After upgrading to Windows 8.1, my Bluetooth device doesn’t work.

Anonymous
2013-11-11T23:32:10+00:00

After upgrading to Windows 8.1, my Bluetooth device doesn’t work. How can I get it working again?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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Anonymous
2013-11-11T23:33:10+00:00

Hi,

 First, try updating the device’s driver:

1.      Check Windows Update for driver updates.

a.      Swipe in from the right to bring up the charms, and select Settings.

b.      Tap or click Change PC Settings.

c.      Select Update and recovery, then select Windows Update.

d.      Select Check for updates. Make sure to look at the Optional updates in the results.

2.      Check the device manufacturer’s site for updated drivers.

3.      Check the radio manufacturer’s site for updates. To determine what make and model of Bluetooth radio you have:

a.      Swipe in from the right to bring up the charms and select Search, and search for device manager. Open Device Manager from the search results.

b.      In Device Manager, expand Bluetooth, and look for a device with a name starting with Broadcom, Intel, or Qualcomm Atheros (these are the major radio manufacturers). Check the website of your radio manufacturer for driver updates.

c.      If you don’t see one of these manufacturers, but instead see Generic Bluetooth Adapter:

 i.     Press-and-hold or right-click on Generic Bluetooth Adapter, and select Properties

ii.     Select the Advanced tab.

iii.     Note the number next to Manufacturer ID.

iv.     Find that manufacturer ID on this page: https://www.bluetooth.org/en-us/specification/assigned-numbers/company-identifiers  (Common ones will be 2 = Intel, 15 = Broadcom, 69 = Atheros)

4.      Once you have updated your Bluetooth drivers, please try using your device again. In many cases, updating to the latest drivers will resolve the issue. In some instances, you may need to un-pair and re-pair the device from the Bluetooth settings (from the Settings charm, select Change PC Settings, and then select Bluetooth) to completely fix the issue.

If, after updating to the latest available driver and re-pairing the device, your Bluetooth device is still not working, please provide the following information in your post:

·              PC manufacturer and model

·              Bluetooth radio manufacturer and model

·              Remote device manufacturer and model

This information will help Microsoft to further understand your issue and determine if it is a known issue or a new problem that needs additional investigation.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-07-02T20:44:11+00:00

    Hello again... I have written before with my problem in April 20th, and nobody has helped me yet! I had tried the steps tha were recomended in this site, but nothing works! 

    why is it requested to update to windows 8.1 if it is not prepared to work with all the divises you have in a computer?? and still hasn't... i am really unsatisfied!!

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-07-02T21:22:40+00:00

    Hi, try to go to the website of your computer  maker and look for the latest driver updates there, then download and install. after months of trying everything, that's what finally worked for me.

    Good luck

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-07-03T02:25:55+00:00

    thanks Brad... I've just tried what you suggested, and kept on updating the software, but I haven't been lucky... It's useless!! I'm "moving" to another operating system! :/ i'm done with it!

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-07-12T15:53:40+00:00

    Hi Everyone but mainly those who have tried to help from Microsoft.

    I have a Dell E6400 XFR with the Dell 370 (Ericson) Bluetooth card and I am experiencing very similar problems to everyone else.  Before I go further I should say that I have not found any solutions to the problems people are having and have tried everything suggested on this forum and on all the others I have found, none of which have made the slightest difference on my machine.

    My symptoms are similar but different to many described.  I had the dropout of the BT after a short period, never long enough to see whether the other BT items (mouse and Windows phone) were connecting then disconnecting. I had the BT light on my keyboard lit and it then went out when the BT signal went off, but this change was also accompanied by a refresh of Device Manager window.  I don't know enough about the workings of Windows to understand the connection, but I do know enough to understand that as this happened every time on different occasions and on different days it is not a coincidence.

    I tried the recommendation of going into the various network devices in Device Manager and un-ticking the box which allows the system to turn the device off to save energy. I am not sure which one of these did the trick, but I did stop the keyboard indicator light from going out.  As I don't know what triggers this light in the o/s I haven't a clue where the connection comes from, but it might help some folks problems and perhaps it will point Microsoft in the direction of a solution.

    I don't have a BT sign in my taskbar, nor does Bluetooth figure on any of the menu items pulled up with the various configuration options in any of the management windows (including flight mode), so I can't try abling and disabling BT at any point other than in the BIOS.  I have tried changing the options in the BIOS many times, never with any difference that I can see. The o/s still doesn't seem to see my BT card.

    All of my Windows 8.1 updates have completed and there is still no BT and I don't have any more updates/drivers left to try.  I installed the latest drivers from Dell - no effect.  I also tried the updating software from Qualcomm and this stops just after starting and asks me to install the BT device.  As this is built in to the machine it has never been removed before this problem arose, and as I have now tried 4 (four) identical adapters, all with the same result, it is not a fault on the cards which all work fine on my Dell E6420 ATG with Windows 7.

    Please Microsoft, either tell us you are working on a solution or tell us that we are just going to have to live with the problem, at least then I will know not to change any other of machines over to Win 8.1. The lack of any recent comments by Microsoft engineers suggests to me that they have been instructed to drop the subject, but it would be good to know either way.  This is a serious business inconvenience to me and I need to know where to go next with my infrastructure.

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