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Bluetooth Troubleshooting and Usage Guide

Summary: For help with troubleshooting Bluetooth issues and information about how to pair (connect) Dell Bluetooth enabled computers to Dell Bluetooth accessories, and steps to resolve issues you may see, see the sections below. ...

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.

Instructions

Table of Contents:

  1. Connect to a Dell Bluetooth Device From Your Dell Computer
  2. Basic Bluetooth Troubleshooting Steps
  3. How to Download and Install the Latest Dell Wireless Bluetooth Adapter Driver
  4. Problems With the Dell BH200 Bluetooth Stereo Headset
  5. Resolving the Bluetooth Adapter Turning Off
  6. The Bluetooth Toggle Icon Does Not Appear in Windows 10

1: Connect to a Dell Bluetooth Device From Your Dell Computer

This article provides information about how to connect to a Dell Bluetooth device (keyboards, mice, so forth) using the internally installed Bluetooth adapter.

NOTE: While non-Dell keyboards, mice, and other Bluetooth devices may work with Dell computers, Dell cannot guarantee or support their functionality.

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2: Basic Bluetooth Troubleshooting Steps

NOTE: Bookmark this article as restarts of your computer are necessary to help resolve your issue.
  1. Save any data and close all programs and restart your computer.
  2. Press and hold the Windows (Windows Button) key, and then press the q key.
  3. In the search box type bluetooth.
  4. Select Bluetooth and other devices settings.
  5. Ensure that the Bluetooth toggle is set to On.
    NOTE: When there is no Bluetooth toggle, it may be caused by one or more issues, see the following resources:
    • Reset the BIOS to its defaults to ensure the Bluetooth adapter enabled, for more information Dell Knowledge Base article Dell BIOS Updates, see the "How do I reset BIOS or CMOS and/or clear the NVRAM on a Dell computer?" section.
    • See The Bluetooth Toggle Icon Does Not Appear in Windows section, to ensure that the Bluetooth adapter is enabled in Device Manager.
  6. If you have not done so already, see The Bluetooth Toggle Icon Does Not Appear in Windows section, to ensure that the Bluetooth adapter is enabled in Device Manager.
  7. Check to see if the latest Bluetooth drivers are installed, for more information see Dell Knowledge Base article How to Download and Install the Latest Dell Wireless Bluetooth Adapter Driver.
  8. Perform the steps in the Resolving the Bluetooth Adapter Turning Off section. This guides you on how to run the Bluetooth troubleshooter, diagnostics, and general updates.
  9. When you are still having issues, unpair and then repair the Bluetooth devices.

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3: How to Download and Install the Latest Dell Wireless Bluetooth Adapter Driver

This article provides information about how to download and install the drivers for the Bluetooth adapter that is installed on your computer.

Download and Install The Latest Wireless Bluetooth Driver

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4: Problems With the Dell BH200 Bluetooth Stereo Headset

The link below takes you to an article that provides troubleshooting steps for the Dell BH200 Bluetooth headset when it is not working correctly.

Problems With the Dell BH200 Bluetooth Stereo Headset

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5: Resolving the Bluetooth Adapter Turning Off

