Anthony Danes | DriverFinder - We Make Drivers Work for You

Fix the Thread Stuck in Device Driver error in Windows

Out of all the errors you can get with Windows device drivers, the thread stuck in device driver error is one of the most serious ones. The reason is that this error results in a blue screen of death (BSOD), which requires a PC restart.

What is the Thread Stuck in Device Driver error?

As the name suggests, the error basically means that the device driver software is stuck in a loop waiting for a hardware device to respond. Although this could be caused by the hardware device itself, in most cases, it is the result of a problem with the device driver software.

Thread Stuck in Device Driver Error

The error can occur on all Windows versions and is often seen with high-utilization types of processing, like gaming, or high CPU or GPU type of processing.

Once you see the error, you’ll want to fix the error.

Here is what you can try.

Steps to Fix the Thread Stuck in Device Driver error

There are a number of things you can try to solve the error. We’ll list them in sequence, so you can spend the least amount of time possible in solving the driver error.

1 – Update Windows

This may look like an obvious step, but it is so easy to overlook pending updates in Windows, especially in the latest Windows versions. So, make sure to go into the Settings (or Control Panel), and check for Windows Updates (1) and (2).

Check for Windows Updates

Tip: make sure to check for any optional updates (3), as Microsoft does not push all driver updates as mandatory! Optional driver updates will show here.

2 – Run the Troubleshooter

If you are running Windows 10 or Windows 11, you can try running the Troubleshooter from the Windows Settings. These built-in troubleshooters will check your system for common, known problems.

If a recommended troubleshooter is shown, (like the BSOD Troubleshooter), click the Run the troubleshooter button. If there is no recommendation, click the Additional troubleshooters link to pick one manually.

Apart from running the troubleshooter, Microsoft also recommends using the GetHelp app.

3 – Update your drivers

Even though you ran Windows Update, you may still be missing some important driver updates. Examples are:

  • drivers that are not distributed by Microsoft (non-WHQL)
  • drivers with newer generic device support that are not limited to specific hardware manufactures
  • drivers that are incompatible with the supporting software (like control panels)

It is best to check for additional driver updates. You can manually visit your PC manufacturer’s website and look for your PC model and any available driver update.

We recommend using our free driver finder software. DriverFinder will scan your PC for hardware devices and find the latest version of available drivers compatible with your Windows version. Simply download and install to make sure the latest driver is available for the device.

Tip: In some cases, it can be required to update the BIOS of your PC. Older BIOS versions may limit compatibility with newer Windows versions. Simply visit your PC manufacturer’s support website and see if an updated BIOS version is available for your model.

4 – Reinstall the device

Using the Windows Device Manager, it is possible to uninstall a device (and optionally the driver). When Windows restarts, the device is then reinstalled. This can sometimes help with the device and driver configuration.

Simply start the Device Manager by searching for it in the Windows search bar. Then select the device that is causing the device error. Right-click the device, and in the popup menu select Uninstall device.

Next, restart your PC and check if the error persists.

5 – Analyze the system logs

Unfortunately, this process requires technical skills. The first step is to look at the event viewer. This Windows software can help you pinpoint the cause of the thread stuck in device driver error. Looking through the System events, you can often pinpoint the device linked to the error. This in turn can then let you know which troubleshooter to run, or which driver to update.

Apart from the Event viewer, you can look at the minidump.

When a serious error occurs, like the thread stuck in device driver error, Windows creates a log file called a minidump. These files are stored in a folder called Minidump in the system root (typically C:\Windows\Minidump). The minidump filename will have the date in it and have an extension .dmp. If no such file is created, check the configuration for creating minidumps.

These crash dump files when generated as a result of the THREAD STUCK IN DEVICE DRIVER ERROR will often contain the filename, which in turn can help pinpoint the driver.

Reading and analyzing a minidump file is a rather technical process. Luckily, tools are available that can read minidump files and show the result in a more user-friendly way. Try BlueScreenView or WhoCrashed.

6 – Check the hardware

As mentioned earlier, the error is not often caused by a hardware error. But if you recently made changes to your system, like changing the video card, or adding memory, it is good to double-check. Make sure all hardware is properly inserted and compatible with your motherboard.

