How to Turn Off Bluetooth on Windows 10: 4 Ways to Disable It

To turn off Bluetooth on Windows 10, open Start > Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices, then switch Bluetooth to Off. If you only need a faster toggle, open Action Center from the right side of the taskbar and click the Bluetooth tile. Turning Bluetooth off disconnects Bluetooth headphones, mice, keyboards, phones, and other paired accessories until you turn the radio back on.

Microsoft still documents both Windows 10 methods on its Bluetooth on/off support page. Keep in mind that Microsoft ended standard support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025; the operating system still works, but most Windows 10 PCs no longer receive normal security fixes unless they are covered by an eligible Extended Security Updates option. See Microsoft's Windows 10 end-of-support guidance for current support choices.

Turn off Bluetooth in Windows 10 Settings

This is the clearest method because it shows the actual Bluetooth radio state.

1. Open the Start menu and select Settings. You can also press Windows + I.
2. Select Devices.
3. Choose Bluetooth & other devices in the left pane.

4. Under Bluetooth, move the switch to Off.

The devices listed on the page remain paired; switching the radio off does not remove them. When you switch Bluetooth back on, Windows can reconnect to paired accessories that are powered on and available.

Turn off Bluetooth from Action Center

Action Center is the quickest option when the Bluetooth tile is already visible.

1. Select the Action Center icon at the far right of the Windows 10 taskbar.
2. If only a few tiles are visible, select Expand.
3. Select the Bluetooth tile. When Bluetooth is off, the tile is not highlighted and may display Off.

If the Bluetooth tile is missing, go to Settings > System > Notifications & actions, choose Edit your quick actions, and add Bluetooth if Windows offers it. Microsoft notes that a missing Bluetooth action can also indicate that Windows cannot detect a Bluetooth adapter or its driver.

Disable the Bluetooth adapter in Device Manager

If you want Windows to stop using the Bluetooth hardware itself rather than merely switch the radio off from Settings, you can disable the adapter in Device Manager. This is more disruptive, so use it when you specifically need the adapter disabled.

1. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Bluetooth.
3. Identify the actual Bluetooth radio or adapter. Its name often includes the hardware vendor and the words Bluetooth, Wireless Bluetooth, or Bluetooth Adapter.
4. Right-click the adapter and select Disable device, then confirm if Windows asks.

Do not disable entries such as Microsoft Bluetooth Enumerator unless you have a specific troubleshooting reason. To restore Bluetooth later, return to Device Manager, right-click the disabled adapter, and choose Enable device. Microsoft documents that a device disabled by the user appears as Device Manager error Code 22 until it is enabled again.

Use a laptop Bluetooth or wireless key if your PC has one

Some laptops include a wireless radio button or an Fn keyboard shortcut. Its behavior is manufacturer-specific: on one model it may control Bluetooth, while on another it may toggle Wi-Fi, airplane mode, or several radios together. If your laptop has such a key, check the model's manual before relying on it as a Bluetooth-only switch.

What if the Bluetooth switch is missing?

If Bluetooth & other devices has no on/off switch, Microsoft says the PC may not have a Bluetooth adapter, or Windows may not have a working driver for it. Try these checks:

• Open Device Manager and see whether a Bluetooth category or Bluetooth adapter is listed.
• Restart the PC and check again.
• Install the latest Bluetooth driver from Windows Update or, preferably when needed, the support site for your PC or adapter manufacturer.
• Run Microsoft's Bluetooth troubleshooting steps if the radio has disappeared or is grayed out. The official Bluetooth disappeared troubleshooting guide covers Windows 10.

Do not uninstall the adapter simply because you want Bluetooth off. Uninstalling is a driver-repair step and Windows may reinstall the device automatically after a restart.

Which method should you use?

For normal use, choose Settings when you want to verify the radio state, or Action Center when you need the fastest toggle. Use Device Manager only when you intentionally want the Bluetooth adapter disabled at the device level. All three approaches are reversible.