Fixed: Bluetooth Is Not Available on This Device on Windows 10

This blog post will show you How To Fix “Bluetooth Is Not Available on This Device” on Windows 10

 

Bluetooth allows you to connect your computer to other devices via wireless technology. But what do you do if it doesn't work in Windows 10? In this article, we'll discuss the Windows 10 error "Bluetooth is not available on this device.

 

Please try using an external adapter."

 

You might be able to fix it by following these steps!

 

What causes the “Bluetooth is not available” error on Windows 10?

 

This Windows 10 error is often caused by many different things. For example, an outdated Bluetooth driver can lead to this problem. Damage is also possible when using an external Bluetooth adapter.

 

These adapters are also not always connected properly, which causes problems too.

 

The most common causes for the "Bluetooth is not available on this device. Please try using an external adapter" error are as follows:

 

• Problems with your Bluetooth driver
• Hardware issue
• Windows 10 bugs
• Physical damage to your Bluetooth adapter

 

No matter what caused this problem, our guide below will walk you through fixing it. Let’s get started with troubleshooting!

 

Solved: Bluetooth is not available on this device error on Windows 10

 

Here are seven methods to troubleshoot this frustrating problem on your Windows 10 device.

 

First, watch Video How to fix Bluetooth is not available on this device

 

 

Method 1. Turn Bluetooth on

 

A common problem with this OS (and some others) is that certain features like Bluetooth may turn themselves off without warning. When dealing with these cases, just flipping the feature back on in your settings will do!

 

If your computer is having Bluetooth problems, you can fix the issue by turning Bluetooth on from settings.

 

Here are the detailed steps to do just that on any Windows 10 operating device:

 

1. Click on the Windows icon in the bottom left of your screen to bring up the Start menu. Choose Settings, or alternatively use the Windows + I shortcut.
   
   
2. Click on the Devices tile.
   
   
3. Switch to the Bluetooth & other devices tab using the left side panel of the Settings window.
4. Make sure that the Bluetooth toggle is set to On. If it isn’t, click on it once to enable it.
   
   
5. To restart Bluetooth, toggle the feature on and off once, waiting at least 30 seconds in-between. Check if your Bluetooth driver and devices are properly functioning afterwards.

 

Method 2. Disconnect and reconnect the Bluetooth device

 

In some cases, you don’t need to dig deep to find a solution for the Bluetooth problem. Simply disconnecting the wireless device and pairing it again with your computer can solve problems.

 

Note that this method has the best success rate if you’ve already paired a Bluetooth device to your system previously!

 

1. Click on the Windows icon in the bottom left of your screen to bring up the Start menu. Choose Settings, or alternatively use the Windows + I shortcut.
2. Click on the Devices tile. Switch to the Bluetooth & other devices tab using the left side panel of the Settings window.
3. Select the Bluetooth device you’re using, and then click on the Remove device button. Wait for Windows to completely disconnect the device.
   
   
4. After Windows has disconnected the device, it’ll be removed from your device list.
5. Now, click on the Add Bluetooth or other device button, and pair the wireless device again.
   
   
6. Check if you’re still getting problems with Bluetooth after completing these steps. If the issue is still persistent, continue troubleshooting with the next solution found below!

 

Method 3. Run the Bluetooth troubleshooter

 

Microsoft introduced a variety of ways to solve Windows issues, including help straight from your system.

 

The built-in troubleshooters can help you fix your system not being able to shut down. The Bluetooth troubleshooter will attempt to resolve any problems related or unrelated to the system.

 

The next steps describe how you can reach and run this troubleshooter to fix a potential Bluetooth issue.

 

1. Click on the Windows icon in the bottom left of your screen to bring up the Start menu.
2. Choose Settings, or alternatively use the Windows + I shortcut.
3. Click on the Update & Security tile. This is where you can find most of your built-in troubleshooters.
   
   
4. Switch to the Troubleshoot tab using the left-side pane. Here, you should be able to see a troubleshooter titled Bluetooth.
   
   
5. If you don’t share full diagnostic data to Microsoft, click on the Additional troubleshooters link and locate the Bluetooth troubleshooter there.
   
