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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.

How to Update Realtek Bluetooth Driver – Windows 11

Realtek Bluetooth

The Bluetooth interface is used on Windows 11 (and Windows 10) systems to connect Bluetooth devices. Mobile phones, speakers, printers, or even another computer. Bluetooth wireless communication is ideal for short-range wireless communication. And like all hardware devices in Windows, the Bluetooth device needs a Bluetooth driver to function. The most common Bluetooth chips used in PCs are from Intel and Realtek.

If no driver is installed, Windows will not recognize the device, or Bluetooth will not function properly. So, if Bluetooth is not working in Windows 11, you might need to update the Bluetooth driver. In this article, we’ll show you how to update the Realtek Bluetooth driver. Of course, we also have instructions on updating the Intel Bluetooth driver.

Note: These instructions apply to both Windows 10 and Windows 11. It is important to update the Realtek Bluetooth driver on Windows 10 already, since the upgrade to a later Windows version can be blocked because of an old driver!

Windows 10 Update Problem Realtek Bluetooth

Updated Bluetooth drivers can solve this type of problem. Updated drivers will also make sure that any known bugs in previous versions are fixed, and performance and connectivity are maximized.

Automatically Update Drivers

Windows 10 and Windows 11 include support for a lot of devices by default. Drivers for the devices are either included in the Windows installation or retrieved during the Windows Update process.

If the Realtek Bluetooth driver needs to be updated, the first step is to run Windows Update. Also make sure that drivers updates are included in Windows Update, as automatic driver updates can be disabled in Windows!

Apart from Windows Update, a driver can also be updated from the Device Manager in Windows 11 directly.

  1. Press the Windows + R keys to bring up the run dialog box.
  2. Type devmgmt.msc in the Run field and press Enter or click the OK button.
  3. In the Device Manager window, locate the device for which to update the driver. Right-click the device, and in the context menu select Update driver.
    Update Realtek Bluetooth driver
  4. Next select the option to let Windows Search automatically for drivers.
  5. Click the Close button when done.

For more details, also see installing driver updates using the Device Manager in Windows 11.

Another method to automatically update Windows drivers is to use the DriverFinder program. This software automatically scans all hardware devices in your PC and then recommends the appropriate device drivers for them. It will not just update the Realtek Bluetooth drivers, but allow you to update all your device drivers.

Manually Update the Realtek Bluetooth Driver

Manually updating drivers in Windows means downloading the driver installation files and running an installer or updating the driver from the Device Manager.

Driver files for Bluetooth devices can be available on the PC manufacturer’s website or the Realtek website. First, visit the support site of your PC manufacturer and check for updated drivers of your model. If they are not available, or still not the latest version, you can visit the Realtek website.

Realtek offers support for most of its devices online. This support includes the option to download Windows drivers for many of their devices.

Using the Realtek Support site

  1. Open a web browser and navigate to the Realtek software download page.
  2. On the Realtek web page, use the Product Line dropdown box to select Wireless Lan ICs.
    Realtek Wireless device support
    Note: Bluetooth is a wireless technology, so support is combined with Wi-Fi devices.
  3. Now select the Realtek Wireless LAN IC from the list on the web page that matches the device in your PC. Click the Software link next to it.
    Realtek Wireless LAN ICs
  4. On the specific Realtek LAN IC software page, locate the Bluetooth driver you need and click the download icon.
    Download Realtek Bluetooth driver
    Note: Most onboard Bluetooth solutions use a PCI Express implementation. External, pluggable solutions will use the USB option.
  5. On the Agree the Terms and Download page, select the checkbox I accept the above and then click the Download this file button.
  6. Finally, enter the Captcha and click the Go button.
    Realtek download Captcha
  7. Wait for the file to be downloaded and if required, select the location on disk to save the file. (This will depend on the browser being used.)
  8. Open a File Explorer and browse to the downloaded file. If the downloaded file is executable (EXE file extension), simply double-click the file to execute the driver installation and follow the on-screen instructions.
  9. If the downloaded file is an archive (ZIP file extension), right-click the file and select Extract All in the context menu.
    Extract Realtek driver files
  10. Select the location where to extract the files, and then click the Extract button.
    Extract ZIP archive
    Note: The default suggestion is okay in general, as it is a subfolder of the file’s current location.
  11. Double-click the subfolder in the opened File Explorer
  12. Now locate the setup.exe file in the subfolder and double-click it to execute the driver installation process. Follow the instructions on screen.
    Realtek Bluettoth Driver Installer

With the above instructions, you can download and install updated Realtek Bluetooth drivers for Windows. This should solve any issues you have with Realtek Bluetooth not working in Windows 11.

How to Update an Intel Bluetooth Driver – Windows 11

The Intel Bluetooth interface is part of the Intel wireless adapters in PCs with an Intel wireless chipset. The appropriate driver needs to be installed to ensure the Intel Bluetooth device functions on Windows 11. Windows 11 will normally install supported drivers automatically, but if you need to update an Intel Bluetooth driver on Windows 11, follow these instructions.

