Enable or Disable Bluetooth in Windows 11

Here is how you can Enable or disable Bluetooth in Windows 11. While regular users should not bother with that kind of task, sometimes you might need to disable Bluetooth to squeeze the last drop of battery from your laptop or if your airline demands disabling wireless connections during take-offs or landings. Whatever the reason, Windows 11 allows you to turn off or on Bluetooth using various methods.

Bluetooth is a combination of hardware and software that allows you to wirelessly transmit a variety of data between devices. You can send and receive documents, music, video, contacts, and even share an Internet connection over Bluetooth. The Bluetooth transmitter and receiver are often embedded in portable devices. You can add Bluetooth to desktop PCs by installing an external or internal module. USB Bluetooth transmitters are widely used and affordable.  Having Bluetooth on is not a problem when your Windows device is plugged in, but you might want to disable it when on battery.

How to Enable or disable the Bluetooth feature in Windows 11

There are a number of ways to enable or disable Bluetooth in Windows 11. You can use Quick Settings, a new feature of the OS, the Settings app, the classic Control Panel, Device Manager, and more. This article reviews all the methods in details.

Windows 11 lets you turn on or off Bluetooth using the Quick Settings menu that opens when you click the system icons in the taskbar.

Enable or disable Bluetooth using Quick Settings

1. Click any of the system icons in the taskbar, Network, Volume, or Battery.
2. Next, click the Bluetooth button. By default, it is in the upper left corner.
3. Once you click the Bluetooth button, Windows 11 will toggle enable the Bluetooth feature.
4. When enabled, you can start pairing your PC with other devices.

Tip: If the Bluetooth button is missing in the Quick Settings menu, you might need to add it there. Here is how to turn on the Bluetooth icon in the Quick Settings menu in Windows 11.

Add the Bluetooth icon to Quick Settings

1. Open Quick Settings by clicking one of the following icons in the notification area: Network, Volume, or Battery (all three are a single button).
2. Click the Edit button with a pencil icon.
3. Next, click the Add button, then select Bluetooth from the list.
4. Click Done.

Now you can use Quick Settings to enable or disable Bluetooth in Windows 11.

Besides Quick Settings, you can use the Windows Settings app to enable or disable Bluetooth in Windows 11.

Using the Settings app

1. Press Win + I to open Windows Settings in Windows 11.
2. Go to Bluetooth & devices.
3. On the right, enable or disable the Bluetooth toggle option. Windows 11 will also show you your PC name, for example, "Discoverable as Taras-Laptop."
4. Now you can click the large Add device button to connect Bluetooth devices to your Windows 11 computer.

You are done.

Note that when you enable Airplane Mode in Windows 11, the operating system automatically turns off all wireless adapters, such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Disabling Airplane Mode restores those protocols. You can use this feature to quickly disable Bluetooth.

Disable Bluetooth using Airplane Mode in Windows 11

1. Open Quick Settings in Windows 11 by pressing the Network, Volume, or Battery indicator in the notification area.
2. Click on the Airplane Mode button.
3. To enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth back, repeat steps 1 and 2.

If you are not happy with this behavior, you can stop the OS from disabling Bluetooth when going to Airplane mode. For example, some airlines no longer require passengers to disable Bluetooth during take-off or landing.  If you want to keep Bluetooth on in Airplane Mode in Windows 11, do the following.

Prevent Windows 11 from turning off Bluetooth in Airplane Mode.

1. Press Win + I to open Windows Settings.
2. Go to the Network and Internet section.
3. Click Airplane mode.
4. Disable Bluetooth under the Wireless devices section.

After that, Windows 11 will keep Bluetooth on when you enable Airplane Mode. Note that you can turn on Bluetooth in Windows 11 using Quick Settings or Windows Settings, even when Airplane Mode is on.

Note: If you want to disable Bluetooth in Windows 11 using the classic Control Panel or the following method with Device Manager, you need to know that enabling Bluetooth back requires a different procedure.

Disable Bluetooth in Windows 11 using Control Panel

1. Press Win + R and enter the control command.
2. Now open the Devices and Printers section. If you use the category view, click Hardware and Sound, then select Devices and Printers.
3. Find your Bluetooth adapter in the Devices section and right-click it.
4. Select Remove Device from the menu.

After that, Windows 11 will disable your Bluetooth adapter, preventing anybody from enabling Bluetooth in Windows 11 using any of the previously mentioned methods.

You can also use the Device Manager app for the same.

Turn off Bluetooth in Windows 11 using Device Manager

1. Right-click the Start menu button and select Device Manager.
2. In the new window, find the Bluetooth section and expand it.
3. Find your Bluetooth adapter and right-click it.
4. Select Disable device from the context menu. Although not necessary, you can repeat this step for all Bluetooth entries in Device Manager.

Now you cannot enable Bluetooth using Quick Settings or Windows Settings. The next part of this article describes how to enable Bluetooth once you disabled it using the Control Panel or Device Manager.

Enable Bluetooth in Windows 11 using Device Manager

1. Open Device Manager using the Win + X menu. Alternatively, you can press Win + R and enter the devmgmt.msc command.
2. In the device tree on the left, find your Bluetooth adapter and right-click it.
3. Select Enable device from the context menu. Repeat this procedure for all Bluetooth adapters you have disabled using the Device Manager app.
4. If you removed your Bluetooth adapter using the Control Panel, click Action > Scan for Hardware Changes in the menu row.
5. Wait for Windows to scan your computer and restore the removed Bluetooth adapter(s).

That's it. Now you know how to enable or disable Bluetooth in Windows 11.