Have you ever been in a situation where you want to transfer some files or try to connect your phone to your PC, and suddenly realise your laptop has no Bluetooth?
Read more about Tech
Last month, I got a call from an older friend who panicked because she couldn’t find Bluetooth on her laptop. When I checked her system, I just smiled and reassured her that it was not a “broken system” problem. And I went on to help her fix it.
If you’re currently experiencing this with your laptop, what I want to ask you to do first is to calm down. It doesn’t mean your laptop is broken.
This post provides you with simple steps to check, fix, or work around it.
Step One: Confirm If Your Laptop Actually Has Bluetooth
The issue of a computer system not having Bluetooth is a common problem. And it is usually found with refurbished laptops (second-hand).
The reason why this happens is that, in order to refurbish a laptop, a system reset (formatting) is necessary. When this happens, most drivers already installed in the laptop are deleted.
This will need to be reinstalled one after the other. And oftentimes, the dealers, due to the volume of work they have on their hands, forget to reinstall the Bluetooth driver.
So, to know if yours has Bluetooth, here’s how to confirm:
-
Check Device Manager:
Right-click the Start button, select Device Manager, and look for a “Bluetooth” category.
If you don’t see it, go to “Network adapters” to check if a Bluetooth adapter is listed.
-
Search Settings:
Open Settings, type “Bluetooth” in the search box.
If Windows tells you “Bluetooth can’t be found on this device,” your system doesn’t have the feature.
-
Spec Sheet Check:
Your laptop may not have a Bluetooth feature built in. Although in this age and time, this is rare. However, it doesn’t cost a thing to confirm.
Search your laptop model online and read up on the reviews about the model, or head over to the manufacturer’s website. You should get information on whether Bluetooth is part of the hardware.
If your device truly lacks Bluetooth hardware, skip all other steps and head over to Step Five. If it has Bluetooth, but it’s not working, continue to Step Two.
Sign up for the Connect Nigeria daily newsletter
Step Two: Turn It On the Right Way
Sometimes Bluetooth is available but simply switched off. Try this:
- Open Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices and toggle Bluetooth on.
- Some laptops have a keyboard shortcut that you can use. Check your laptop keyboard to see if you can see a Bluetooth icon. If you do see one, press Function + the Bluetooth icon.
- Check Aeroplane Mode. Just like your phone, your laptop turns off Bluetooth when Aeroplane mode is on. If this is the case, turn Aeroplane Mode off.
Step Three: Update or Reinstall Drivers
Drivers are the software that make your hardware work. If they’re missing or corrupted, Bluetooth will disappear. To fix:
- Go back to Device Manager.
- Expand “Bluetooth” or “Network adapters.”
- Connect to the internet and right-click the Bluetooth adapter and select Update driver. Let Windows search automatically.
- If that fails, uninstall the driver. Restart your laptop. Windows will reinstall it.
- If you’ve tried the above and it doesn’t fix it, visit your laptop maker’s website, search for and download the correct Bluetooth driver for your exact model.
Step Four: Run the Built-in Troubleshooter
Windows comes with tools for these issues:
- Open Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters.
- Select Bluetooth > Run the troubleshooter. Windows will detect problems and apply fixes automatically.
Step Five: External Bluetooth Adapter
If your laptop truly doesn’t have Bluetooth, don’t stress. You can still use Bluetooth on your laptop. All you need to do is head over to a Laptop appliance shop and request to buy a USB Bluetooth adapter.
Don’t worry, it is cheap (around ₦3,000–₦5,000 in Nigeria). When you buy one, plug it directly into any available USB port on your laptop. Once connected, Windows will usually recognise it instantly. After that, you can now connect any Bluetooth device.
Other Things to Note
- Windows Updates:
An outdated system can cause Bluetooth issues. So, you may want to consider updating your system.
- Hardware Damage:
If you recently dropped your laptop or spilt water on it, the Bluetooth chip may be physically damaged. If this is the case, an external adapter is your best option.
Register to attend the CN Business Mixer
- BIOS Settings (Advanced):
In rare cases, Bluetooth might be disabled in the BIOS. Restart your laptop, press the setup key (F2, F10, or Del depending on model), and check if Wireless/Bluetooth is enabled.
If you’ve tried all the steps discussed in this post and Bluetooth still refuses to appear, the issue may be deeper than software.
Take the laptop to a trusted technician, but insist they test with an external adapter first before suggesting expensive repairs.
Got something you want to read about on our platform? Contact us: [email protected]