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

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Is Bluetooth missing from your system’s taskbar? Many Windows 10 and 11 users have reported that Bluetooth has disappeared. This can cause inconvenience, especially when you use many wireless devices such as headphones, keyboards, and mouse. 

This issue can arise due to several reasons, including outdated drivers, incorrect settings, hardware malfunctions or even repeatedly turning the Bluetooth on and off. This article provides several methods to help you restore the missing Bluetooth icon to your taskbar. The solutions outlined are effective for both Windows 10 and 11 however the steps may vary.

These issues might as well lead to other elements missing like the Brightness slider and Taskbar and others.

FIX IT NOW: Quick ways to get the missing Bluetooth icon back

Try the below solutions to get rid of the error quickly:

  • Restart your computer in Safe Mode and after troubleshooting, restart in Normal Mode to check if the issue is fixed.
  • Use Windows’ built-in Bluetooth troubleshooter to automatically detect and fix common Bluetooth issues.
  • Use the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter to identify and resolve hardware and device-related issues that may affect Bluetooth connectivity on your computer.
  • Ensure the Bluetooth icon is visible in the Quick Actions menu to easily access Bluetooth settings.
  • Check if your computer supports Bluetooth. If not, consider using a Bluetooth adapter or verifying hardware compatibility to enable Bluetooth functionality.

In the following sections let’s discuss the above solutions and more specific advanced solutions in detail:

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

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

Fix Bluetooth Now Advanced SystemCare will automatically fix your Bluetooth icon error and other PC/driver issues that might lead to the error.

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.  
Windows + A then Manage Notifications
  • Click “Edit your quick actions” to open the Action Center menu.  
Select Edit your quick action settings
  • Click “Add”.  
  • Select “Bluetooth” from the list.  
  • Click “Done”.
Add Bluetooth in Action Center

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’.  
Type msconfig
  • Navigate to the “Boot” tab and select the “Safe Boot” option.  
Safe Boot and Minimal
  • 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.  
Other Troubleshoot then Bluetooth
  • 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 CMD then run as administrator
  • Type msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic into the “Command Prompt”.  
  • Press ‘Enter’ to open the troubleshooter.  
Type msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic
  • Click “Next” to start the scan.
Click Next in Hardware and Devices Window

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”.
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.
Show hidden devices in Device Manager for Bluetooth
  • If Bluetooth is still missing from the list, you can add it to your computer by using a Bluetooth adapter.
Use Bluetooth Adapter

Way 6. Update Bluetooth Drivers

Fix Bluetooth Now Advanced SystemCare will automatically fix your Bluetooth icon error and other PC/driver issues that might lead to the error.

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”.
Update Driver for Bluetooth
  • Opt for “Search automatically for updated driver software” to search online, if desired.
Click Search automatically for drivers
  • Opt for “Browse my computer for driver software” if the driver is already on your PC.
Select Browse my computer for driver software
  • 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

Fix Bluetooth Now Advanced SystemCare will automatically fix your Bluetooth icon error and other PC/driver issues that might lead to the error.

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”.
Type CMD then run as administrator
  • 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
DISM tools
  • After these commands have been executed, run the following command to start the SFC scan:
    sfc /scannow
Type 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.
More Bluetooth Options
  • Go to the “Options” tab and ensure “Show the Bluetooth icon in the notification area” is checked.
  • Click “Apply”, then click “OK”.
Tick Show the Bluetooth icon in the notification area

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. 
Double click Bluetooth Support Service
  • 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. 
Set Startup Type of Bluetooth Support Service to Automatic
  • 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”.
Additional power settings under Power & sleep
  • Select “Choose what the power button does” and then click on “Change settings that are currently unavailable”.
Choose what the power buttons does
  • 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.
Hold Shift and Click Restart
  • Select “Troubleshoot”, then “Advanced options”, and choose “Startup Repair”.
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”.
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’.
Type rstrui.exe
  • “System Restore” will launch. Click “Next” to proceed.
  • Choose the preferred restore point and click “Next”.
Choose System Protection then System Restore
  • 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.

Once your Bluetooth icon is visible — you might want to enhance your Bluetooth signal strength as well.

And if you’re still having trouble, we advise mentioning your issues in the comment section below.

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About the author
Joshua Hohendorf
Joshua Hohendorf - Author

Joshua is an author at WindowsFixHub.

His experience involves Product and Program Management with the knowledge and ability to get things done. Utilizing basic to advanced IT work such as setting up new networks, troubleshooting software, and computer maintenance.