If your computer is having Bluetooth issues, such as the device not connecting, sound popping and lagging, or your wireless mouse stuttering, one quick and easy fix is to reinstall the Bluetooth driver. This usually fixes connection drops, audio lagging, and unresponsive adapters effectively.
In this article, we’ll show you 3 ways to reinstall your Bluetooth driver easily & quickly.
How to reinstall the Bluetooth driver
- Reinstall Bluetooth driver manually
- Reinstall Bluetooth driver automatically (Recommended)
- Download Bluetooth driver from the manufacturer
Method 1: Reinstall Bluetooth driver manually
To reinstall your Bluetooth driver, one option is to do that manually with Device Manager. This lets Windows completely remove the current buggy driver files and force the system to rebuild a fresh installation upon reboot.
So firstly, you need to uninstall your current Bluetooth driver. Here are the steps:
- On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and the R key at the same time to invoke the Run box. Type or paste devmgmt.msc and press Enter.
- Double-click Bluetooth to expand the category. Then right-click your Bluetooth adapter and select Uninstall device.
To identify the Bluetooth adapter, one common method is to look for the name that starts with a manufacturer(e.g. Intel, Qualcomm or Realtek) and ends with a “Bluetooth”. - In the pop-up window, check the box next to Attempt to remove the driver for this device. If you’re on Windows 10, check Delete the driver software for this device. Then click Uninstall.
- Once you’ve uninstalled your Bluetooth driver, restart your computer.
Then you’ll need to install the Bluetooth driver.
If you’re on Windows 10 or 11, Windows will automatically install the missing Bluetooth driver after a reboot.
If you’re on Windows 8 or 7, you can continue with Method 2 below to install your Bluetooth driver automatically or follow Method 3 to visit the PC or motherboard manufacturer’s website to download the Bluetooth driver.
Method 2: Reinstall Bluetooth driver automatically (Recommended)
In most cases, updating the driver gives you the same effect as reinstallation. A new driver usually comes with bug fixes and a performance boost. This could tackle your Bluetooth issue right away. You can use Driver Easy to update Bluetooth drivers safely and automatically.
Driver Easy will automatically recognize your system and find the correct drivers. It sources drivers directly from your hardware manufacturers and employs a strict testing process to ensure they’re up-to-date, safe, and stable. It’s a convenient all-in-one driver hub, allowing you to back up, uninstall, or roll back to different driver versions easily in one place.
- Download and install Driver Easy.
- Run Driver Easy and click the Scan Now button. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem drivers.
- Click Activate & Update next to the flagged Bluetooth driver to update it. Or click Update All to automatically download and install the correct version of all the drivers that are missing or out of date on your system.
This will prompt you to upgrade to Driver Easy Pro. The Pro version provides hassle-free driver updates and full technical support for you to keep your PC running smoothly. If you’re not ready to purchase now, you can try all the Pro features with our 7-day free trial. - Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Method 3: Download Bluetooth driver from the manufacturer
If Windows fails to reinstall the driver automatically, or if you’re dealing with persistent audio latency, the generic driver provided by Windows might not be enough. Microsoft’s built-in drivers prioritize basic compatibility over performance and often lag months behind hardware manufacturers. If you want the latest bug fixes and stability, download the driver directly from your computer manufacturer.
Simply go to your PC manufacturer’s official support website:
Search for your specific PC model and choose your Windows operating system. Locate the Drivers & Downloads section, and download the latest Bluetooth Driver package.
Once the download completes, open the file, usually an .exe file, and follow the on-screen instructions to install the driver. Afterwards, restart your PC and test if the Bluetooth works properly now.
If you opened Device Manager and couldn’t find Bluetooth listed, or your Bluetooth device is still not detected or working as expected, you can follow this guide: Bluetooth Not Working on Windows, to try more specific fixes.
So these are the ways you can reinstall your Bluetooth driver. Hopefully, you can now enjoy your Bluetooth devices with zero problems. If you have any questions or ideas, simply leave a comment, and we’ll get back to you ASAP.
