Unable to find option to activate Bluetooth

[I kill Bunnies]

So I decided to buy a Bluetooth USB connector to allow my son to use an Xbox controller playing Roblox.

However when I attempt to add device via Bluetooth it is unable to pair. In Windows 11 Device Manager there is no toggle to turn Bluetooth on/off and there is no Bluetooth icon in Quick Action.

Futhermore there appears to be no Bluetooth drivers saved anywhere. My motherboard supports Bluetooth, so why can't I activate it? Microsoft support states there should be a driver to update, but it's not there!

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[Oh Ed not again.]

If you look in Device Manager it probably has a yellow exclamation mark against it, meaning it needs a driver. You won't get anywhere until you've satisfied that. It might just see it as a generic communications device.

As there are many, many BT chipsets there's a good chance Windows doesn't have a driver for the deviceID and won't install it automatically. Running Windows Update would have been my first go-to.

Else, Google for the manufacturer and see if there are any clues as to what chipset they're using and then see if you can find a driver. Can you link the adapter you bought?

 

[I kill Bunnies]

I ran the trouble shooter and it told me to update Windows (as advised above). This time the adapter showed in Devices and paired nicely with the controller. Hurrah!

 

[I kill Bunnies]

Just to add further detail, although my mobo has WiFi and Bluetooth I had not connected the WiFi module, so that's why the Bluetooth icon wouldn't show. I found the module in my motherboard box but alas no antennas! So I ordered a new module with antenna as I was not convinced any old antenna would fit.

I don't really need the Bluetooth as the connector works, but in future I may need it for something.

 

[ooStevo]

Yeah I had a hell of a time trying to connect my Bluetooth dongle on windows 10. Glad you got it sorted. Why Windows needs to make it so complicated I have no idea.