In this article, I will guide you on how to fix the missing Bluetooth icon in Control Panel and Device Manager.
Identifying the Problem
If you are facing the issue of a missing Bluetooth icon in the Control Panel and Device Manager, here are some steps to help you identify and resolve the problem:
1. Open the Control Panel by clicking on the Start menu and selecting Control Panel.
2. Look for the “Devices and Printers” option and click on it.
3. Check if the Bluetooth icon is missing from the list of devices. If it is not there, proceed to the next step.
4. Open the Device Manager by right-clicking on the Start menu and selecting Device Manager.
5. Look for the “Bluetooth” category in the Device Manager. If it is missing, it indicates that the Bluetooth driver is not installed or has been disabled.
6. Right-click on the “Bluetooth” category and select “Properties”.
7. In the Properties window, check if the device status is showing any error messages. If there are any error messages, note them down for further troubleshooting.
8. If the Bluetooth driver is not installed, you can download it from the manufacturer’s website or use Windows Update to install it.
9. If the Bluetooth driver is installed but disabled, right-click on the device and select “Enable”.
10. After enabling the Bluetooth device, check if the Bluetooth icon appears in the Control Panel and Device Manager.
11. If the issue persists, you can try restarting your computer and checking again.
12. If the problem still persists, you may need to seek further assistance from the manufacturer’s support website, online forums, or contact a technical support professional.
Restoring Services and Icons
To restore the missing Bluetooth icon in Control Panel and Device Manager, follow these steps:
1. Open the Control Panel on your Windows computer. You can do this by clicking on the Start button and typing “Control Panel” in the search bar. Press Enter to open it.
2. In the Control Panel, search for “Device Manager” and click on it. This will open the Device Manager window.
3. Look for the “Bluetooth” category in the Device Manager window. If you don’t see it, it means that the Bluetooth drivers are missing or disabled.
4. Right-click on the category where you want to restore the Bluetooth icon (e.g., “Network adapters” or “Other devices”) and select “Scan for hardware changes” from the context menu. This will prompt Windows to search for and install any missing Bluetooth drivers.
5. After the drivers are installed, close the Device Manager window and go back to the Control Panel.
6. In the Control Panel, search for “Bluetooth” and click on “Change Bluetooth settings.” This will open the Bluetooth Settings window.
7. In the Bluetooth Settings window, go to the “Options” tab and check the box next to “Show the Bluetooth icon in the notification area.” Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.
8. Now, you should see the Bluetooth icon restored in the Control Panel and the notification area of your computer.
If these steps don’t resolve the issue, you can try restarting your computer or checking for any Windows updates. Additionally, you may find helpful information in the Microsoft Knowledge Base or online forums related to your specific computer model or Bluetooth device.
Updating and Resetting Drivers
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard and select “Device Manager” from the menu. |
| Step 2 | In the Device Manager window, expand the “Bluetooth” category. |
| Step 3 | Right-click on the Bluetooth device and select “Update driver”. |
| Step 4 | Choose the option to “Search automatically for updated driver software”. |
| Step 5 | Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the driver update process. |
| Step 6 | Once the driver update is finished, restart your computer. |
| Step 7 | If the Bluetooth icon still does not appear in the Control Panel and Device Manager, proceed to the next step. |
| Step 8 | Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. |
| Step 9 | Type “devmgmt.msc” and press Enter to open the Device Manager. |
| Step 10 | In the Device Manager window, locate and expand the “Bluetooth” category. |
| Step 11 | Right-click on the Bluetooth device and select “Uninstall device”. |
| Step 12 | Confirm the uninstallation by clicking “Uninstall” in the dialog box. |
| Step 13 | Restart your computer. |
| Step 14 | After the restart, Windows will automatically reinstall the Bluetooth driver. |
| Step 15 | Check if the Bluetooth icon appears in the Control Panel and Device Manager. |
Restarting and Reconnecting
To restart and reconnect the missing Bluetooth icon in Control Panel and Device Manager, follow these steps:
1. Open the Control Panel in Windows by clicking on the Start button and selecting “Control Panel.”
2. In the Control Panel, search for “Device Manager” and click on it to open.
3. In the Device Manager window, locate the “Bluetooth” category. If it is missing, it means the Bluetooth driver is not installed or has been disabled.
4. Right-click on the “Bluetooth” category and select “Scan for hardware changes.” This will prompt Windows to search for any missing Bluetooth devices and reinstall the driver if necessary.
5. If the Bluetooth driver is already installed but the icon is still missing, you can try restarting the Bluetooth Support Service. Open the Run dialog by pressing the Windows key + R, then type “services.msc” and press Enter.
6. In the Services window, scroll down and locate the “Bluetooth Support Service.” Right-click on it and select “Restart.” This will restart the service and hopefully bring back the Bluetooth icon.
7. If the above steps do not work, you can try resetting the Bluetooth settings. Open the Run dialog again and type “control.exe bthprops.cpl” to open the Bluetooth settings.
8. In the Bluetooth settings window, click on the “Options” tab and then click on “Remove all Bluetooth devices.” This will remove all paired devices and reset the Bluetooth settings.
9. After resetting the Bluetooth settings, restart your computer and check if the Bluetooth icon reappears in the Control Panel and Device Manager.
These steps should help you fix the missing Bluetooth icon and reconnect your Bluetooth devices. If you encounter any further issues, you may need to consult online help resources, the Microsoft Knowledge Base, or contact the manufacturer of your device for further assistance.
FAQs
How do I fix my Bluetooth toggle not showing?
To fix the issue of the Bluetooth toggle not showing, try the following steps:
1. Open Troubleshooting settings by typing Troubleshooting in the search bar.
2. Click on Troubleshooting to open it.
3. Select Additional troubleshooters.
4. Look for Bluetooth under Find and fix other problems and select it.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions provided.
6. Test if the Bluetooth toggle is now visible.
Why is my Bluetooth icon missing?
Your Bluetooth icon may be missing because it is not being displayed in the notification area. To fix this on Windows 10, go to Start > Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices > More Bluetooth options. In Bluetooth Settings, make sure to check the box for Show the Bluetooth icon in the notification area.
Why is Bluetooth not showing up?
Bluetooth may not be showing up because the Discoverable option on your device may be disabled. Enabling this option allows other Bluetooth devices to find and connect to your device. If it is turned off, your device will be hidden and you may experience Bluetooth connection issues.
How do I get Bluetooth on my control panel?
To get Bluetooth on your control panel, you need to navigate to the Control Panel from the Windows desktop or by right-clicking the Start button. In the Control Panel, you can search for “Bluetooth” in the search box to access the Bluetooth settings. On Windows 10 Tablet mode, you can find the Bluetooth settings in the Settings icon.
