No bluetooth after the most recent Win11 Pro update (3/23/26) and the "fix" from 3/24 didn't fix

Question

As in the subject line following the Win11 update I no longer have bluetooth on my computer, nor does the option appear within the device manager. I understand that MS sent out an update on 3/24 to fix problems with bluetooth however it did not fix my issues (at least). Reloading the latest Realtek BT drivers hasn't worked and a Bluetooth icon no longer appears on the task bar. In my windows settings my bluetooth ear buds appear but I cannot connect nor disconnect from them. I went to windows services and tried to ensure that the bluetooth svcs are set to "automatic", as well as RPC. I tried system restore but that did not correct the problem in fact nothing has provided any correction thus far. Checking the internet it appears that this is a problem shared by many as a result of the latest update. (1) Are there others who are encountering the same problems? and if so (2) has anyone fixed the issue? Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Yes, similar Bluetooth loss after recent Windows 11 updates is reported by others, and there are a few concrete steps that have helped in comparable cases.

Try the following in order:

1. Run the Bluetooth troubleshooter
   • Open the Get Help app via Start and run the Bluetooth troubleshooter using this entry point: Run the troubleshooter in Get Help.
   • Let it complete diagnostics and apply any fixes it suggests.
2. Confirm the device actually still has a working Bluetooth adapter
   • Some devices do not have Bluetooth, or the adapter can be disabled at firmware/hardware level. First confirm the PC model’s specs show Bluetooth support.
   • If Bluetooth is missing in Device Manager entirely (no “Bluetooth” node, nothing under “Other devices”), that usually indicates the adapter is not being detected at all (driver, firmware, or hardware level issue), not just a pairing problem.
3. Re‑check drivers from Device Manager
   • Open Device Manager (Start → type Device Manager → Enter).
   • If Bluetooth appears:
     1. Expand Bluetooth.
     2. Right‑click the Bluetooth adapter (may include the word “radio”).
     3. Select Update driver → Search automatically for updated driver software.
     4. Restart if prompted.
   • If Windows reports no newer driver:
     • Download the latest Windows 11 Bluetooth driver for the exact PC model from the PC manufacturer’s support site (not just the generic Realtek package), then either:
       • Run the downloaded .exe installer, or
       • Use Update driver → Browse my computer for drivers and point to the folder containing the .inf/.sys files.
     • Restart and check whether Bluetooth reappears in Device Manager and Settings.
4. Make sure Airplane mode and Windows Update are not blocking Bluetooth
   • Press Windows + A and verify Airplane mode is Off.
   • Go to Start → Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates and install all available updates. Some Bluetooth fixes and drivers are delivered as follow‑up updates.
5. Perform a full power drain (has helped others after a problematic update)
   • Shut down the PC completely.
   • For a desktop: turn off the PSU switch and unplug the power cable; for a laptop: shut down, unplug AC, and if possible disconnect any removable battery.
   • Press and hold the power button for ~30 seconds to discharge residual power.
   • Wait several minutes, reconnect power, then boot and check Device Manager and Bluetooth settings again.
   • This step has been reported to restore missing Bluetooth/Wi‑Fi after certain Windows 11 updates when normal restarts and driver reinstalls did not help.

If after these steps the Bluetooth adapter still does not appear anywhere in Device Manager (including under Other devices), and manufacturer drivers plus full power drain do not restore it, the remaining options are typically:

• Wait for or apply a newer cumulative Windows update that specifically addresses the regression, or
• Engage the PC manufacturer’s support in case the update exposed a firmware/driver issue specific to that hardware.

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References:

• Fix Bluetooth disappeared in Windows
• Fix Bluetooth problems in Windows
• Use a screen reader to fix Bluetooth problems in Windows
• KB5077181 broke Bluetooth - Microsoft Q&A

Answer 2

Good morning to all. Thank-you to Lucas-V and Jon Dev for their responses above.

As of this morning I am happy to share that I finally got my bluetooth and Pixel Buds working in tandem. Here's my summary of the past many weeks:

First let me thanks individuals who took the time to respond to my initial post to the Community.  This is the first time I have done so and have come to understand that I needed to include more specifics in my post so here goes.

It seems important that I should share that my motherboard is an MSI – MAG x870i Edge TI EVO Wifi.  Most if not all drivers are Realtek, including the Bluetooth driver.   I am using Windows 11 Pro as an OS.

