Bluetooth Not on Device Manager

[Gimu]

Hello

I am using a Hp Elitebook 850 G1 running windows 11 OS.  It has a Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260. 

The issue is that the turn on/off switch for bluetooth is not availlable an there is no bluetooth on the Device Manager, not even when I toggle Show Hidden Devices. I have tried everything on the internet from downloading new driver. Any help will appreciate

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Are there any unknown devices showing up in the device manager?

if so, that is probably the Intel Bluetooth adapter that needs a driver.

If not, did you upgrade the notebook from W7 to W10?

[Gimu]

Hello, Thank you for replying. I have no nknown devices showing up in the device manager. Also, upon running the troubleshooter, a message is returned that no bluetooth is in my device. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Sounds to me like the Bluetooth radio has been turned off.

Check the BIOS and make sure that the BT is enabled.

If it is, then it has to be that your notebook once had W7 on it (a lot of 850 G1's came with W8/W8.1 Pro, with downgrade rights to W7 Pro).

What happens is that when someone upgrades from W7>W10, if they had the Bluetooth turned off with the W7 HP Connection Manager software, then the Bluetooth stays off in W10 because the HP Connection Manager software is not supported in W10 and is automatically removed during the upgrade process.

As you know the Intel 7260 AC Wi-Fi adapter is both a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth adapter.

I have one in my HP 350 G1 running W11 and the BT works just fine.

So, here is what I recommend you try:

Download Ubuntu and make a bootable Ubuntu installer.

Get Ubuntu | Download | Ubuntu

Here's a tutorial for how to make an Ubuntu installer:

Create a bootable USB stick with Rufus on Windows | Ubuntu

Boot from the Ubuntu installer and there is an option to 'Try Ubuntu Without Installing.'

Select that option and Ubuntu will run from the flash drive.

See if you can turn on the Bluetooth in Ubuntu.

If you can, turn it on, exit out of Ubuntu.

Shut down the PC, remove the Ubuntu flash drive and turn the PC back on.

When you get back into Windows, the BT should be showing up but it will need a driver.

Neither HP nor Intel has the W10 Intel 7260 BT driver anymore.

Fortunately, I saved both the last Wi-Fi and Bluetooth drivers Intel released for the 7260AC before Intel removed the drivers from their website.

You can download the last Wi-Fi and Bluetooth drivers from my Skydrive folder which I have shared the link with you, below.

Download, unzip and run the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth drivers in the Intel 7260AC WiFi & Bluetooth Drivers.zip file.

SkyDrive - OneDrive (live.com)

[Gimu]

Thank you so much for this, in the link you shared, which is the exact file that I should download and use?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome. 

Before you can install the Bluetooth driver from my Skydrive folder, you have to get the Bluetooth to show up in the device manager. 

After you do that, when you download the zip file from my Skydrive folder, there will be two executable driver files in the folder. One for wifi and one for Bluetooth .

You will be able to tell which one is which, based on the file names.

[Gimu]

Already the challenge i'm facing is having bluetooth to show in the device manager.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Yes,  and I gave you the way to do that, if the BIOS shows that Bluetooth is present and enabled. 

Ubuntu. 

[Gimu · Accepted solution]

Thank you So much Paul,

This is so helpful.

However I just thought of something else before I could follow your instructions as earlier advised.

-I Checked my BIOS and found that the BT was already enabled. I disabled it, restarted my notebook, went back to bios again and enabled back the BT.

- I downloaded an installed the BT driver from intel official website. Installed it and restarted my pc.

-Bluetooth reappeared on my taskbar.

-Connected and paired my headphones and played my fav afrobeat.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.

That is great news you were able to get the BT to turn back on so easily.

Maybe that would even work for the notebooks where it was turned off with the Connection Manager in W7 then upgraded to W10.