Fix Bluetooth problems in Windows 10

Select Start , then select Settings > Update & Security  > Troubleshoot . In Find and fix other problems, select Bluetooth, and then select Run the troubleshooter and follow the instructions.

Open Troubleshoot settings

If you recently upgraded to Windows 10 or installed Windows 10 updates, the current driver may have been designed for an earlier version of Windows. To automatically check for driver updates:

1. In the search box on the taskbar, search for Device Manager, and then select Device Manager from the list of results.
2. In Device Manager, select Bluetooth, and then select the Bluetooth adapter name, which may include the word “radio.”
3. Press and hold (or right-click) the Bluetooth adapter, and then select Update driver > Search automatically for updated driver software. Follow the steps, then select Close.
4. After installing the updated driver, select the Start  button, select Power  > Restart  if you’re prompted to restart, and then check whether that fixes the connection issue.

If Windows can’t find a new Bluetooth driver, visit the PC manufacturer’s website and download the latest Bluetooth driver from there.

Important: An outdated or incompatible driver is one of the most common causes of Bluetooth connection problems. 

To manually install the Bluetooth driver:

Go to your PC manufacturer’s website and download the latest driver. Then do one of the following:

• If you downloaded an executable (.exe) file, just double-click the file to run it and install the drivers. That should be all you need to do.
• If you downloaded individual files, and at least one file has an .inf file name extension and another has a .sys extension, do the following:
  1. In the search box on the taskbar, type Device Manager, and then select Device Manager from the list of results.
  2. In Device Manager, select Bluetooth > the Bluetooth adapter name. (If it’s not listed there, check in Other devices.)
  3. Press and hold (or right-click) the network adapter, and then select Update driver > Browse my computer for driver software.
  4. Select Browse, select the location where the driver files are stored, and then select OK.
  5. Select Next, and follow the steps to install the driver. When the installation is finished, select Close.
  6. After you’ve updated the driver, select the  Start  button, select Power  > Restart  if you’re prompted to restart, and check whether that fixes the connection issue.

If you don’t see the Bluetooth icon, but Bluetooth does appear in Device Manager, try to uninstall the Bluetooth adapter and trigger an automatic reinstall. Here’s how:

1. In the search box on the taskbar, enter device manager, then select Device Manager from the results.
2. In Device Manager, select Bluetooth. Press and hold (or right-click) the Bluetooth adapter name (which may include the word “radio”), and select Uninstall device.
3. Select Start , then select Power  > Shut down .
4. After your device shuts down, wait a few seconds, and then turn it back on. Windows will try to reinstall the driver.
5. If Windows doesn’t reinstall the driver automatically, open Device Manager and select Action > Scan for hardware changes.

Note: You may need to contact your PC or other hardware manufacturer to obtain the latest drivers for your Bluetooth adapter.

• If you’re prompted to enter a PIN to use your device, but you don’t know the PIN:
  • Check the device’s documentation for a pin, or look for one on the device itself.
  • Try 0000 or 1234.
• If you’re prompted to enter a PIN, but you don’t see a place to enter one on your PC’s screen, type 0000 on your Bluetooth keyboard and press Enter.
• Try to remove the device, then pair it again. Your device might be paired, but not connected—Bluetooth keyboards, mice, and pens connect only when necessary.
  To remove a Bluetooth device, select Start  button, then select Settings  > Devices  > Bluetooth & other devices . Select the Bluetooth device that’s paired but not working, then select Remove device > Yes. After that, pair the device again. For more info on pairing devices, see Pair a Bluetooth device.

If you’re having problems connecting a Bluetooth audio device or hearing sound:

• Make sure the audio device is within range of your PC.
• Make sure the audio is playing through the Bluetooth device. Select Start , then select Settings  > System  > Sound . In Choose your output device, select the Bluetooth device.
• If your device displays as Paired but you can’t hear audio, make sure it’s connected. Select Start , then select Settings  > Devices  > Bluetooth & other devices . In Bluetooth, select the device, and then select Connect.
• Try unpairing, then re-pairing, the device. To unpair a device, select Start , then select Settings  > Devices  > Bluetooth & other devices . Select the Bluetooth device that’s paired but not working, then select Remove device > Yes. After that, pair the device again. For more info on pairing devices, see Pair a Bluetooth device.

If your device is connected, but the audio quality is poor:

• Make sure the audio is playing through the Bluetooth device. Select Start , then select Settings  > System  > Sound . In Choose your output device, select the Bluetooth audio device.
• Pause other things that might be using Bluetooth, such as file-sharing over Bluetooth. For more info, see Fix sound or audio problems in Windows.
• Verify that stereo is selected for the Bluetooth device in order to ensure the best quality audio. To do this:
  1. On the right side of the taskbar, click Volume  and then select the chevron  icon to choose a playback device.
  2. Select the Bluetooth device, and make sure the Stereo option is selected. (The lower-audio quality option is Hands-Free.)
     
  3. If stereo is not available as an option, remove the device in Settings  > Devices  > Bluetooth & other devices and then re-add the device. Then, check the Volume  panel again to make sure that stereo is selected.

If your Bluetooth volume controls no longer work after you install a Windows update, follow these steps.

Warning: Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. For added protection, back up the registry before attempting to modify it.

1. Make sure you’ve installed the latest updates from Windows Update. (A solution for this issue was included in the October 24, 2018—KB4462933 (OS Build 17134.376) update for Windows 10 version 1803.) 
   
   To check for updates, select Start , and then go to Settings  > Update & security  > Windows Update  > Check for updates.
2. Manually disable the Absolute Volume feature by making a change in the registry. To do this, select Start  and type cmd. Right-click Command Prompt in the Search results and select Run as administrator.
3. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command:
   
   reg add HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Bluetooth\Audio\AVRCP\CT /v DisableAbsoluteVolume /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f You may need to restart Windows for the registry change to take effect. Notes: 
   • To re-enable the Absolute Volume feature, type the following command in the Command Prompt window: 
   • reg add HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Bluetooth\Audio\AVRCP\CT /v DisableAbsoluteVolume /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

File sharing

If you’re having problems sharing files over Bluetooth:

• Try using nearby sharing. Learn more about nearby sharing
• Make sure Bluetooth is turned on for both the sending and receiving device. For more info, see Share files over Bluetooth.

Note: Nearby sharing is only available on Windows 10, version 1803 and later.

Phones

The PIN should appear on your phone screen or computer screen. Confirm that you’re seeing the correct PIN on both devices.

Motion controllers

For help troubleshooting problems with Bluetooth-connected motion controllers, see Controllers in Windows Mixed Reality.

Fitness trackers

For help troubleshooting problems with Bluetooth-connected fitness trackers, see your device manufacturer’s instructions.