My issues appeared to begin on March 23, 2026 after what I believed was a periodic Win 11 update, which I now have identified as the Hotpatch KB5085518 (OS Builds 26200.7985 and 26100.7985) Out-of-band according to MS Support Page.  Following reboot of my system I found that

1.      I no longer had the Bluetooth icon on my taskbar;

2.      I no longer had a Bluetooth driver identified in my device manager, and

3.      My computer no longer had Bluetooth functionality to connect to my Pixel Buds Pro 2.

My initial and subsequent actions

1.       Download the Bluetooth drivers for the motherboard and attempt to re-install them.  That did not work. 

2.      Tried to use the Windows Bluetooth troubleshooter but it didn’t really work as I got a message telling me that I had to turn on Bluetooth, which I couldn’t.  The system then directed me to try to update Windows manually, again, nothing.

3.      I then checked windows services to determine if Bluetooth Audio Gateway Services and Bluetooth Support Service were set to “Automatic” startup which they were not originally.  I changed the settings accordingly

4.      I then checked Bluetooth User Service_73897 which was identified as “Manual Trigger Start”.  I can’t recall whether this service was supposed to be set to “Automatic” but I have not been able to change the setting.

5.      After performing #1 through 4 a few times I thought I would do a system restore for the week prior.  While I was able to do this successfully no changes resulted in my Bluetooth functionality.

6.      I uninstalled the Windows Hotpatch and Out-of-band hoping that it would fix my Bluetooth issues.  The reinstalled it.

I then did a search to see if the latest Win11 Pro update caused any issues with Bluetooth functionality and apparently it did.  I returned to Windows update and found 2026-03 Update (KB5085516) (26200.8039) which I then installed earlier this morning (3/24/2026) hoping that it would resolve my bluetooth issues - no change.

At that point I did an online chat with Microsoft Tech Support and allowed them to connect to my computer.   After confirming my observations and inability to reinstall my Bluetooth driver I was told that the issue was not the Windows Update but rather required new drivers or other actions on behalf of the Motherboard manufacturer.   In desperation I installed the MSI Utility program which scanned the motherboard and identified that I did not have Bluetooth drivers installed and offered to install them.   I regained the Bluetooth icon on the taskbar but could not add any devices to my Windows system. 

After finding that MS was sending out a new fix I checked Windows Update and found a number of available updates of Realtek Drivers and “Microsoft Corporation Driver Update (10.0.26100.6700) as of 3/28/2026 8:30 pm EST.  Windows Update identifies that updates are available to download and then the button to “Download & install all”.  Unfortunately in trying to initiate the download/install each driver seems to start and then stops with a notification of “pending download” only.    I checked the “Update History” and then “Driver Updates” which identifies that all of the drivers identified on the previous page as “pending download” are noted to have been “Successfully installed on 3/28/2026”.

In short what solved my problem(s) was a mixture of Microsoft updates/information, things specific to my MSI MAG motherboard, installation of the MSI Utility program which ultimately reinstalled my bluetooth driver (and wifi driver), and finally various attempts at tweaking the Win 11 Pro system settings.

Again, please accept my sincere thanks to everyone who took the time to consider my issues and make suggestions.

Anthem

Answer 3

Hi Anthem,

Does the problem go away after uninstalling the problem update?

Please try uninstalling it following this article: How to uninstall a Windows Update.

If you have any updated information, please feel free to let me know.

Answer 4

Hi, good day!

What specific update did you install?

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Please let me know if you have tried the methods below.

• Shutdown your computer

Unplug the power cable from the laptop for 30 minutes, then plug it in again and turn on.

• Please try to run SFC and DISM to check for any system errors and corrupted files. https://support.microsoft.com/windows/using-system-file-checker-in-windows-365e0031-36b1-6031-f804-8fd86e0ef4ca
• Please try to turn off Fast startup

Press Start then search Control panel

Under View by > select Small icons

Select Power Options

On the left side, click "Choose what power buttons do"

Click "Change settings that are currently unavailable"

Under Shutdown settings > Turn off fast startup

Power off the system then pull the power cable from the laptop, wait for 15 minutes.

Power back on

I look forward to receiving your update and I'm willing to collaborate with you till we resolve the issue. Do keep me informed by clicking "Add Comment" below.