For disks, check the cables that connect them to the motherboard or disk controller.

7 – Disable GPU acceleration

The graphics processor is used for hardware acceleration by default. Disabling it, and effectively switching to CPU-based processing, can help solve the problem as well.

In Windows, open the Settings, and then select System -> Display. Then scroll down and select Graphics or Graphics settings.

Toggle the option Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling from On to Off.

It is possible that this option is overruled by your display control software. For Nvidia, you can check the PhysX settings in the NVIDIA Control Panel. Switch it to CPU to disable the use of the GPU.

Note: disabling hardware acceleration can have a significant impact on the graphics performance. Even if this is a solution, it is best to look for an updated, compatible driver to enable the hardware acceleration again.

Hopefully with all these steps you will be able to solve the thread stuck in device driver error and prevent further blue screen occurences.

FT232R USB UART Driver for Windows

The FT232R UART device is a USB to serial interface chip from a company called Future Technology Devices International, or FTDI. The chip is used in a lot of USB-to-serial dongles that are needed for devices with a serial port. Since most modern computers don’t have a serial port (COM port) anymore, using a USB dongle enables such devices to connect to a computer. For this type of dongle to be used with Windows, an FT232R USB UART driver for Windows will be required.

Installing an FT232R USB UART driver

To manually install a Windows driver for this type of device, you will first need to download the driver. In some cases, the dongle manufacturer will offer a driver download. Just visit the support site for the manufacturer and download the driver for your specific Windows version.

After downloading, run the driver executable, or follow the manual driver installation instructions to install the driver.

If the dongle manufacturer does not offer drivers, visit the FTDI site for the latest generic FT232R USB UART Drivers. You can use either the Virtual COM port drivers or the D2XX Direct drivers. After downloading, extract the ZIP file contents to a folder. Next, use the instructions to manually install the driver in Windows.

FT232R USB UART Driver

In the Device Manager, the dongle may show as an Unknown device, a FT232R USB UART device, or as a USB Serial Converter. If the device does not show, use the option Show hidden devices in the View menu, or add a setting to the System variables to show non-present devices.

FT232R USB UART device


USB serial convertor

If want to automatically find and download the latest FT232R USB UART driver for Windows, we recommend using our DriverFinder program. Based on all the hardware devices in your PC, the program will find the latest drivers for those devices and recommend driver updates.

For more on USB to serial converters and their drivers, also check the article on the Prolific PL2303 driver for Windows.

The Wi-Fi 7 standard

Wireless communication is so common nowadays that we don’t think about it anymore. Whether it is outside on our mobile phones, using it at home on our laptops and tablets, or using portable devices on Bluetooth, wireless communication is just always there. We expect it to be available and fast. To make that possible, development never stops. The newest development now? Wi-Fi 7.

What is Wi-Fi 7?

Wi-Fi 7 is like you would expect, the successor of the previous Wi-Fi standard, Wi-Fi 6 (and Wi-Fi 6E). Wi-Fi 7 will be known as the 802.11be standard. It will use the 2.5, 5, and 6 GHz frequency bands, which is the same for the 6 and 6E versions. Nothing new there.

What is new in the Wi-Fi 7 standard is the use of a 320 MHz channel in the 6 GHZ band. So, more bandwidth for data, which will benefit high-demand data streams. At the same time, Wi-Fi 7 will be downwards compatible, so it can be used with all devices that only support older Wi-Fi standards.

The biggest improvement I believe is the changes in the Multi-User, Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) support. The number of channels is increased from 8 to 16. This together with the addition of Multi-Link Operation (MLO) improves the data transfer and reduces the latency. MLO allows the switching (or even parallel) use of the band used for data transfer rather than a single one.

What are the benefits?

With the wider frequency channels on the supported bands, together with the multi-link options, the main advantages of Wi-Fi 7 over the previous Wi-Fi versions are improved speed and reduced latency.

