Completely power off the PC to reset its Bluetooth hardware: hold Shift, select Start → Power → Shut down, wait one minute, and then turn it back on.
Restore the missing Bluetooth option
- Perform the full shutdown
- Hold Shift while selecting Start → Power → Shut down.
- Wait one minute, then turn on the PC.
- Use Shut down, not Restart, because Restart might not fully reset the Bluetooth hardware.^1^
- Check whether Bluetooth returned
- Open Start → Settings → Bluetooth & devices.
- If the Bluetooth switch appears, turn it on.
- Put your Bluetooth accessory into pairing mode, select Add device → Bluetooth, and choose it.^2^
- If Bluetooth is still missing, update its driver
- Right-click Start → Device Manager.
- Expand Bluetooth and locate the adapter; its name might contain Bluetooth or Radio.
- Right-click it and select Update driver → Search automatically for drivers.
- Install any driver found, restart if requested, and check Settings again.^1^
- Install optional hardware updates
- Open Settings → Windows Update → Advanced options → Optional updates.
- Install available driver or firmware updates and select Restart now.^1^
If Device Manager has no Bluetooth section
- Look under Other devices for an unidentified Bluetooth adapter.
- Visit the official support website for your exact laptop or motherboard model and install its Windows 11 Bluetooth/Wireless driver. If the download is an
.exe, open it and complete the installation. For extracted.infdriver files, use Device Manager → device → Update driver → Browse my computer for drivers.^2^ - If this computer has never shown Bluetooth, check its specifications. Some computers do not include Bluetooth and require a compatible USB Bluetooth adapter.^2^
- If the PC should have Bluetooth but Windows cannot detect it after installing the manufacturer’s driver and firmware, contact the PC manufacturer because the adapter may have a hardware or model-specific firmware problem.^1^
Also press Windows+A and verify that Airplane mode is off.
References