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How to replace drivers for a Bluetooth adapter in Windows 10?

Are you having trouble maintaining a connection with the default Bluetooth adapter on your Windows 10 PC? You might want to consider installing a Bluetooth adapter replacement. Your computer system needs drivers to enable devices like printers and cameras to function correctly. Now, if these drivers get corrupted or damaged, the device will malfunction and start throwing errors.

Usually, when you want to replace a malfunctioning Bluetooth adapter, all you need to do is remove it and install a new replacement. However, if the Bluetooth adapter happens to be integrated onto your motherboard or wireless card, it might pose quite a challenge. The reason is that Windows 10 can still see it, and it can only allow one driver per device.

In our Windows 10 tutorial today, we teach you how to set up a Bluetooth adapter replacement in Windows 10.

How to Find Out Whether You Need a Bluetooth Adapter for Windows 10

Most laptops come with the Bluetooth adapter built into the motherboard, allowing you to connect wirelessly to your devices. Desktops, on the other hand, may not come with a built-in Bluetooth device, and you may have to use a dongle instead.

First, you need to check if your PC has Bluetooth capability. The guide below shows you three methods to check if your computer needs a Bluetooth adapter.

Method 1: Using the Device Manager

  1. Open the Power User menu using the Win + X shortcut keys, and select Device Manager.
  2. You should see Bluetooth listed somewhere near the top of the list. If you can’t see it, expand the Network category, and look for Bluetooth Radios.

Method 2: Using Control Panel

  1. Use the Win + S key combination to bring up Windows Search. Type “control panel” (no quotes) in the search input box and press Enter.
  2. On the next window, select Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center. Then, click on Change Adapter Settings on the left pane to open the Network Connections window.
  3. You should see Bluetooth Network Connection here. If you don’t, you will have to install a Bluetooth adapter.

Method 3: Using Windows Settings App

  1. Open the Settings app (Win + I) and select Devices.
  2. You should be able to see the “Bluetooth & other devices” tab here. If not, then your PC doesn’t have a Bluetooth adapter installed.

If you have a Bluetooth adapter that doesn’t function as required, we’ll show you how to install its replacement. If your computer doesn’t have Bluetooth, then the guide below shows you how to set up one.

How to Install a Bluetooth Adapter Replacement on Windows 10

Before anything else, you’ll have to disable the old adapter permanently before setting up a new Bluetooth adapter. Otherwise, you may run into driver conflicts and other PC issues.

How to Disable Old Bluetooth Adapter

You can opt to uninstall or disable the Bluetooth driver. However, you don’t need to uninstall it when disabling it works just fine. Here are the steps to disable your faulty Bluetooth adapter:

  1. Press the Win + X keyboard shortcut or right-click your Start menu and select Device Manager from the Power User menu.
  2. Expand the Bluetooth branch, right-click your wireless adapter, and click on Disable Device.
  3. Click Yes when prompted if you want to disable the adapter.

Once you’ve disabled the Bluetooth device, you sever all interaction between your system and the device, preventing conflicts with the new Bluetooth adapter.

How to Set Up a Bluetooth Replacement

Now that you’ve disabled the old problematic Bluetooth adapter, it’s time to install the new one. You can find a variety of Bluetooth adapters in the market. Assuming you already have one, follow this guide to set it up:

  1. Find a free USB port and plug in the new Bluetooth adapter.
  2. Windows will detect and install the new device automatically on your machine.

After you complete the installation, restart your PC.

Check if the New Bluetooth Adapter is Configured Correctly

The next step is to check whether the new Bluetooth adapter works as required. The quickest method to verify the new adapter is via the Settings app:

  1. Use the Win + I shortcut keys to run the Settings app.
  2. Go to Devices. It should open with the “Bluetooth & other devices” tab selected by default.

The Bluetooth toggle switch should be available, meaning the new adapter was correctly installed and recognized by the Windows system. Otherwise, if you only see the “Add Bluetooth or other device” button, it indicates Windows encountered a problem while adding the short-range wireless radio adapter.

In that case, you may have to manually install the Bluetooth driver.

How to Install the Bluetooth Driver Manually

Like we mentioned above, Windows should be able to automatically detect and install the new adapter. However, this might not always be the case, prompting you to install the driver manually.

You can do so via Windows Update:

  1. Launch the Settings app, and select Update & Security > Windows Update.
  2. Click on Check for Updates and click the View Optional Updates link (if applicable).
  3. Select the Driver Updates tab and choose the driver you want to update, in this case, the Bluetooth driver.
  4. Click on Download and Install to proceed.

Once the updates have been downloaded and installed, restart your PC. You should now be able to connect the wireless device to your Windows 10 PC without running into issues.

What if you can’t find the option to update your driver with Windows Update? We have a solution for you – Auslogics Driver Updater.Having good drivers is important if you want your devices to work flawlessly. Usually, you have to check the current driver version and download the latest version from your device manufacturer’s website. If you install the wrong driver version or a driver that’s not compatible with your operating system, you risk creating more PC issues.

With Auslogics Driver Updater, you don’t have to worry about compatibility issues. The software works intuitively and detects your operating system first before installing new drivers. This is to ensure that it only installs the drivers meant for your operating system. It then scans your system to determine the installed drivers and missing or outdated drivers.

You can find a detailed list of all the drivers installed on your PC in the Diagnostics tab. Look for the Bluetooth driver and update it. The good thing about using Driver Updater is that it does the hard work for you. The process is automatic, which means you don’t have to know the driver version or model. You don’t even have to know your device manufacturer.

The program guarantees to install the latest official drivers from the manufacturers’ websites, ensuring that your system performs optimally. More importantly, the program backs up your current device drivers before installing new ones, in case something happens, and you want to revert to the old version.

We hope you were able to install a Bluetooth adapter replacement on your Windows 10 PC with ease. For additional info or queries, please comment below.