Some users are noticing that the Bluetooth toggle is missing from their computers. The following error message pops up when they ran the Windows built-in Bluetooth Troubleshooter.
Device does not have Bluetooth. Bluetooth is not available on this device. Please try using an external adapter to add Bluetooth capability to this computer.
In this post, we are going to resolve this issue using some very simple solutions. So, let us go to the troubleshooting guide and start executing some solutions.
Why does my PC say Bluetooth is not available on this device?
Usually, when your PC fails to detect Bluetooth hardware, it says “Bluetooth is not available on this device”. This happens if the driver is missing or Bluetooth just fails to register itself or if your system files are corrupted. Whatever the case is, the good news is, that it can be resolved. Hereinafter, we have mentioned some solutions that will help you in resolving this issue.
Device does not have Bluetooth; Bluetooth is not available on this device
If you are seeing a “Bluetooth is not available on this device, Please try using an external adapter” error, then try the following solutions.
- Turn off Fast Startup
- Check if the Bluetooth driver is available
- Update Windows and Bluetooth Driver
- Restart Bluetooth Support Driver
- Run SFC and DISM
- Repair your OS using Installation Media
Let us talk about them in detail.
1] Turn off Fast Startup
Let us start by disabling Fast Startup from the Control Panel. Fast Startup can sometimes prevent Bluetooth from getting installed. So, let us go ahead and disable the feature and see if that works. Follow the given steps to do the same.
- Open Control Panel.
- Change View by to Large icons.
- Click on Power Options.
- Click on Choose what power button does and then on Change settings that are currently unavailable.
- Untick Turn on Fast Startup.
- Click on Save changes.
Hopefully, this will do the job for you.
2] Check if the Bluetooth driver is available
If the Bluetooth driver is missing, chances are, you won’t be able to connect to any Bluetooth device. To check this, open Device Manager. Expand Bluetooth and see if the driver is available. In case, the driver is unavailable, right-click on Bluetooth and select Scan for hardware changes. If this doesn’t work, download the latest version of the Bkuetooth driver from the manufacturer’s website.
3] Update Windows and Bluetooth Driver
Now, let us go ahead and try updating your Operating System. You can go to Windows Update (Windows 11) or Update & Security (Windows 10) and then check for updates. Once you have installed the latest version of Windows, let us try updating your drivers.
In case the driver is available, then you should update it and see if that works. Following are some of the methods to update your Bluetooth driver.
- Download Optional and Driver Update.
- Update Driver from Device Manager.
After updating your driver check if the Bluetooth is working.
4] Restart Bluetooth Support Service
The issue can be caused due to some kind of glitch in the Bluetooth Support Service that’s present on your computer. We need to restart the service and see if that helps. Follow the given steps to do the same.
- Open Services by searching it out from the Start Menu.
- Look for Bluetooth Support Service, right-click on it and select Restart.
- Wait for the process to complete then click Ok if prompted.
Now, go ahead and check if Bluetooth is available.
5] Run SFC and DISM
You may also find yourself facing this issue if your system files are corrupted. There are various reasons that can corrupt your system, but we are not going to talk about them, we will be seeing how you can fix them. To do the same, first, we will be running System File Checker or SFC command in the elevated mode of Command Prompt.
Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run the following command.
sfc /scannow
If this doesn’t work we will run DISM in Command Prompt (admin) and see if that helps.
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
Once the process is completed, Restart your PC. Hopefully, this will do the job for you.
Read: DISM vs SFC first? What should I run first on Windows 11/10?
6] Repair your OS using Installation Media
If SFC and DISM are unable to help try using Windows Installation Media to repair Windows to do the same. Once you have repaired using this tool, Bluetooth should start working again on your system.
Hopefully, you can resolve the issue using these solutions.
How do I add Bluetooth to my computer with an external adapter?
When you connect an external Bluetooth adapter to your PC, Windows will automatically detect and install appropriate drivers, hence, that hardware will be added. If you want to use your computer to another device using Bluetooth, all you have to do is open Settings, go to Bluetooth & devices > Add a device. Now, your computer will search for that device and add it.
Also Read: Bluetooth devices not showing or connecting in Windows.
