By default, the Bluetooth icon appears in the system tray when Bluetooth is turned on. However, if the Bluetooth icon is missing from the taskbar’s system tray, you can easily fix it and make it visible again. There are several reasons why the Bluetooth icon might be missing, such as hiding the Bluetooth icon, Bluetooth service being disabled, or an issue with the Bluetooth driver. Whatever the reason, follow the steps below to fix the problem and force Windows to show the Bluetooth icon on the taskbar.
Before You Start
- You need administrator rights to follow the steps below.
- Ensure Bluetooth is turned on. You can verify this by clicking on the Network/Volume icon in the Windows 11 taskbar or the Notification icon in the Windows 10 taskbar. If Bluetooth is turned on, its icon will be colorful.
Steps to Show the Bluetooth Icon on the Taskbar
On Windows 11
Windows 11 users follow the steps below to show the taskbar Bluetooth icon.
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
- Go to the Bluetooth & Devices tab.
- Click on the Devices option.
- Click on the More Bluetooth Settings option under the “Related Settings” section.
- Go to the Options tab.
- Check the Show the Bluetooth icon in the notification area checkbox.
- Click OK to save changes.
- Bluetooth icon appears on the taskbar.
On Windows 10
Windows 10 users should follow the below steps to show the Bluetooth icon on the system tray in the taskbar.
- Open the Settings app. You can do that by pressing the “Win + I” shortcut.
- After opening Windows 10 Settings, go to the “Devices” page.
- Select the “Bluetooth & other devices” tab on the left panel.
- On the right page, click the “More Bluetooth options” link. You will find it under the “Related Settings” heading.
- Select the “Options” tab in the Bluetooth settings window.
- Select the “Show Bluetooth icon in the notification area” checkbox.
- Click “Apply“.
- Click “OK” to save changes.
- Close the Settings app.
That is all. Once you select the checkbox and save the changes, the Bluetooth icon should appear on the taskbar. As I said before, the Bluetooth icon will open appear only when the Bluetooth is turned on. If you don’t see the icon, make sure Bluetooth is turned on in Windows 10.
Troubleshooting Steps
If you still don’t see the Bluetooth icon, it might be an issue with the Bluetooth service or driver. Follow the steps below to troubleshoot the missing Bluetooth icon problem.
Enable Bluetooth Support Service
If the Bluetooth Support Service is disabled, Bluetooth functionality cannot be turned on, and you won’t see the Bluetooth icon on the taskbar. To fix this, you need to enable the Bluetooth Support Service using the Windows Services Manager. Here’s how:
- Press the “Win + R” shortcut to open the Run box.
- Type services.msc and click OK in the Run window.
- After opening the Services window, find and right-click on Bluetooth Support Service.
- Select Properties from the context menu.
- Select Manual from the “Startup type” dropdown menu.
- Click the Start button.
- Click OK to save changes.
- Close the Services window.
- Restart your computer.
After rebooting, turn on Bluetooth from the Quick Settings panel in Windows 11 and Notification Center in Windows 10. As soon as the Bluetooth is turned on, you will see the Bluetooth icon on the taskbar.
Reinstall Bluetooth Driver
If enabling the Bluetooth Support Service didn’t help, it might be an issue with the Bluetooth driver. In that case, you need to reinstall the Bluetooth driver. You can do this using Device Manager (follow the linked tutorial for detailed steps) or by downloading the latest Bluetooth driver from your motherboard or Bluetooth adapter manufacturer and installing it. After reinstalling the Bluetooth driver, turn on Bluetooth, and you should see the Bluetooth icon appear in the taskbar.
Wrapping Up — Show Missing Bluetooth Icon in Taskbar on Windows 10 & Windows 11
As you can see, forcing Windows 10 and Windows 11 to show the Bluetooth icon on the taskbar is pretty simple. All you have to do is enable the Bluetooth icon, and you are good to go. Under certain circumstances, issues with the Bluetooth service or driver can hide the Bluetooth icon. In those cases, follow the above troubleshooting steps to fix the problem.
If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to assist.
This is simply wrong. There is no “more bluetooth options” setting in the Bluetooth and other devices tab
As shown in the screenshot, the option will be under the “Related settings” section. You will find this section either on the right sidebar or at the bottom of the main page. If you still cannot see the option, make sure you are running the latest version of Windows 10.