Manually Update the Bluetooth Driver

To update the Intel Bluetooth driver, we first need to download the latest version from the Intel website. In some cases, your PC manufacturer will also have a driver available for the Bluetooth interface in your PC. Make sure to check the available versions on both websites to see which version is required.

  1. Open a web browser and navigate to the Intel download center.
  2. On Intel the web page, use the Search option to locate the latest Bluetooth driver. Type “bluetooth” and press Enter.
    Search Bluetooth Intel support
  3. In the list with search results, locate the Intel® Wireless Bluetooth for Windows 10 and Windows 11 entry and click it.
    Intel Bluetooth driver download link
  4. On the web page for the intel® Wireless Bluetooth® for Windows 10 and Windows 11, click the Download button for the installer.
    Note: The downloaded version will be the latest available. If you need an older version, use the Version drop-down field to select a previous version.
    Download Intel BT Driver
  5. Click the I accept the terms in the license agreement button in the windows that show next.
  6. The Intel Bluetooth installer file will start downloading.
    Note: Depending on the browser being used, you may need to select a destination on disk for the downloaded file.
  7. Once the download completes, open a File Explorer and browse to the downloaded file.
    Intel Bluetooth Installer File
  8. Double-click the downloaded file to execute the driver installation and follow the on-screen instructions. If the UAC screen shows, click the Yes option to continue.
  9. If a driver is already installed for the Intel Bluetooth device, a popup will show to confirm the upgrade from the existing version to the new version of the driver. Click Yes to confirm.
    Intel Bluetooth Driver Upgrade
  10. After this, follow the on-screen instructions in the Intel® Wireless Bluetooth® Setup window.
  11. Once the installation of the Intel Bluetooth driver completes, click the Finish button to close the setup window.
    Bluetooth Setup Complete

Note: Always make sure to check which wireless adapters are supported by the driver version. If your device is not listed, chances are that the driver will not work. For version 22.160.0.4, as shown in the instructions, the devices supported are:

Intel® Wi-Fi 6E AX4111, AX2111, AX2101
Intel® Intel® Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+) Desktop Kit1
Intel® Wi-Fi 6 AX2001, AX2011
Intel® Wireless-AC 95601,-AC 94621, 94611, 92601
Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 82651,-AC 82601, 3168
Intel® Wireless 7265 Family
Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165

Automatically Update an Intel Bluetooth Driver

To automatically update the Intel Bluetooth driver on Windows 11, run Windows Update. First, make sure automatic driver updates are not disabled.

  1. Open the Windows 11 Settings by pressing the Windows + I keys (or use the Start menu).
  2. Click Windows Update in the left-hand panel in the Settings window.
    Start Windows Update in Windows 11
  3. Next, click the Check for updates button in the right-hand panel.
    Check for updates in Windows 11
  4. Wait for updates to be downloaded and installed.

A second option to automatically update the Intel Bluetooth drivers is to use a program like DriverFinder that will automatically find the latest version of the Bluetooth driver for your PC.

Update the Intel Bluetooth driver using the Device Manager

The last option to update the Intel Bluetooth driver is to use the Device Manager. The Device Manager has been part of Windows since the initial Windows versions. It allows you to see all devices that are present in the system. For each device, the drivers can be checked and updated.

  1. Open the Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu button and selecting Device Manager in the menu.
    Windows 11 Device Manager from Start menu
  2. In the Device Manager, expand the Bluetooth category.
  3. Right-click the Intel® Wireless Bluetooth® device, and in the context menu select Update driver.
    Intel Bluetooth Update Driver
  4. Click the option Search automatically for drivers and wait for the driver to be updated.
  5. Click Close when done, and then close the Device Manager window.

Tip: Use the Uninstall device option to remove the device from the Windows configuration. Combined with the option to remove the driver software for the device, this can help solve problems by doing a fresh install of the driver.

With the above instructions, you can download and install the Intel Bluetooth driver for Windows. This should solve any issues you have with Intel Bluetooth not working in Windows.

How to Uninstall Intel Wireless Bluetooth Software

As mentioned in the previous section, sometimes it is necessary to remove the Intel Bluetooth driver before installing a new version. If you find that the Intel Bluetooth driver update cannot be installed, try removing the software first using these steps.

Uninstall Intel Wireless Bluetooth software
  1. Open the Settings window from the Start menu.
  2. Select Apps in the left-hand pane (1).
  3. Select Installed Apps in the right-hand pane.
  4. Type intel in the Search apps box (2).
  5. In the apps found, click the three dots icon next to Intel(R) Wireless Bluetooth(R) (3).
  6. Select Uninstall in the context menu.
  7. Click Uninstall again in the confirmation popup.

Wait for the software to be uninstalled. After that rebooting the device is recommended to make sure all components are removed. If any part of the software is in use, a reboot will make sure it gets removed when Windows restarts.

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