Bluetooth not working can show up in three different ways: the Bluetooth switch is missing from your settings, the device never shows up in the list, or it pairs and then drops the sound. Each points to a different cause, so a little sorting at the start saves a lot of time.
Most cases are small. A radio turned off by airplane mode, an old pairing that went stale, or a Windows driver that stopped responding after an update will account for the majority. Hardware failure is the rare answer. Work through the fixes below in order, and use the sections after them if only one earbud plays, if your laptop has no Bluetooth option at all, or if the problem is limited to one phone.
Common causes
1Bluetooth or airplane mode is switched on or off by mistake
How to tellThe toggle is grey, off, or the airplane icon is lit
What fixes itTurn airplane mode off and flip Bluetooth off and on again
2Old or broken pairing record
How to tellDevice is listed as paired but says not connected or connection failed
What fixes itRemove the device on both sides, then pair it fresh
3Device is paired to another phone or laptop
How to tellEarbuds or speaker connect to something else nearby and never show up for you
What fixes itDisconnect it from the other device and put it in pairing mode
4Bluetooth driver or service stopped
How to tellWindows shows no Bluetooth toggle, or a yellow mark in Device Manager
What fixes itRestart the Bluetooth Support Service and update or reinstall the driver
5Interference or distance
How to tellSound breaks near a router, microwave or when you walk away
What fixes itMove closer, keep the phone on the same side of your body as the earbuds
6Low battery on the accessory
How to tellPairing light flashes weakly or the device switches itself off
What fixes itCharge the accessory fully before pairing
7Faulty Bluetooth hardware
How to tellNo fix works, Device Manager has no Bluetooth entry even after restart
What fixes itUse a small USB Bluetooth adapter on a PC, or have a technician look at the machine
How to fix it, step by step
Check airplane mode and the Bluetooth switch
On Windows, open the quick settings panel from the right end of the taskbar and check that airplane mode is off and the Bluetooth tile is lit. On Android, pull down the top panel. On iPhone, open Control Centre. Turn Bluetooth off, count to ten, and turn it on again.
Restart the device and the accessory
Switch the headphones, speaker or car kit fully off, then restart the phone or laptop. On Windows, use Restart from the Start menu rather than Shut down, because Fast Startup can keep a faulty driver state alive.
Forget the device and pair again
Open the Bluetooth settings, tap the paired device, and choose Remove, Forget or Unpair. Do the same from the accessory side if it keeps a memory of devices. Put the accessory in pairing mode (usually by holding its button until a light flashes) and add it as new.
Keep only one device in range
Earbuds and speakers often grab the last phone they knew. Turn off Bluetooth on your other phones, tablets and laptops while you pair, so the accessory has only one choice.
Run the Windows Bluetooth troubleshooter
Search the Start menu for Troubleshoot settings, open the list of extra troubleshooters, and launch the one named Bluetooth. Older Windows 10 builds keep it inside the Update and Security page. Accept the repairs it offers and reboot.
Restart the Bluetooth Support Service
Open the Services list by pressing Windows + R and entering
services.msc. Locate Bluetooth Support Service and use Restart from its menu. In its Properties window, change Startup type to Automatic so the service loads by itself next time.Update or reinstall the Bluetooth driver
Right click Start, open Device Manager and expand Bluetooth. Right click the adapter, choose Update driver and let Windows search. If that does not help, choose Uninstall device, restart, and Windows reinstalls it. Get newer drivers only from the laptop maker's support page through Windows Update.
Reset network settings on a phone
If only one phone fails with every accessory, try Reset Wi-Fi, mobile and Bluetooth settings from the reset options in Settings. It wipes saved Wi-Fi passwords too, so note them first.
Bluetooth not working on a Windows laptop
On a Windows laptop, three things sit between you and a working connection: the radio chip, the driver and the Bluetooth Support Service. If the Bluetooth tile has vanished from quick settings, the driver or the radio is the likely cause. If the tile exists but devices will not connect, the pairing record or the service is more likely.
A recent Windows update can also replace a working driver with a generic one. In Device Manager, look for a yellow warning symbol next to the adapter. If you also see sound trouble, check laptop sound not working, since Bluetooth audio relies on the same output settings.
You open Settings and see only the line Bluetooth is not available on this device. Open Device Manager. If there is no Bluetooth group at all, even under hidden devices, the adapter is not detected, which points to the driver, a BIOS setting or failed hardware.
One earbud or one side of the headphones not working
When only the left or right bud plays, the Bluetooth link itself is working, so the cause is usually the earbud pair. Put both buds in the case, close it for half a minute, then forget the device on your phone and pair again. Check the charge on each bud, and clean the tiny charging contacts with a dry cotton swab. Our page on a single earbud going silent goes deeper, including mono audio and balance settings.
Phone Bluetooth problems on Android and iPhone
On Android, clearing the Bluetooth app's cache can help. Open Settings, then Apps, show system apps, choose Bluetooth, then Storage and clear cache. The exact path changes between phone makers. On iPhone there is no cache option, so the fix is to turn Bluetooth off, restart the phone, and forget the device.
For car systems, delete the old phone entry from the car screen as well as from your phone. If your phone connects but a car app does not respond, see our guide to car screen phone projection problems.
How to tell software trouble from hardware failure
| What you see | Most likely |
|---|---|
| Works with some devices, fails with one | That accessory or its pairing |
| Fails with every accessory, toggle is present | Driver or service |
| Toggle gone and no adapter in Device Manager | Driver, BIOS setting or hardware |
| Works for a minute after restart, then drops | Power saving or overheating |
Bluetooth chips on many laptops are soldered or share a card with Wi-Fi. If it is a hardware fault, an inexpensive USB Bluetooth adapter is a safe workaround for a desktop or laptop. Repair cost depends on whether the card is replaceable, and opening a laptop can affect warranty.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my Bluetooth not working on my laptop?
The usual reasons are airplane mode, a stopped Bluetooth Support Service, or a driver that broke after an update. Restart the service and update the driver from Device Manager. If no Bluetooth entry appears at all, the adapter may be disabled in BIOS or damaged.
How to fix bluetooth not working when my phone bluetooth is not working?
Turn it off and on, restart the phone, remove the paired device and pair it again. If that fails, reset Bluetooth and network settings from the reset options in Settings, and update the phone software.
Why does Bluetooth connect but stay silent?
The audio output may still point to the speakers. On Windows, open the sound output picker and choose the Bluetooth device. On a phone, check that media volume is up and that the device is set for media audio.
Bluetooth is not working after a Windows update. What now?
Open Device Manager, uninstall the Bluetooth adapter, restart and let Windows reinstall it. You can also check Windows Update for an optional driver and try the Bluetooth troubleshooter.
Why is my earbuds Bluetooth not working on one bud, with one Bluetooth earphone not working?
Pair them again after resetting the case, and check the battery of each bud. The same steps apply to a MacBook: turn Bluetooth off and on from the menu bar, remove the device from Bluetooth settings and pair it again, and restart the Mac. Keep macOS updated since many connection bugs are fixed in updates.