In theory Wi-Fi 7 will enable transfer speeds up to 46 Gbps. Compared to the 9.6 Gbps of the Wi-Fi 6E standard, that is a significant increase. Intel expects a typical laptop to have a data transfer rate of up to 5.8 Gbps). Although the support of a 320 MHz channel contributes to this, the Multi-Link Operation (MLO) is the main reason for these improvements.

A secondary benefit of the new Wi-Fi 7 standard is the new feature called Restricted Wake Time, which will help your devices save battery. Devices will be in power save mode as much as possible since the awake time allows access points and routers to manage the network activity (Also see Target Wake Time – TWT).

The last new benefit of Wi-Fi 7 is that it will support more simultaneous connections. So I you plan to connect all devices in your home (or have a lot of parties with guests that use your Wi-Fi connection), the new standard will help ensure speed and latency are optimal.

When will Wi-Fi 7 be available?

Routers that will support Wi-Fi 7 will become available are expected later in 2023, with all major manufacturers planning releases.

Qualcomm will have Wi-Fi 7 chipset available that enables speeds up to 33 Gbps. Linksys is planning to use this chipset in their new routers, even though they have not announced any releases. TP-Link (Archer BE900), Netgear (Nighthawk RS-700), Asus (ROG Rapture GT-BE98), and MSI (RadiX BE22000 Turbo) did already announce new products with Wi-Fi 7 support.

Wi-Fi 7 Router

Do I need Wi-Fi 7?

Currently? Maybe not. In the future, more likely, yes. As is clear from the above, the benefits are speed, multi-device support, reduced latency, and more bandwidth. If you are an avid gamer, low latency is important. Other things that might be considered for upgrading are video streaming (with 8K becoming more common), or the internet of things (IoT) where we connect all our devices to the Internet (your fridge ordering your groceries for example).

As always with device upgrades, the need to upgrade will also depend on the current situation. If you plan to upgrade or replace an older router, waiting for the new Wi-Fi 7-enabled routers would be a good idea. If you don’t think you will need the advantages the Wi-Fi 7 standard offers, your ISP speed is low anyway, or the cost of a router is a consideration, getting a Wi-Fi 7-enabled router would not be recommended.

Do keep in mind that all your other wireless devices will also need support for Wi-Fi 7. The latest mobile phones and laptops might have it, but a lot of other wireless devices will currently not include support.

Core Isolation Memory Integrity Incompatible Drivers

One of the new protection features in Windows 11 is called Core isolation. This feature helps protect against vulnerabilities that may harm the system. It is also referred to as virtualization-based security (or VBS). An important aspect of this protection is the setting memory integrity. Enabling this setting will allow Windows to shield the memory from bad code or invalid access.

A limitation of memory integrity protection is the fact that it can be impossible to enable it due to incompatible drivers. Device drivers are an important piece of any operating system, including Windows 11. Since device drivers enable communication with hardware devices, they are operating at a high-security level in Windows with access to critical system resources.

Even with systems that had no problems in the past, Windows updates can result in the core isolation option being disabled with no obvious cause.

In this article, we show how to enable memory integrity and how to deal with incompatible drivers that may block the enabling of the core isolation protection.

How to enable memory integrity

  1. Open the Settings by pressing the Windows + I keys, or use the Start menu.
  2. In the Settings window, click Privacy & security (1) in the left-hand pane.

    Open Windows Security
  3. Next, click Windows Security (2) in the right-hand pane.
  4.  Then, click Device security in the right-hand pane. This will open a new window called Windows Security.
  5. Under Core isolation, click the Core isolation details link.
    Core isolation details
  6. Now toggle the switch for Memory integrity from Off to On.
    Enable memory integrity in Windows 11
    Windows will start checking for driver compatibility before enabling the memory integrity option.
  7. Close the Windows Security window and the Settings windows.

After this, the core isolation in Windows 11 is enabled, helping protect the memory from invalid access. This will add an extra layer of protection against malware on your PC.

Incompatible drivers

So what happens with incompatible drivers are installed in the system? In that case, enabling the Memory integrity feature will fail and the Core isolation will not be working.

Memory integrity disabled

To find out which drivers are incompatible, click the Review incompatible drivers link.

