Reinstalling Bluetooth Drivers in Windows 10

Completely Reinstalling Bluetooth Drivers on Windows 10

Tired of spotty Bluetooth connections? We’ve all been there. You’re trying to connect a wireless headset for a call, stream music to a speaker, or sync files to your phone, but Windows 10 just won’t cooperate. Sometimes updating the drivers fixes things, but occasionally more drastic measures are required. When Bluetooth woes persist, a clean reinstallation of the drivers often does the trick.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through the entire process of completely removing and reinstalling Bluetooth drivers on Windows 10. While it may sound daunting, we’ll break it down into simple, easy-to-follow steps anyone can handle. These proven techniques have resolved stubborn Bluetooth issues for countless users.

So bid farewell to those Bluetooth blues! Let’s dive in and refresh those drivers.

Before We Begin – Preflight Checks

To ensure the cleanest reinstallation, we first need to confirm a few things:

How to update Bluetooth driver windows 11/10?

That’s it! Also Read: How to update Bluetooth drivers in Windows 11/10. If your Bluetooth driver is missing, then the following are the methods to get them back. Open Device Manager, right-click on Bluetooth, and select Your computer will scan and install the appropriate driver.

How do I remove a hidden Bluetooth device from Windows 10?

Go to the Device Manager. Click on the View menu and select Show hidden devices. Click on Bluetooth in the list below. Right click and select Uninstall Device for each instance of the device that you want to remove. Go to Bluetooth & other devices and then add your device back. For me, the key here was showing the hidden devices.

• Verify Bluetooth is currently enabled on your Windows 10 PC. Head to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth and check it’s switched on. Can’t find the setting? Your PC may lack Bluetooth hardware.

• Check the target device you’re trying to connect is powered up, in range, and has its Bluetooth radio activated. Place it closer to the PC if possible.

• Temporarily disable security software, VPNs, firewalls, and other networking tools to prevent potential conflicts. We can re-enable these later.

• Ensure your Windows 10 OS is fully updated with the latest patches and fixes. Head to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and install any available updates.

• Back up important data in case anything goes wrong. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

With preparations complete, we’re ready to dive in. Let’s completely refresh those misbehaving Bluetooth drivers.

Method 1: Uninstall and Reinstall Bluetooth Drivers

The most direct route is manually uninstalling the current Bluetooth drivers entirely before reinstalling a fresh copy. Here are the steps:

1. Open the Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting it.

   Why won’t Bluetooth work on my Windows 10 PC?

   Now, Bluetooth drivers in Windows 10 PC may further differ based on several factors such as processor type, system type and several other factors. Also, you may need to update your Windows 10 Bluetooth driver from time to time so that Bluetooth and its connected devices work properly on your computer. Just Want To Update Bluetooth Drivers?

   Is Bluetooth driver installer safe to download and install?

   Yes, Bluetooth Driver Installer is safe to download and install on Windows 11, 10. This small freeware utility will try to install generic Microsoft driver for your bluetooth adapter. The program is based on a widely known method of patching %WinDir%\inf\bth.inf file.

   How to reinstall Bluetooth driver Windows 10?

   Click the “ Uninstall ” button. After uninstalling is complete, close the Device Manager. Restart the system. After restarting, open the Device Manager. Next, click on the “ Scan for hardware changes ” icon on the top navbar. This will trigger windows to reinstall the Bluetooth driver. Once that is done, close the device manager.

2. Expand the "Bluetooth" section and locate your Bluetooth adapter. It may be listed under its chipset name like Intel, Qualcomm, Broadcom, etc.

3. Right-click the adapter and select "Uninstall device." Check the box to delete its driver software too.

4. Restart your PC and Windows will automatically reinstall the missing Bluetooth driver.

This nukes the old driver and replaces it with a fresh copy. Hopefully that resolves any quirks or glitches with Bluetooth operation.

