lost bluetooth capability

[SRob1964]

I can no longer find bluetooth on my laptop.  It worked previously, but now it has disappeared from Device Manager.   I have spent hours trying to restore it - running Windows updates and a BIOS update via HP Support Assistant. Please help!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

What model wifi adapter does your notebook come with?

If you don't know, go to the device manager, click to expand the Network Adapters device manager category.

There you will find the name and model number of the wireless network adapter.

While you are in the device manager, click on the View tab at the top of the device manager window and check the 'Show Hidden Devices' option.

Does the bluetooth hardware show up when you do that?

[SRob1964]

Hi,

I had problems recently with my internal wi-fi adapter which couldn’t be fixed economically and now I use a Tenda Wireless USB adapter.  Is this what is causing the Bluetooth problem?  I did check Hidden Devices and the Bluetooth icon etc shows up there.  Can I get it work somehow?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me with this!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Yes, if the internal wifi card quit working and you have to use a USB wifi adapter, then the bluetooth quit working too, since it is an integral part of the wifi card.

My assumption is that your model has a Realtek 8723BE wifi adapter.

The only way to get the BT to work again, would be to replace the internal wifi card.

Otherwise you will have to purchase an external USB bluetooth adapter as well.

[SRob1964]

In Network Adapters (in Device Manager) it shows Realtek PCle FE Family Controller.  When my wi-fi stopped working it was going to be too expensive to fix the internal adapter so that is why I now use a USB wi-fi adapter. 

I now understand why my Bluetooth no longer works, so thank you very much! 

If you don't mind, I have another quick question.  If I get an external Bluetooth adapter will it work without having to adjust/disable any settings in the laptop linked to Bluetooth.  I mean those in Services (Local), such as Bluetooth Support Services/Driver Management etc?  That is, will I just be able to plug in a USB adapter and it will work?

Thanks again for your help.

[SRob1964]

PS - my laptop had a big Windows 10 update last night and now I can no longer see any of the Bluetooth things I saw yesterday in Hidden Devices (in Device Manager under Network Adapters). Does that matter??

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome.

No, that doesn't matter.

The update probably wiped out the old data.

The bluetooth since it is part of the wifi card is gone, so whether or not it shows up as a hidden device is of no consequence.

If the internal wifi card was still working, I would have had you try some things to get the hidden bluetooth device to appear, such as uninstalling it and the driver in the device manager, and installing the latest drivers for it.

[SRob1964]

Thank you very much for your help.  I really appreciate it! 🙂

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.