You will now see one or more entries of drivers (.sys file names) that are incompatible with the Windows 11 driver system. That means, the device for which the driver is intended may work fine, but the driver is not fully compatible with the Windows 11 security system. This may happen if older drivers are installed (e.g. Windows 7 or Windows 10 drivers).

Clicking the downward pointing arrow to the right of the driver’s name will reveal details about the driver. This information, date, version, and INF name can be used in the process to solve the driver incompatibility.

stm_tpm.sys driver

It is also possible that no imcompatibvle drivers are shown. In that case, try the manual enabling option.

Solve driver incompatibility issues

The simplest choice is to simply leave the Core isolation feature in Windows 11 disabled. That way, the incompatible driver can still be used and the device will function. Considering the possible vulnerability to the system this is not the preferred option. Only when no compatible driver for the device can be found and the device is really needed would you use this option.

The better solution to enabling the memory integrity option in Windows 11 is to replace any incompatible drivers with a newer, compatible version of the device driver.

Our example shows the stm_tpm.sys driver, which is an STMicroelectronics Trusted Platform Module. Other frequently occurring examples are the ene.sys driver and the wdcsam.sys (or wdcsam64_prewin8.sys), which are MSI and Western Digital drivers respectively.

#1 Update the driver from the Device Manager

Replacing an incompatible driver with a newer version is the best way to guarantee the driver will be compatible with Windows 11. Use the Device Manager to check for updates for the device.

Update incompatible driver

In this process, Windows 11 will check the Microsoft Update Catalog for a newer version of the driver for the specific device. Take note that the device does not show any error in this example. The device and driver are functioning without device errors in Windows 11.

Note: If you do not see the problematic driver, use the option Show hidden devices in the View menu to show additional devices with their drivers.

Show hidden device in device manager Windows 11

In case any device is listed with an exclamation mark, it indicates a problem. Updating the driver for the device may fix the problem, otherwise check the error code for the device to solve the issue.

#2 Uninstall the driver to enable memory integrity

If the incompatible driver is not loaded and used by Windows, the memory integrity option can be turned on. Use the device manager to Uninstall the device, and then use the command prompt (or PowerShell) to delete the driver using the pnputil /delete-driver command.

pnputil /delete-driver oem97.inf /uninstall /force

Note: It is important to uninstall the device first, otherwise the command above will fail because the driver package is still in use.

The INF file name used in the command can be found in the details of the incompatible drivers in the Windows Security window. See the Published name detail. The /uninstall parameter ensures the driver package is removed from any devices that use the driver. The /force parameter allows the driver to be deleted even when it is in use.

Once the device is uninstalled and the driver is deleted, enable the memory integrity option as described earlier. If it still fails, try the other solutions listed here.

#3 Manually replace the incompatible driver

If the device is needed, option #2 is not possible, since the device will not work without a driver. But if the automatic update of the incompatible driver also does not work, a manual solution is required.

Uninstall device for incompatible drivers

Use the Device Manager to uninstall the device. If Windows shows the option to Attempt to remove the driver for this device during the device uninstall, select that option. This option will not show for all devices and will only work if the driver is not in use by another device.

After this, find a new driver for the device on the manufacturer’s website. In the case of the wdcsam.sys error, the latest Western Digital drivers will solve the issue. Our ene.sys article has the details for a solution with that driver. For other manufacturers, their support site should provide the latest drivers if available.

Enable Memory Integrity using the Windows Registry

If the above steps do not resolve the issue, it is possible to force the activation of the memory integrity in Windows 10 and Windows 11 using the Windows Registry. Although it is possible to use the Registry Editor for this to manually add the required keys and entries, it is easier to execute the commands to insert the registry keys from the console. Below are the steps.

Open a command prompt window with administrator privileges.

Start Command Prompt with Administrator

Now execute the following commands one by one:

reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard" /v "EnableVirtualizationBasedSecurity" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard" /v "RequirePlatformSecurityFeatures" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard" /v "Locked" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard\Scenarios\HypervisorEnforcedCodeIntegrity" /v "Enabled" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard\Scenarios\HypervisorEnforcedCodeIntegrity" /v "Locked" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Each command should show that the operation completed successfully.