   
6. Click on the Run the troubleshooter button. Wait for the troubleshooter to scan your device and identify any issues.

 

Bear in mind that this troubleshooter is not perfect, which is why we suggest trying it last. It might not detect any issues, but that doesn't mean our other methods can't fix your Bluetooth functionality.

 

Method 4. Start the Bluetooth Support Service

 

Sometimes, services on your computer may become disabled. This happens if you or a third-party turns them off. It can also be a side effect of malware infection or unwanted applications making changes on the system.

 

Turn the Bluetooth Support Service back on to ensure your wireless functionality isn’t disabled.

 

1. Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard at the same time to bring up the Run utility.
2. Type in “services.msc” without the quotation marks, then hit the OK button.
   
3. This is going to launch the Services in a separate window.
4. Find the Bluetooth Support Service from the list. Select it by clicking on it once, and then right-click and choose Restart from the context menu.
   
   
5. Wait for the service to restart, then right-click and choose Properties from the context menu. A separate window should appear on the screen.
   
   
6. Expand the Startup type drop-down menu, and then choose Automatic from the available options.
   
   
7. Doing so will ensure that the Bluetooth service is always running when you boot your computer.
8. Click the Apply button, and then click OK. You may have to restart your computer for the changes to take place.

 

Method 5. Fix your Bluetooth Settings

 

Some users have found that the option for Bluetooth devices to discover your computer may be disabled in Windows 10.

 

This can happen for a number of reasons, similarly to the aforementioned Bluetooth service. This is how you can fix it:

 

1. Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard at the same time to bring up the Run utility.
2. Type in “control” without the quotation marks, then hit the OK button.
   
   
3. This is going to launch the Control Panel in a separate window.
4. Use the search box in the top right to look up “Bluetooth”. From the search results, click on the Change Bluetooth settings link found under the Devices and Printers category.
   
   
5. Make sure to enable the Allow Bluetooth devices to find this PC from the Options tab.
   
   
6. Click Apply after checking the box and then see if your wireless device functions properly.
7. You may need to restart your computer for the change to apply. If it doesn’t work afterward, try a different method from this article!

 

Method 6. Update your Bluetooth drivers

 

Like your system itself, your drivers can become outdated as well. You might have installed Bluetooth drivers in the past and forgot to update them.

 

Your computer could've come with built-in drivers when you first got it which needs an update now. 

 

Here’s what you need to do to update your Bluetooth drivers to solve the "Bluetooth is not available on this device. Please try using an external adapter" problem.

 

1. Press the Windows + X keys on your keyboard and click on the Device Manager option from the WinX menu.
   
   
2. Expand the Bluetooth menu by clicking on the arrow next to it. Right-click on your Bluetooth adapter listed in the menu, and then choose Update Driver.
   
   
3. Select the method of updating your driver. You can either let Windows 10 search for a driver automatically, or manually locate a new driver file already on your computer.
   
   
4. Wait for the driver installation to complete. Repeat this for any other Bluetooth adapter drivers you use, and see if the issue has been fixed.

 

Method 7. Reinstall your Bluetooth drivers

 

If updating wasn’t enough, you can try to completely reinstall your Bluetooth drivers. This is going to fix any corrupt or missing files, as well as conflicts within your drivers.

 

First, you need to uninstall the current driver by following these steps:

 

1. Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard at the same time to bring up the Run utility.
2. Type in “devmgmt.msc” without the quotation marks, then hit the OK button. This is going to launch the Device Manager in a separate window.
   
   
3. Expand the Bluetooth category.
   
   
4. Right-click on the audio adapter you’re using from the list, then select Uninstall device from the context menu.
   
   
5. Click Uninstall in the prompt that appears on the screen. Wait for Windows 10 to remove the device before proceeding.

 

To learn how you can reinstall your Bluetooth drivers, please read our How to Install and Fix Bluetooth Drivers in Windows 10 article for the detailed steps!

 

We have each and every detail covered to assist you in fixing your Bluetooth functionality on Windows 10.

 

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