bluetooth disappearing from laptop

Question

I've been searching the internet on my issue but can't seem to find anything conclusive. I have a Dell Inspiron 15 5584 that I bought from Costco less than a year ago. The biggest problem I have is that sometimes when I boot there is no bluetooth icon and I cannot connect to any bluetooth devices (except wifi works fine). Under services.msc there are the 3 listings for bluetooth, but no icon in my task bar. HOWEVER, my current fix is to remove all devices from my usb ports (I repeat, ALL) and sometimes even pull the power cord and boot from battery. That seems to get bluetooth working every time (knock on wood, knock on my head, don't curse it). Is my laptop headed for hardware doom? What is my recourse?

Oh, my biggest secondary problem is related - sometimes I get the black screen of death when I boot. I use the same process to get the DELL display and then my system logon password display. i.e., I remove all the connected devices and sometimes even the power cord and boot from battery.

My 3rd problem is that I keep getting errors when I attempt to load the SupportAssist app. I loaded it when I first bought this laptop but recently it wouldn't work and I received a display that I needed to load it (again). Now when I run SupportAssist Launcher it fails after notifying me that a new version will be loaded.

A new version of SupportAssist is available and will be installed on the PC.

We were unable to install SupportAssist. Please reboot your PC and try again.

Any serious solutions to the above (other than send it back to Dell) would be appreciated.

rklevy · Answer

Does your laptop have a Qualcomm QCA9377 wifi/bt adapter? If so, I'd replace it with something else...that adapter has lots of issues on Dell systems, including my nearly new 5593....Dell replaced my QCA9377 and it did nothing to fix the problem.  I replaced it myself with an Intel 9560NGW (about 10 dollars on eBay) and I have not had a single issue since.

dettkruse · Answer

Thanks! This worked for me!

bushido57 · Answer

I have an Inspiron 13 7000 2in1. My bt started disappearing a few months ago. I installed firmware level v1.13 and after the reboot, bt works. After I power off and turn back on the next day bt is gone. If I really need bt I just re-install the firmware and it comes back. Pretty bad that Dell can't fix this, permanently.

eduss · Answer

Full Shutdown : Power button + S Restart  Bluetooth is back

SimonKingIT · Answer

@AdrianG001​ Hi, thank you for your post, unfortunately it did not work for me and when I went to Troubleshooting in the Dell Supportassist to scan for Bluetooth errors, there was no option to scan the Bluetooth. I scanned the entire PC and stress tested the pc, but no issues were found. Do you have any other ideas?

AdrianG001 · Answer

@SimonKingIT​ If Bluetooth functionality is disappearing from your laptop, it can be caused by a variety of factors. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue: Restart Your Laptop: Sometimes, a simple restart can help refresh the system and resolve minor glitches. Check Bluetooth Settings: Make sure that Bluetooth is not turned off in the settings. On Windows, you can access Bluetooth settings by right-clicking on the Bluetooth icon in the system tray and selecting 'Open Settings.' Update Bluetooth Drivers: Outdated or corrupt Bluetooth drivers can cause issues. Visit your laptop manufacturer's website or the Bluetooth hardware manufacturer's website to download and install the latest drivers. Check Airplane Mode: Ensure that Airplane Mode is turned off. Sometimes, this mode can disable both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. BIOS/UEFI Settings: In some cases, the Bluetooth functionality might be disabled in the BIOS/UEFI settings. Enter the BIOS/UEFI settings during boot (usually by pressing a key like F2 or Delete) and check if Bluetooth is enabled. Windows Updates: Make sure your Windows operating system is up to date with the latest updates. Some updates may address Bluetooth-related issues. Check Device Manager: a. Right-click on the Start button and select 'Device Manager.' b. Expand the 'Bluetooth' category. c. If you see a Bluetooth device listed, right-click on it and select 'Properties.' Check if it's enabled and working properly. d. If there's a yellow triangle or an error message, you might need to troubleshoot or update the drivers. Troubleshoot Hardware: If you suspect a hardware issue, you can try the following: a. Ensure that your laptop's Bluetooth hardware (if external) is properly connected and seated. b. If you're using an external Bluetooth adapter, try plugging it into a different USB port. System Restore: If Bluetooth recently disappeared after a software change, consider using System Restore to revert your system to a point when Bluetooth was working. Check for Interference: Other electronic devices, wireless networks, or even physical obstacles might be causing interference with Bluetooth signals. Try using Bluetooth in a different location to see if the issue persists. Perform a System Reset: As a last resort, you might consider performing a system reset or reinstalling your operating system. Be sure to back up your data before attempting this step. Contact Support: If none of the above steps resolve the issue, consider reaching out to your laptop manufacturer's technical support for further assistance. Remember that Bluetooth issues can sometimes be complex to diagnose and resolve, so patience and thorough troubleshooting are key.

edydell22 · Answer

Before I bought my Dell, I said there was no point in buying a no-name or a lower-quality laptop because I wanted to have a top brand. This is not always the case when the brand name doesn't make a big difference, just the price. I have had my Dell laptop for around a year; the issue with Bluetooth started maybe a month ago, but I have had another problem with sound for more than 6 months: sometimes when Windows starts and has that sound at the beginning, the sound becomes very loud and is just an annoying noise like an old TV with no reception. It is very scary sometimes :). If I try to play anything else, the sound is just that noise. To fix this, I just have to restart the laptop. All the best, Dell community! ;)

Inspiron

bluetooth disappearing from laptop

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