Enable memory integrity using the Windows registry,

After that, close the command prompt window (type “exit” followed by pressing the Enter key), and restart Windows.

Now check that the memory integrity option in Windows Security is enabled.

Note: The commands above are for Windows 10 version 1607 and later (including Windows 11). For earlier Windows 10 versions (1511 and below), use these commands.

reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard" /v "EnableVirtualizationBasedSecurity" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard" /v "RequirePlatformSecurityFeatures" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard" /v "HypervisorEnforcedCodeIntegrity" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard" /v "Unlocked" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

Note: Using the registry edit option can result in Windows showing the Memory Integrity option as “This setting is managed by your administrator“. If that is the case, revert the registry settings to undo the change.

Windows BCM20702A0 driver

Bluetooth problems in Windows computers are often related to incorrect or missing drivers for a Bluetooth device. In the case of the Broadcom BCM20702A0 device, the right BCM20702A0 driver is required for the device to function in Windows. Otherwise, the device will not work and show an error. Any other Bluetooth devices depending on the BCM20702A0 device will most likely also not work or not be recognized.

What is BCM20702A0?

BCM20702A0 refers to a Broadcom Bluetooth 4.0 chip. It is often used in USB Bluetooth dongles, but can also be embedded directly in a computer (laptop, desktop, or all-in-one PC). The chip implements Bluetooth communication which allows a Windows-based PC with this device to connect to external, wireless devices that support Bluetooth. Examples are headsets, game controllers, printers, mice, mobile phones, and similar.

BCM20702A0 driver

Since the BCM20702A0 chip is used on hardware solutions from different manufacturers, a driver specific to the manufacturer may be required to ensure the BCM20702A0 device is recognized by Windows. Dell, Lenovo, Asus, and others all have drivers available for hardware using the Broadcom BCM20702A0 chip.

BCM20702A0 Related Problems

If the BCM20702A0 driver is not installed, or not compatible with the installed device or Windows version, there will be an error. In the Windows Device Manager, the device will be listed under the Other devices category. An exclamation mark on the device icon indicates it is not working properly.

The possible error message for not working Bluetooth devices in Windows:

  • This device cannot start. (Code 10)
    Bluetooth code 10 error
  • The drivers for this device are not installed. (Code 28)
    Bluetooth code 28 error
    In Windows 10 and Windows 11, the message will say “There are no compatible drivers for this device”. Instead of “There is no driver selected for the device information set or element”.
  • This device is not working properly because Windows cannot load the drivers required for this device. (Code 31)
    Bluetooth code 31 error

In normal circumstances, all working Bluetooth devices will show in the Bluetooth category in the Device Manager. But if the right driver is not installed, this category might not show at all.

Bluetooth USB Module device

The result of a non-working Bluetooth module is that Windows will not be able to connect to any Bluetooth devices. Pairing with Bluetooth devices will be impossible.

Steps to solve BCM20702A0 problems in Windows

The most common cause of the problems related to the BCM20702A0 device is a driver problem. So, in solving the error, the first steps are focused on getting the right driver installed. If after that, the device still does not work, try the other methods to fix the issue.

Before starting with the steps, make sure that the Bluetooth USB dongle is plugged (in case an external Bluetooth solution is used). Trying to solve the Bluetooth problem without the device physically present in the computer will not work. This sounds silly but it is better to check than wasting time trying to fix a non-issue. Also, make sure you reboot your computer. Pending restarts after updates can be the source of problems.

Update the BCM20702A0 driver from the Device Manager

The Device Manager is the most common method to install and update drivers for devices in all Windows versions. So, try these steps to update the driver.

  1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type devmgmt.msc in the Run box and press Enter or click OK. This will open the Device Manager.
  3. In the Device Manager window, locate the problematic Bluetooth device in either the Other devices category or the Bluetooth category.
  4. Right-click the BCM20702A0 device and in the popup menu, select Update Driver Software (Update driver in Windows 10 and Windows 11).
    BCM20702a0 driver update
  5. Use the Search automatically for drivers option to let Windows find the correct driver for the device. Click Close when the driver has been installed.

