← Back to Bluetooth won’t connect

Likely fix

Fix: Bluetooth missing or not showing

If Bluetooth is missing completely, the device may have Bluetooth turned off, airplane mode enabled, a missing driver, disabled hardware, or no Bluetooth adapter.

Quick answer

Check airplane mode, restart the device, look for Bluetooth in settings, then check drivers or whether the computer actually has Bluetooth hardware.

Important warning

Some desktop PCs do not have built-in Bluetooth. They need a USB Bluetooth adapter or a WiFi/Bluetooth card.

Try this

  1. 1 Turn airplane mode off.
  2. 2 Restart the phone, tablet, or computer.
  3. 3 Open Bluetooth settings and check whether Bluetooth can be turned on.
  4. 4 On Windows, open Device Manager and look for Bluetooth.
  5. 5 Install pending system updates.
  6. 6 If Bluetooth disappeared after an update, check for driver updates.
  7. 7 If the computer has no Bluetooth hardware, use a USB Bluetooth adapter.

Common causes

Airplane mode is on.

Bluetooth driver is missing or broken.

Bluetooth hardware is disabled.

Desktop PC has no Bluetooth adapter.

Operating system update caused a driver problem.

What to check next

  • Check airplane mode.
  • Check Device Manager on Windows.
  • Check whether Bluetooth worked before.
  • Check whether the PC is a desktop without Bluetooth.
  • Check for pending driver or system updates.

FAQ

Why is Bluetooth missing from my PC?

The Bluetooth driver may be missing, the adapter may be disabled, airplane mode may be on, or the PC may not have Bluetooth hardware.

Do all desktop PCs have Bluetooth?

No. Many desktop PCs do not have built-in Bluetooth unless they include a WiFi/Bluetooth card.

Can I add Bluetooth to a PC?

Yes. A USB Bluetooth adapter is usually the simplest way to add Bluetooth to a desktop or laptop without working Bluetooth.

Related fixes

Fix: Bluetooth headphones not showing up

Bluetooth headphones usually do not appear when they are not in pairing mode, are already connected to another device, have low battery, or need to be reset.

Fix: Bluetooth headphones won’t connect

Headphones that appear but will not connect usually have a corrupted saved pairing, are connected to another device, or need Bluetooth restarted.

Fix: Bluetooth connected but no sound

Bluetooth can connect successfully but play no sound when the wrong audio output is selected, volume is muted, the app is using another device, or the Bluetooth audio profile is stuck.

Fix: Only one Bluetooth earbud works

One earbud usually stops working when the earbuds are out of sync, one side has low battery, the case contacts are dirty, or the earbuds need to be reset.

Fix: Bluetooth speaker not showing up

A Bluetooth speaker usually does not show up when it is not in pairing mode, is already connected to another device, has low battery, or Bluetooth discovery is stuck.

Fix: Bluetooth speaker won’t connect

A speaker that appears but will not connect usually has a broken saved pairing, is already connected somewhere else, or has reached its device memory limit.