Method 2: Update Bluetooth Drivers

If complete removal seems too extreme, you can try updating your Bluetooth drivers instead:

1. Open Device Manager again using the same steps above.

2. Locate your Bluetooth adapter, right-click it, and select "Update driver."

3. Choose to automatically search for updated drivers online or browse your PC for a downloaded driver file.

Updating to the latest Bluetooth driver code can potentially fix bugs and improve connectivity. It doesn’t purge settings and paired devices like a full reinstallation.

Method 3: Use Free Driver Update Tools

Finding exactly the right drivers online can be tedious. Lucky for us, several free utilities exist to automate the process.

Does Windows 10 have a Bluetooth driver?

In Windows 10, the Bluetooth transport driver interface for all devices is converged and uses the Universal Windows driver model. You can write a single driver that runs on all Windows device platforms. The Bluetooth audio driver surface area is diverged for Windows 10 and allows the following two options:

How do I set up a Bluetooth USB dongle on Windows 10?

On Windows 10, setting up a Bluetooth USB dongle should be a plug-and-play process. However, in some cases, you may be required to install the driver manually. It’s always a good idea to check your device manufacturer’s support website to download the latest drivers and follow their instructions.

How do I Connect Bluetooth devices to Windows 10?

To properly connect Bluetooth devices to Windows 10, you should make sure that a proper Bluetooth driver is installed and is working as it should. If the Bluetooth driver is incompatible or having issues, you will not be able to connect to your Bluetooth devices to Windows 10.

Tools like Driver Easy and SlimDrivers detect your hardware, find the ideal drivers, and install them in just a few clicks. They save tons of time hunting for files and browsing support sites.

Updating drivers this way leaves your device’s settings and paired gadgets intact since it doesn’t fully uninstall them like Method 1. Give one of these tools a try for a quick, convenient solution.

Further Troubleshooting Tips

If you’ve tried everything suggested but Bluetooth is still misbehaving, a few additional tactics may help:

• Run the built-in Windows 10 Bluetooth troubleshooter under Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Bluetooth. Let it analyze issues and try potential fixes.

  What is the Bluetooth driver for Windows 10?

  Download Bluetoothv1.10.exe for Windows to driver. Windows 10 Bluetooth driver is as important as any other device driver in your computer. It allows and enables your operating system to interact with Bluetooth devices, and it is also the other way round.

  How do I uninstall a Bluetooth adapter?

  Type or paste devmgmt.msc and press Enter. Double-click Bluetooth to expand the category. Then right-click your Bluetooth adapter and select Uninstall device. (If you don’t see a Bluetooth adapter, try using Driver Easy to scan for missing drivers.)

  How do I update Bluetooth driver software?

  1. Open Device Manager 2. Click on the arrow next to “Bluetooth” 3. Right click on “Intel (R) Centrino (R) Wireless Bluetooth (R) 3.0 + High Speed Adapter” and select “Update Driver Software…” 4. Select “Browse my computer for driver software” 5. Select “Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer” 6.

• Temporarily disable third-party firewall, VPN, and security software that could interfere with Bluetooth connectivity.

• Double check for new Windows system updates under Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Install anything available in case it addresses Bluetooth problems.

• Try a different USB port if you’re using an external Bluetooth adapter.

• Eliminate sources of signal interference like placing the PC/device near a microwave, cordless phone, baby monitor, or large metal objects.

• As a last resort, reset the network settings under Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network reset. This will purge all network adapters and reset them to a clean default state. Reconnect to WiFi afterwards.

With a bit of tenacity and troubleshooting, you can triumph over temperamental Bluetooth on Windows 10. Just follow our guidelines to refresh those drivers and get your wireless gadgets cooperating again. Let us know in the comments if you have any other tips for wrangling Bluetooth woes!

References

1. https://softwarekeep.com/help-center/how-to-install-and-fix-bluetooth-drivers-in-windows-10
2. https://www.drivereasy.com/knowledge/solved-how-to-reinstall-bluetooth-driver-on-windows/