In case Windows does find a driver for the device, a driver will need to be manually downloaded from the manufacturer’s website.

Manually download the BCM20702A0 driver

If Microsoft has not included a driver for the BCM20702A0 device in the version of Windows that you are running, a driver will need to be added manually. This means a Bluetooth interface driver needs to be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website. Check your computer brand and model and locate the manufacturer’s support website to search for the driver.

Note: Broadcom used to support their own version of the Bluetooth software, including drivers. This generic WIDCOMM Bluetooth Software is no longer maintained and supported.

Once downloaded, run the setup or install program for the driver package to install the driver in Windows. Note that a user account with administrator privileges is required to install drivers.

If a driver is not available for your Windows version, you can try running an driver for an older Windows version in compatibility mode. For example, say we are running Windows 10, but the Dell installer for the Bluetooth module is suited only for Windows 7. If there is no Windows 10 driver available, we run the Windows 7 installer as follows:

  1. Right-click the downloaded installer file.
  2. In the popup menu, select Properties.
  3. In the file properties dialog box, select the Compatibility tab.
  4. Under Compatibility mode, select the checkbox for Run this program in compatibility mode for (1), and select Windows 7 in the dropdown box (2).
    Compatibility mode Dell BT installer
  5. Click OK to confirm and close the properties dialog box.
  6. Now execute the driver installer again.

Important: The driver needs to match the Windows architecture in order to work. Installing a 32-bit driver on a 64-bit system will not work, even in compatibility mode.

If the downloaded driver package does not have a setup or install program, you need to manually install the driver using the Device Manager.

Update drivers using Microsoft Update

Microsoft has included support for many devices in every updated version of Windows. Although that means that many devices are detected and supported directly, some devices require optional updates. In Windows 10 and Windows 11, optional updates often include updated drivers for devices. To check if the Broadcom BCM20702A0 driver is available, follow these steps.

  1. Open the Settings windows from the Start menu.
  2. In the Settings window, select Windows Update.
  3. In Windows 11, click Advanced options (skip this step in Windows 10).
  4. Next, click View optional updates.
  5. Under Optional updates, click the Driver updates entry to expand the list and see the available driver updates.
    Windows 10 Optional Driver Updates
  6. If there is an entry for the BCM20702A0 driver, select it and click the Download and install button.

If no driver update is available for the Bluetooth device, the BCM20702A0 device is not supported in Windows. At least not by Microsoft directly. You will need to use the steps to manually download the driver to get it to work.

Restart the Bluetooth Services

This is the first of the steps that do not directly relate to the BCM20702A0 driver. Even if the driver is installed, the device can still give an error. The error might be solved by one of the following solutions.

Windows uses several services (background tasks) for making sure the Bluetooth devices and functions can work. In some cases, a service may have a problem, and manually starting or restarting the service can fix the problem.

Here are the steps to restart the Bluetooth services in Windows.

  1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type services.msc in the Run box and press Enter or click OK. This will open the Services window.
  3. In the Services window, locate the Bluetooth Support Service and right-click it.
  4. In the popup menu, click Restart.
    Restart Bluetooth Services
  5. Close the Services window when done.

You can repeat these steps for other Bluetooth services, like the Bluetooth Driver Management Service. If the services are not in a Running state, simply try starting them instead of restarting them. Not all Bluetooth services need to be running for the BCM20702A0 device to be detected and installed. Some are for support tasks, like audio over Bluetooth. But starting or restarting them manually ensures that they are not the reason the device is not working.

Run the Bluetooth troubleshooter

In Windows 10 and Windows 11, there is the possibility to run a Windows troubleshooter for a number of problems. Microsoft has included a troubleshooter function for common problems that can be automatically solved. One such troubleshooter is the Bluetooth troubleshooter.

To execute the Bluetooth troubleshooter in Windows 10, follow these steps.

