My new pc is fully updated with latest Windows 11. There is no pencil option to enable bluetooth. How do I enable bluetooth and instate the icon

Keith Stephens 20 Reputation points
2025-10-14T03:59:54.6+00:00

I purchased a new pc with windows 11 in ealy October 2025. An update has removed the pencil icon to add bt. I cannot find up to date instructions on how to add bt. Could somebody help please?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Internet and connectivity
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Francisco Montilla 31,825 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2025-10-14T04:38:17.41+00:00

Hi Keith,

You are right that the little pencil is gone in newer Windows 11 builds. You can still turn on Bluetooth and bring the button and tray icon back with the steps below.

First, turn Bluetooth on. Press Win+I to open Settings. Open Bluetooth and devices. If the Bluetooth switch is Off, turn it On. Give it a few seconds to initialize.

Next, add the Bluetooth button back to Quick Settings. Press Win+A to open Quick Settings. At the top right, click the small gear labeled Edit quick settings. Choose Add, pick Bluetooth, then click Done. If you do not see the gear, right click any tile inside Quick Settings and choose Edit, then Add.

Finally, show the classic Bluetooth tray icon. In Settings, still under Bluetooth and devices, click More Bluetooth settings. In the window that opens, check Show the Bluetooth icon in the notification area, then OK. The icon should appear near the clock when Bluetooth is on.

If Bluetooth does not appear anywhere in Settings, that points to a missing or disabled driver. Tell me if that is the case and I will give you the exact driver steps for your model.

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  1. Keith Stephens 20 Reputation points
    2025-10-14T17:55:53.45+00:00

    Thank you Francisco. That solved the problem. All working fine now. I am very grateful for your help, maybe I can pass that knowledge to someone else in the future. Why has Win 11 proved so difficult to understand things like this though? It took almost five days to solve with a huge amount of help info relating to previous 11 versions. Thanks again. Keith.

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