NOTE: When you are using a USB Bluetooth adapter, see Dell Knowledge Base article How to Troubleshoot USB Port When it is Not Working for additional information.
  1. Run the Bluetooth troubleshooter.
    • In Windows 11:
    1. Select Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
    2. Next to Bluetooth, select Run and follow the instructions.
    • In Windows 10:
    1. Select Start, then select Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
    2. In Find and fix other problems, select Bluetooth, and then select Run the troubleshooter and follow the instructions.
  2. Run the Dell personal computer hardware diagnostics on your Bluetooth adapter.
    1. Browse to the Dell Product Support page.
    2. You are given three options to get to the product support page for your computer.
      • Touch or click the listing for your computer under THIS personal computer.
        NOTE: When there is no listing for your computer under THIS PC, you can touch or click Download & Install SupportAssist, which will automatically identify your computer for you. Follow the prompts to download and install SupportAssist.
      • Enter the Service Tag, Dell EMC Product ID, or Model, and then touch or click the Search button, and select your computer from the list.
      • Touch or click Browse all products: You must select the type of device you have, the brand name, and then the product model.
        NOTE: For more information, see the Dell Knowledge Base article, How to find the product model of your Dell computer
    3. When you get to the product support page for your computer, touch or click the DIAGNOSTICS tab.
    4. Touch or click the down arrow next to Select individual components under Custom Component Test.
    5. Touch or click to check the box next to Bluetooth ports.
      NOTE: When Bluetooth ports are not an option, it may mean that your Bluetooth is turned off in the BIOS. To reset the BIOS to its defaults that enable the Bluetooth adapter, see Dell Knowledge Base article Dell BIOS Updates, see the "How do I reset BIOS or CMOS and/or clear the NVRAM on a Dell computer?" section.
    6. Touch or click Run Your Test. The test runs, and the results are shown.
  3. Run the automated tools provided in the SupportAssist tool (this determines whether any newer drivers are available, and checks for performance issues).
    1. Press and hold the Windows (Windows Button) key, and then press the q key.
    2. In the search box type supportassist.
    3. Select SupportAssist (App) in the list of results.
      NOTE: When SupportAssist does not show up in the search results, browse to the "SupportAssist for PCs and tablets" page for information about downloading and installing SupportAssist.
    4. Touch or click Start Now to run all the tests.
      NOTE: You can touch or click the down arrow and then run the individual test, but we recommend running all the tests.
    5. SupportAssist runs the tests one by one and provides the results.
  4. Run Windows updates.

    Update your computer to the latest version of Windows. For more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article "Windows Update: FAQ."

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6. The Bluetooth Toggle Icon Does Not Appear in Windows

  1. Press and hold the Windows (Windows Button) key, and then press the q key.
     
  2. In the Search box type device manager.
     
  3. Select Device Manager (Control panel) in the list of programs.
     
  4. Click Plus (+) next to Bluetooth.
    NOTE: When there is no listing for Bluetooth, go to Step 6.
     
  5. Look for any listing that has a down arrow next to it.
    NOTE: When such a listing is showing, right-click the listing and select Enable device, no other actions are needed, close the Device Manager window.
     
  6. Browse to the "Dell Support" website.
     
  7. You are given three options to identify your computer.

    Either:

    • Touch or click the listing for your computer under THIS PC.
      NOTE: When there is no listing for your computer under THIS PC, you can touch or click Download & Install SupportAssist, which will automatically identify your computer for you. Follow the prompts to download and install SupportAssist.
    • Enter the Service Tag, Dell EMC Product ID, or Model, and then touch or click the Search button, and select your computer from the list.
    • Touch or click Browse all products: You must select the type of device you have, the brand name, and then the product model.
      NOTE: For more information see Dell Knowledge Base article, How to find the product model of your Dell computer
     
  8. Touch or click the DIAGNOSTICS tab.
     
  9. Under Custom Component Test, touch or click Select individual components.
     
  10. In the list, touch or click to select Bluetooth Device under System Devices.
    NOTE: Other hardware tests are also available.
     
  11. Touch or click the Run Your Test. The test is run, and the results are shown.

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Additional Information

Affected Products

Alienware, Inspiron, Latitude, Vostro, XPS, Legacy Laptop Models, Fixed Workstations, Dell AD211 Bluetooth Portable Speaker, Dell BH200 Bluetooth 2.0 EDR Stereo Headset, Dell Bluetooth Keyboard Folio WK415, Dell Bluetooth Mouse WM615 , Dell Bluetooth Travel Mouse MS700, Dell Travel Mouse WM524, Dell Wireless 355 Module with Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR Technology User Guide, Dell Wireless 365 Bluetooth Users Guide, Dell Wireless 370 Bluetooth Users Guide, Dell Wireless 375 Bluetooth - Windows 7 Users Guide ...
Article Properties
Article Number: 000126781
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 27 May 2024
Version:  23
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