  1. Open the Settings window from the Start menu.
  2. In the Settings window, select Update & security.
  3. Next, click Troubleshoot in the left-hand pane.
  4. In the right-hand pane, click the Additional troubleshooters link.
  5. Next, under Find and fix other problems, click the Bluetooth option.
    Bluetooth troubleshooter in Windows 10
  6. This will show the button Run the troubleshooter. Click it to start the troubleshooter.
  7. A new window will come up showing Windows is Detecting problems with Bluetooth. Wait for the process to finish analyzing and fixing any Bluetooth-related issues.
  8. Click Close when done.

In Windows 11, the steps are a little different.

  1. Open the Settings window from the Start menu (or press the Windows + I keys).
  2. In the Settings window, click System.
  3. Next, click Troubleshoot in the right-hand pane.
  4. Click the Other troubleshooters link.
  5. Click the Run button next to Bluetooth under Other.
    Bluetooth troubleshooter in Windows 11
  6. Wait for the troubleshooter to finish analyzing and fixing any Bluetooth-related problems.

Note: The Bluetooth troubleshooter can take considerable time to complete.

Check the Airplane mode setting

This is mentioned as one of the last solutions since the option would normally only be used on portable devices for a specific reason. But if you have been traveling with your laptop, it is a step that is worth taking.

Personally, I simply disable the Bluetooth option in Windows and only enable it when needed. Active communication on any device is a security risk these days. But if you have Bluetooth turned in normal circumstances, you can opt to use the Airplane mode in Windows to disable all communication when traveling.

In both Windows 10 and Windows 11, the Airplane mode can be enabled or disabled by clicking the network icon in the taskbar and selecting the Airplane mode in the quick access popup window.

Airplane mode in Taskbar Quick Access
Note that the Airplane mode will show active when enabled (blue in this example but that will depend on the active Windows theme). Airplane mode should be disabled for Bluetooth to work.

If you prefer to use the Windows Settings, follow these steps.

  1. Open the Settings window from the Start menu.
  2. In the Settings window, click the Network & internet option.
  3. Next, click the Airplane mode option.
  4. Now make sure both switches are in the Off position.
    Disable Airplane mode inWindows 10
    In Windows 11, you have the option to disable the Airplane mode directly, or like in Windows 10, select the Airplane mode option to control the individual settings.
    Airplane mode settings in Windows 11
    Windows 11 remembers which communication was on when you enable and disable Airplane mode. So, if only Wi-Fi was on and Bluetooth was off when airplane mode was activated, Bluetooth would remain off when airplane mode is disabled again. This is why it is a good idea to check this setting.
  5. Close the Settings window when done.

After this, the network and Bluetooth devices should be working. There is no need to restart the computer, the changes take effect immediately.

Reset the hardware devices

Windows keeps configuration information for all devices in the computer. In rare cases, the configuration of a device can be a problem. Installing similar devices with similar drivers, or installing additional USB devices on the same controller can result in a BCM20702A0-based device to stop working.

To fix the issue, it is possible to reset the device by removing it and letting Windows reinstall the device with the proper configuration settings. These steps need to be executed from within the Device Manager.

Follow the steps to update the BCM20702A0 driver from the Device Manager, but instead of picking the Update driver option, select the Uninstall option. In the Uninstall Device confirmation window, click the Uninstall button (1). This will remove the device from Windows. After this reboot to let Windows automatically detect and reinstall the device.

First, try the uninstall option and keep the drivers installed. If that does not fix the issue, use the option Delete the driver software for this device when uninstalling it (2). That will force Windows to reload the driver for the Bluetooth device.

Unistall Bluetooth device in Windows 10

If the BCM20702A0 device is a USB dongle, it can also help to uninstall the USB Host Controllers in the Universal Serial Bus controller category. These controllers ensure that all connected USB devices are detected are installed. Resetting them can solve problems caused by the USB interface itself.

If things are still not working after this, then you might still be able to get things working again. That partly depends on whether the BCM20702A0 device was working on your system previously. If it was, a system restore or system recovery can bring back the working BCM20702A0 driver.

For help in finding the right drivers for your Windows devices, including the BCM20702A0 device, you can use the DriverFinder program. By scanning the hardware present, it will locate and offer the required device drivers.

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