How to Fix the Bluetooth Icon Missing from the Taskbar in Windows 10 & 11

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6 Easy Ways to Fix Bluetooth Icon Missing Issue

Let’s begin with the simple solutions which are often effective in solving the error.

Way 1. Edit the Quick Action Center Menu

Sometimes, the Bluetooth icon might simply be hidden from the Quick Actions menu. Ensuring it’s enabled can bring back the icon to the taskbar.

• Press the ‘Windows key + A’ to open the “Action Center”.  
• Select “Manage notifications” in the top-right corner.  

• Click “Edit your quick actions” to open the Action Center menu.  

• Click “Add”.  
• Select “Bluetooth” from the list.  
• Click “Done”.

Way 2. Boot into Safe Mode and Restart in Normal Mode

Restarting your computer in Safe Mode can sometimes resolve software glitches and driver issues that may cause the Bluetooth icon to disappear.

• Press the ‘Windows key + R’, type “msconfig”, and press ‘OK’.  

• Navigate to the “Boot” tab and select the “Safe Boot” option.  

• Restart your computer to enter “Safe Mode”. In this mode, drivers should install automatically.  

• Repeat steps 1 and 2, but this time deselect “Safe Boot” to restart your computer in Normal Mode and check if the issue is resolved.

Way 3. Utilize the Bluetooth Troubleshooter

Windows provides a built-in troubleshooter for Bluetooth issues. This tool can automatically detect and fix common problems related to Bluetooth settings and services.

• Press ‘Windows + I’ to open “Settings”, then select “Troubleshoot” in the “System” tab.  

• Click on “Other troubleshooters”, find the “Bluetooth” troubleshooter, and click the “Run” button next to it.  

• Follow the on-screen instructions and provide the necessary responses to complete the troubleshooting process.

Way 4. Utilize the Hardware and Device Troubleshooter

Another useful tool is the Hardware and Device troubleshooter, which can identify and resolve issues related to hardware and device settings, including Bluetooth connectivity.

• Press ‘Win + S’, search for “cmd”.  
• Click and select “Run as administrator”.  

• Type msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic into the “Command Prompt”.  
• Press ‘Enter’ to open the troubleshooter.  

• Click “Next” to start the scan.

Way 5. Check Whether Your PC Supports Bluetooth

Ensure your PC supports Bluetooth. If the hardware itself is missing or malfunctioning, the icon will not appear.

• Press ‘Windows + X’ (or right click “Start”) and select “Device Manager”.

• Look for “Bluetooth” in the list. If it’s not present, your PC might not support Bluetooth.
• If Bluetooth is not listed, it might be under “Hidden devices”. Click “View” > “Show hidden devices” to check if Bluetooth is there.

• If Bluetooth is still missing from the list, you can add it to your computer by using a Bluetooth adapter.

Way 6. Update Bluetooth Drivers

Updating Bluetooth drivers ensures that you are using the latest version, which can resolve compatibility and functionality issues.

• Press ‘Win+X’ to access the WinX menu.
• Choose “Device Manager” from the menu.
• Find and expand the “Bluetooth” category.
• Right-click on the driver and choose “Update driver”.

• Opt for “Search automatically for updated driver software” to search online, if desired.

• Opt for “Browse my computer for driver software” if the driver is already on your PC.

• Click “Next” to complete the installation process.

7 Advanced Fix Methods to Try if Bluetooth Icon Disappeared

If the above solution doesn’t work, let’s progress to more complex and advanced troubleshooting steps that address deeper system issues. 

Adv. Way 1. Run System File Checker

The System File Checker tool can repair corrupted system files that might be affecting Bluetooth functionality.

• Press ‘Windows + S’ to open the Search menu, type “cmd”, and select “Run as administrator” from the context menu.
• In the User Account Control (UAC) prompt that appears, click “Yes”.

• Enter the following commands one by one, pressing ‘Enter’ after each to run the DISM tool:
  DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

• After these commands have been executed, run the following command to start the SFC scan:
  sfc /scannow

• After initiating the scan, let it run until completion without closing the “Command Prompt”.  Once finished, the System File Checker will report any issues and their repair status. 
• Restart your computer after the scan and repair process, even if no issues were detected, to ensure all changes take effect.

Adv. Way 2. Edit Bluetooth Settings

Ensure the settings for displaying the Bluetooth icon in the notification area are correctly configured.

• Press the ‘Win + I’ keys to open “Settings”.
• Go to “Settings” > “Devices” > “Bluetooth & other devices”.
• Click on “More Bluetooth Options” under related settings.

• Go to the “Options” tab and ensure “Show the Bluetooth icon in the notification area” is checked.
• Click “Apply”, then click “OK”.

Adv. Way 3. Set the Bluetooth Service to Automatic

Ensuring the Bluetooth service starts automatically can resolve issues where the service is not running, leading to the icon not appearing.

• Press ‘Windows + R’ to open the “Run” dialog box. 
• Enter “services.msc” and press ‘Enter’. 

• In the “Services” window, scroll down to locate “Bluetooth Support Service”. 
• Double-click it to open the properties dialog. 

• In the properties window, find the “Startup type” dropdown menu. 
• Select “Automatic” to ensure the service starts automatically with Windows, reducing Bluetooth-related issues. 
• Click “Apply” to save the changes, then click “OK” to close the window. 

• Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Adv. Way 4. Turn Off Fast Startup

Fast Startup can interfere with the proper initialization of Bluetooth services, leading to the icon not appearing.

• Open “Settings”, then click on “System”.
• From the left-hand menu, choose “Power & sleep”, then click on “Additional power settings”.

• Select “Choose what the power button does” and then click on “Change settings that are currently unavailable”.

• Uncheck the box for “Turn on fast startup” and hit the “Save changes” button.

Adv. Way 5. Run Startup Repair

Startup Repair can fix system-related issues that may be preventing the Bluetooth icon from appearing.

• At the ‘Windows sign-in’ screen, press and hold the ‘Shift’ key.
• Click on “Power” and then select “Restart” to access the boot screen.

• Select “Troubleshoot”, then “Advanced options”, and choose “Startup Repair”.

• Pick an administrator account and enter the password if prompted.
• Click “Continue”.
• Once the Startup Repair tool has completed its process, restart your PC.

Adv. Way 6. Scan for Hardware Changes

Scanning for hardware changes can help detect Bluetooth devices and ensure the drivers are correctly installed and updated.

• Press ‘Win + S’, search “Device Manager” and open it.
• Locate your device at the top of the list, right-click it, and choose “Scan for hardware changes”.

Adv. Way 7. Perform a System Restore (use it as a last resort)

Reverting to a previous system restore point can resolve recent changes or updates that caused the Bluetooth icon to disappear.

• Press ‘Win key + R’ to open the “Run” dialog box and type “rstrui” before pressing ‘Enter’.

• “System Restore” will launch. Click “Next” to proceed.
• Choose the preferred restore point and click “Next”.

• Follow the prompts to finish the restoration process.

Final Words

By following these steps, you should be able to restore the missing Bluetooth icon to your taskbar and enjoy uninterrupted wireless connectivity on your Windows 10 or 11 PC.
And if you’re still having trouble, we advise mentioning your issues in the comment section below.