I cannot find the enable tool in the device manager

Question

My bluetooth is hidden and when I right click it to enable it, I cannot find the enable tool. Please advise.

I have a Dell laptop.

Thanks

Answer 1

My computer is missing the Enable Device tool: If the Bluetooth device is listed but disabled, you should see an option to Enable Device/ There is no option for "enable device".

Answer 2

Hi @ECurtis,  

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum. 

I understand that you are unable to locate the Enable Device option for your Bluetooth adapter within Device Manager. This behavior typically occurs when the system fails to recognize the hardware state correctly or if the driver has become unresponsive. 

To resolve this, please follow these troubleshooting steps: 

1/ Force a hardware rescan  

In Device Manager, click Action from the top menu and select Scan for hardware changes. This forces Windows to re-evaluate the status of all connected components and may restore the missing toggle. 

2/ Refresh the Driver State  

• If the Bluetooth icon appears translucent under View > Show hidden devices, the system may be holding onto a "ghost" instance of the driver.
• Right-click the Bluetooth adapter and select Uninstall device. Ensure you do not check the box to remove the driver software.
• Restart your laptop; Windows will automatically reinstall the hardware during the boot process. 

3/ Verify Bluetooth services  

• Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
• Locate the Bluetooth Support Service. If it is stopped, right-click and select Start. Additionally, ensure the Startup type is set to Automatic to prevent this from recurring. 

4/ Check BIOS settings  

On Dell systems, Bluetooth can be disabled at the hardware level. Restart your computer and tap F2 at the Dell logo. Under Wireless > Wireless Device Enable, ensure the Bluetooth checkbox is selected. 

Kindly update the outcome to let me further check if the problem persists. 

Answer 3

If you cannot find the option to enable your Bluetooth device in Device Manager, it may be hidden. Here are some steps you can follow to troubleshoot the issue:

1. Check for Hidden Devices: Device Manager can hide some devices by default. To see all devices, you can go to the Device Manager menu and select View > Show hidden devices. This may reveal your Bluetooth device.
2. Check Device Status: If your Bluetooth device appears with a yellow exclamation mark, it indicates there is an issue with the device. You can right-click on it and check the properties for more information about the error.
3. Enable Device: If the Bluetooth device is listed but disabled, you should see an option to Enable Device when you right-click on it. If this option is not available, it might indicate a deeper issue with the driver or hardware.
4. Update Drivers: Ensure that your Bluetooth drivers are up to date. You can do this by right-clicking on the Bluetooth device in Device Manager and selecting Update driver.
5. Restart Your Computer: Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve issues with devices not appearing or being enabled properly.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to consider reinstalling the Bluetooth drivers or checking for hardware issues.

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References:

• Using Device Manager
• Code 22 - CM_PROB_DISABLED