardware changes."

Solution 5: Enable Bluetooth service to start automatically

Among other things, you can check whether the Bluetooth support service is working correctly and enable it to start automatically if the settings have been changed.

1. Press the Win + X combination and select Control Panel.
2. Go to the Administration section, and then to Services.
3. Find in the list: Bluetooth Support.
4. Right-click on it and select Properties.
5. In the Startup type section, set the setting to Automatic.
6. Click Apply and Ok.
7. In the list of services, select the Restart button.

Preparing a Bluetooth adapter on a laptop

This article will tell you where to find and how to enable Bluetooth on Windows 7.

First of all, if the Bluetooth wireless module does not work on a computer running Windows 7, you should check the drivers. Like any other device, the wireless module also needs software.

Therefore, if we are talking about a laptop, then insert the driver disk into the drive and install the necessary software. If there is no such disk, then you will need to log into the support site of your laptop manufacturer. On it you will find all the necessary drivers and additional utilities for working with Bluetooth.

If you are using an external USB Bluetooth adapter, then in order to download the necessary drivers you will have to enter the full name of the device in the search engine. After installing the drivers, we just need to enable the module. This is done by pressing the power key, which is usually combined with activating WiFi communication. It is worth noting that if in Windows 7 the Bluetooth icon disappears from the tray, this means that the module is disabled or the drivers are not installed.

How to reinstall drivers for Bluetooth: Video

Solution 6: Disable Fast Startup

Fast Startup helps speed up the boot process, taking less time to get to the Windows desktop. However, this can lead to random crashes in programs that open at startup.

1. Right click on the Windows icon and select Power Options.
2. In the left menu, go to the Power Button Actions tab.
3. Scroll down the page and uncheck the box: Enable fast startup.
4. Save your changes.

Activate computer discovery

Press Windows + I. In the window that opens, click “Devices” .

Next "Other Bluetooth settings" .

Check the box next to Allow Bluetooth devices to find this computer and click OK .

This function may be needed when pairing with a phone or tablet.

Solution 7: Startup Repair

How to implement it:

1. Open the Windows menu again by pressing the Win + X combination.
2. Select the Reboot option, hold down the Shift key, and click on it.
3. After you restart your computer, System Settings will open with a blue background.
4. Select: Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Repair.
5. Next, log in to your account with administrator rights by entering your password.
6. Run Startup Repair.

Checking BIOS settings

It is worth checking the BIOS parameters only if the laptop was bought secondhand or was turned off for a very long time . The sequence of actions depends on the characteristics and parameters of a particular device. Some manufacturers, such as Lenovo, Sony, equip their products with a separate hardware button for entering the BIOS. On other laptops, you need to press one of the function buttons or a combination of keyboard keys. You can find out exactly how to enter the BIOS from the device’s operating instructions or read it on the Internet.

Only new laptop models with UEFI BIOS have the ability to disable the Bluetooth adapter. In their System Configuration tab, all built-in modules are listed and there is an opportunity to enable or disable each of them. The required tab may also be called Advanced. Here in the Wireless, Bluetooth device items there should be a check mark or the Enable parameter.

Important! If, when entering the BIOS, it is discovered that the laptop has the required tab, but there is not a word about Bluetooth in it, it means that the adapter is physically missing from the device.