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How to Disable or Enable a Bluetooth Adapter Using PowerShell in Windows 11

Use the exact network-adapter name or PnP instance ID to disable or enable Bluetooth in Windows 11 with PowerShell, then query the same device to check its status.
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To switch off a Bluetooth adapter in Windows 11, first identify the exact device, then use the PowerShell cmdlet family that matches how Windows lists it: Disable-NetAdapter for a network adapter name, or Disable-PnpDevice for a Plug and Play (PnP) instance ID. Use the corresponding Enable- command to turn it back on. Do not guess the device identifier or use a wildcard for a change that could affect other adapters.

Before changing the Bluetooth device

  • Open PowerShell as an administrator. An Administrator account is required for the PnP disable and enable commands.
  • Find and confirm the Bluetooth device before running a state-changing command. Windows and the device driver determine whether a usable Bluetooth entry appears as a network adapter, a PnP device, or both.
  • Disabling a network adapter interrupts that adapter’s network connectivity. Do not disable an adapter that carries your remote connection to the computer.

These commands change the state of an adapter or PnP device. They do not disconnect one paired Bluetooth accessory or remove its pairing.

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Find the Bluetooth adapter name or PnP instance ID

Check network adapters

Run this command to list network adapters, including hidden entries:

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Get-NetAdapter -Name * -IncludeHidden |
  Format-Table -AutoSize Name, InterfaceDescription, Status, MacAddress

Look for a Bluetooth-related entry and record its exact Name. The interface description and status can help distinguish it from other adapters. Microsoft documents that visible adapters are returned by default and that -IncludeHidden includes hidden adapters.

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Check present Plug and Play devices

If the network-adapter listing does not provide a usable Bluetooth entry, inspect present PnP devices whose friendly names contain “Bluetooth”:

Get-PnpDevice -PresentOnly |
  Where-Object { $_.FriendlyName -match 'Bluetooth' } |
  Format-Table -AutoSize Status, Class, FriendlyName, InstanceId

Check the friendly name and class, then record the exact InstanceId of the Bluetooth device you intend to control. Do not select an entry solely because it happens to appear in the filtered output. The Get-PnpDevice reference describes its device information and filtering options.

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  • WIDE COMPATIBILITY: Supports Bluetooth 5.4 and is backwards compatible with Bluetooth 5.3/5.2/5.1/5.0/V4.2/4.0/3.0/2.1/2.0/1.1; ONLY works with Windows 8.1, 10, and 11
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  • SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: Not compatible with all other operation systems e.g. Mac, Linux, Chrome, Unix, Playstation(PS), Windows 7 and below; Disable any built-in Bluetooth of the device before use this product, refer to the user manual for detail

Choose the command for the listing you found

How the Bluetooth device appears Cmdlet family Identifier to use
As a network adapter Disable-NetAdapter / Enable-NetAdapter Exact adapter Name
As a PnP device Disable-PnpDevice / Enable-PnpDevice Exact device InstanceId

Which listing is available depends on the computer and its Bluetooth driver. Microsoft documents these cmdlet interfaces separately; the documentation does not establish that every Windows 11 device exposes Bluetooth in the same way.

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Disable or enable a Bluetooth network adapter

Replace the quoted text with the exact adapter name reported by Get-NetAdapter:

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  • Upgraded Bluetooth 5.3 Adapter: This bluetooth adapter for pc uses the latest upgraded Bluetooth 5.3 BR+EDR technology, greatly improves the stability of the connection data transfer speed, reduces the possibility of signal interruption and power consumption.
  • Up to 5 Devices Sync Connected: UGREEN Bluetooth dongle for PC supports up to 5 different types of Bluetooth devices to be connected at the same time without interfering with each other, such as Bluetooth mouse/keyboard/mobile phone/headphones, etc. If Bluetooth audio devices of the same type (such as speakers/headphones) are connected, only one device can play music.
  • Plug and Play: The Bluetooth adapter is developed for Windows systems only and does not support other systems. No driver installation is required under Windows 11/10/8.1. NOTE: Win 7, Linux and MacOS System are NOT supported.
  • Mini Size: An extremely compact Bluetooth stick that you can leave on your laptop or PC without removing it.The compact size does not interfere with other USB ports. Convenient to carry, no space occupation.
  • What Can I do if the Bluetooth adapter can not work?: Ensure there are no other Bluetooth devices installed on the computer. If there are, disable all existing Bluetooth devices in "Device Manager", then insert the adapter and try again. (For detailed information please read the user manual)
Disable-NetAdapter -Name "<exact adapter name>"
Enable-NetAdapter  -Name "<exact adapter name>"

Disable-NetAdapter asks for confirmation by default. Check the target shown in the confirmation prompt before proceeding. Microsoft warns that disabling an adapter causes loss of its network connectivity; its example also shows that a wildcard can disable all network adapters and jeopardize remote access. See Microsoft’s Disable-NetAdapter reference.

Enable-NetAdapter enables the selected adapter; Microsoft’s example notes that enabling restarts the adapter. See Microsoft’s Enable-NetAdapter reference.

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  • Up to 5 Devices Sync Connected: This Bluetooth dongle for PC supports up to 5 different types of Bluetooth devices to be connected at the same time without interfering with each other, such as Bluetooth mouse/keyboard/mobile phone/headphones, etc. Note: If Bluetooth audio devices of the same type (such as speakers/headphones) are connected, only one device can play music.
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  • EDR and BLE Technology - This Bluetooth dongle is equipped with enhanced data rate and Bluetooth low energy, it wil optimize energy.
  • Plug and Play: The Bluetooth receiver is developed for Windows systems only and does not support other systems. No driver installation is required under Windows 11/10/8.1. NOTE: Linux and MacOS , Win 7 System are NOT supported.

Verify the network-adapter status

Query the same adapter name after the command:

Get-NetAdapter -Name "<exact adapter name>" |
  Format-List Name, InterfaceDescription, Status

The reported status text can vary by device and driver. Get-NetAdapter returns adapter properties that you can use to check the result.

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Disable or enable a Bluetooth PnP device

In an elevated PowerShell session, substitute the exact instance ID from the PnP listing:

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  • System Support: The upgraded Bluetooth 5.4 dongle has a wide range of applications. You can connect up to 5 devices at the same time using Bluetooth wireless. Such as Bluetooth speakers,keyboards,headsets,mice, and Bluetooth printers,etc. Only supports Windows 11/10/8.1, Not compatible with Mac OS, Linux,car stereo systems,XBOX,ps4 or TVs.
Disable-PnpDevice -InstanceId '<exact instance ID>'
Enable-PnpDevice  -InstanceId '<exact instance ID>'

These commands target the device by its instance ID, and Microsoft specifies that an Administrator account is required. Verify the selected device before running either command. Disable-PnpDevice reference · Enable-PnpDevice reference

Verify the PnP device status

Use the same instance ID to query the device:

Get-PnpDevice -InstanceId '<exact instance ID>' |
  Format-List Status, Class, FriendlyName, InstanceId

Get-PnpDevice can return a device by instance ID and report its basic information.

If the device is missing or a command fails

  • Run the relevant inspection command again and confirm the exact name or instance ID; do not substitute a guessed identifier.
  • If using the PnP cmdlets, make sure PowerShell is elevated and the session uses an Administrator account.
  • If the Bluetooth device is absent or the command returns an error, the documented cmdlets do not establish one fix that applies to every system. Check the device’s driver and follow the computer or adapter vendor’s instructions rather than trying other IDs.

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