• To fix Bluetooth problems on Windows 11, open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
  • Click the “Run” button and let the troubleshooter diagnose and apply common fixes.
  • This guide also shows different tips to fix Bluetooth when missing in Settings, Device Manager, and after upgrading to a new version of Windows.
  • Furthermore, you will find specific steps to fix file transfer and audio using Bluetooth.

On Windows 11, Bluetooth is a short-speed and short-range wireless technology that allows you to connect many peripherals (such as speakers, mice, and keyboards) to your laptop or desktop computer without using cables.

Although devices should automatically reconnect when you turn them on and are in range, Bluetooth isn’t flawless, and you will often encounter connectivity problems.

Whatever the problem, you have many troubleshooting steps that can help you resolve the most common issues on Windows 11.

In this guide, you will learn how to fix connection problems with Bluetooth on Windows 11.

  • Fix Bluetooth missing problem in Settings
  • Fix Bluetooth missing problem in Device Manager
  • Fix Bluetooth issues after upgrading to Windows 11
  • Fix Bluetooth pair connection problem on Windows 11
  • Fix Bluetooth file transfer issues on Windows 11
  • Fix Bluetooth audio devices connection not working on Windows 11
  • Fix Bluetooth driver problems on Windows 11

Fix Bluetooth missing problem in Settings

If the Bluetooth settings are missing from the Settings app, the problem could be with the driver or the device not supporting this wireless technology.

To check for driver update to fix missing Bluetooth in the Settings app, use these steps:

  • Open Settings on Windows 11.
  • Click on Windows Update.
  • Click on Advanced options.
  • Under the “Additional options” section, click the Optional updates setting.
  • Click on Drivers.
  • Select the Bluetooth driver update (if available).
  • Click the “Download & install” button.

If the system can’t find any new driver, you can visit your computer manufacturer’s website to download the latest driver and instructions to complete this task.

Open Settings on Windows 11.

Click on Windows Update.

Click on Advanced options.

Under the “Additional options” section, click the Optional updates setting.

Click on Drivers.

Select the Bluetooth driver update (if available).

Click the “Download & install” button.

Fix Bluetooth missing problem in Device Manager

If the driver isn’t compatible with the version of Windows 11, sometimes the Bluetooth adapter may not appear in Device Manager.

To determine whether the Bluetooth adapter is compatible, use these steps:

  • Open Start.
  • Search for Device Manager and click the top result to open the app.
  • Expand the Other devices branch.
  • Select the unknown device, right-click it, and select the Properties option.
  • Click on the Details tab.
  • Use the “Properties” drop-down menu and select the Hardware Ids option.
  • Under the “Value” section, look for the hardware identification.
  • Right-click the hardware identification (for example, USBVID_{ID}&PID_{ID}), and select the Copy option.
  • Use any search engine to research the hardware ID to determine the device’s name and manufacturer.
  • Open the Bluetooth manufacturer’s support website, download, and install a compatible driver for Windows 11.

If the device is having issues, and you uninstall the Bluetooth driver, it could also happen that after restarting the computer, the system won’t reinstall the driver automatically. You could also see an “Unknown USB device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)” entry under Universal Serial Bus controllers in Device Manager. If this is the case, you will have to reinstall the driver manually.

Open Start.

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

Expand the Other devices branch.

Select the unknown device, right-click it, and select the Properties option.

Click on the Details tab.

Use the “Properties” drop-down menu and select the Hardware Ids option.

Under the “Value” section, look for the hardware identification.

Right-click the hardware identification (for example, USBVID_{ID}&PID_{ID}), and select the Copy option.

Use any search engine to research the hardware ID to determine the device’s name and manufacturer.

Open the Bluetooth manufacturer’s support website, download, and install a compatible driver for Windows 11.

Reinstall Bluetooth driver

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

  • Open Start.
  • Search for Device Manager and click the top result to open the app.
  • Expand the Universal Serial Bus controllers branch.
  • Right-click the “Unknown USB device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)” entry and select the Uninstall option.
  • Click the Yes button.
  • Restart your computer.

Once the computer restarts, if you still don’t see Bluetooth listed in Device Manager, click the Scan for hardware changes button on the top-right. If the system still can’t detect the device, you will need to download and install the Bluetooth device driver from the manufacturer’s support website.

Expand the Universal Serial Bus controllers branch.

Right-click the “Unknown USB device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)” entry and select the Uninstall option.

Click the Yes button.

Restart your computer.

Fix Bluetooth issues after upgrading to Windows 11

If you recently installed an update for Windows 11, and the Bluetooth device stops working, it could be that the device uses a custom Bluetooth profile.

If that is the problem, reconnect the Bluetooth device to resolve the issue.

On Windows 11, wireless devices to work must use one of the supported profiles:

  • Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP 1.2)
  • Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP 1.3)
  • Bluetooth LE Generic Attribute (GATT) Client
  • Dial-up Networking Profile (DUN 1.1)
  • Device ID Profile (DI 1.3)
  • Hardcopy Cable Replacement Profile (HCRP 1.0)
  • Hands-Free Profile (HFP 1.5)
  • Human Interface Device (HID 1.1)
  • HID over GATT Profile (HOGP 1.0)
  • Object Push Profile (OPP 1.1)
  • Personal Area Networking User Profile (PANU 1.0)
  • Serial Port Profile (SPP 1.2)

To determine your Bluetooth device’s supported profiles, you must check your manufacturer’s website for documentation.

Fix Bluetooth pair connection problem on Windows 11

When the device is paired but not working, reconnecting it may resolve the problem on Windows 11.

To fix the Bluetooth connection for a paired device, use these steps:

  • Open Settings.
  • Click on Bluetooth & devices.
  • Click the Devices tab.
  • If the device in question shows up as Paired, but it’s not working, click the menu (three-dotted) button on the left and select the Remove device button.
  • Click the Yes button.

Once you complete the steps, connect your Bluetooth device again using these steps.

Open Settings.

Click on Bluetooth & devices.

Click the Devices tab.

If the device in question shows up as Paired, but it’s not working, click the menu (three-dotted) button on the left and select the Remove device button.

Check the documentation to determine the default PIN if the device doesn’t include a display but needs a PIN to pair. However, the default PIN is usually just “0000” or “1234”.

Fix Bluetooth file transfer issues on Windows 11

If you cannot send or receive files using Bluetooth, you can check a few things to fix this problem.

Double-check connection

Confirm the device is paired to the computer with these steps:

  • Open Settings.
  • Click on Bluetooth & devices.
  • Click the Devices tab.
  • Confirm the device is paired to the computer.

While on the page, the device should appear as Paired or Connected. If the device is disconnected, use these steps to connect a Bluetooth peripheral. If the device appears as paired but not connected, click the menu (three-dotted) button on the left and select the Connect option.

Confirm the device is paired to the computer.

Bluetooth OPP support

If your peripheral doesn’t support Bluetooth Object Push Profile (OPP), file transfer won’t work on Windows 11. If you think this is the issue, consult your manufacturer’s support website to determine if your peripheral supports OPP.

Bluetooth file transfer

On Windows 11, you must be on the “Waiting for connection” screen before transferring files.

To open the Bluetooth File Transfer tool on Windows 11, use these steps:

  • Open Settings.
  • Click on Bluetooth & devices.
  • Click the Devices tab.
  • Under the “Related settings” section, click the “Send or receive files via Bluetooth” option.
  • Click the “Send files or Receive files” option.
  • Continue with the on-screen directions to transfer files over Bluetooth.

After you complete the steps, you should be able to transfer files to your computer.

Under the “Related settings” section, click the “Send or receive files via Bluetooth” option.

Click the “Send files or Receive files” option.

Continue with the on-screen directions to transfer files over Bluetooth.

Fix Bluetooth audio devices connection not working on Windows 11

If the Bluetooth speaker is in discovery mode, you probably will hear glitches and low-quality audio. One thing you could do to fix this issue is close the Bluetooth settings to prevent your computer from searching for new devices.

Also, Bluetooth can’t carry a lot of data wirelessly, as such, if you are doing multiple operations like transferring files and listening to music, you will come across audio issues.

In the case that you paired a pair of speakers, but they’re not working. It’s possible that they are not configured as the system’s default output devices.

To configure Bluetooth speakers as default on Windows 11, use these steps:

  • Open Settings.
  • Click on System.
  • Click the Sound tab.
  • Under the “Output” section, use the “Choose your output device” setting and select the speaker to use as default.

Once you complete the steps, you should start hearing sounds from the Bluetooth speakers.

Click on System.

Click the Sound tab.

Under the “Output” section, use the “Choose your output device” setting and select the speaker to use as default.

Fix Bluetooth driver problems on Windows 11

If a driver issue prevents Bluetooth from working correctly, you can use the Windows 11 troubleshooter feature to resolve the problem.

To fix Bluetooth driver problems on Windows 11, use these steps:

  • Open Settings.
  • Click on System.
  • Click the Troubleshoot tab.
  • Click on “Other troubleshooters” setting.
  • Under the “Most frequent” section, click the Run button for the “Bluetooth” option.

Once you complete the steps, the troubleshooter will diagnose and apply common fixes to the Bluetooth device.

Click the Troubleshoot tab.

Click on “Other troubleshooters” setting.

Under the “Most frequent” section, click the Run button for the “Bluetooth” option.

If your device supports Bluetooth connectivity, and you can’t connect an audio device to your computer, you can use the steps mentioned above to update the device driver, and you can also try removing the device and pairing it again.