X220 Bluetooth Driver Windows 10

| Posted on by



Intel Bluetooth Driver for Windows 10 (64-bit) - ThinkPad.

Update: As of spring/summer 2019, Windows 10 will remove the drivers for the BCM92070MD / 60Y3271 Bluetooth 3.0 module that shipped by default with many Thinkpad X220 laptops. You can reinstall the drivers, but they'll be removed at the next reboot. The only solution appears to be to replace the hardware module with a 60Y3303 or 60Y3305 Bluetooth 4.0 module. I used a 60Y3303 module. It took two or three reboots but the Windows 10 drivers were detected automatically (no downloads required) and it has remained rock solid ever since. Pairing and detecting also appear to be faster and more consistent.

The Bluetooth module that came fitted to my Lenovo Thinkpad X220 was the Broadcom BCM92070MD_LENO . This is not detected by Windows 10 by default (amusingly it does appear to be detected by default by Linux distros such as Ubuntu/Mint etc.). Indeed, until I stripped down my Thinkpad, I assumed I didn't have a Bluetooth module! This module has its own dedicated hardware interface (a 'BDC socket') beneath the palm rest, and does not take up the mSATA nor PCIe half mini card slots (the PCIe socket on my Thinkpad was already occupied by the Intel N 6205 b/g/n WiFi adapter). Note that the Bluetooth antenna is printed on the module itself, it does not require a separate antenna connection. The BCM92070MD is a Bluetooth 3 module and does not seem to require any particular version of the BIOS, although it does continue to work with a modified BIOS such as the Whitelist BIOS.

Installing the following Broadcom Bluetooth drivers, strangely from the Hewlett-Packard website, allowed Windows 10 to detect Bluetooth on the BCM92070MD on my Thinkpad X220.

I recommend a reboot after installing these drivers.

Remember that you will need to:

• Ensure that the wireless hardware switch on the left side of the X220 is switched to the GREEN (on) position. For colour-blind users, note that the alternative is black (off), so you will be able to distinguish this indicator. I'm also colour-blind and had the colour checked by my daughters (females are almost - almost - impossible to be colour-blind).

• Ensure Windows 10 is not in aeroplane mode. This can be done from the action bar (Notifications sidebar) or it can be done by pressing FN-F5. You may need to press FN-F5 more than once to cycle through the various options (on other laptops, I've seen them cycle through 'all off', 'all on', 'WiFi only', 'Bluetooth only' but not necessarily in that order). If you don't have the Lenovo bloatware installed, then you may be doing this without any on-screen indication that the mode has changed.

Once you turn the radio on, Windows 7 will display various prompts. When you pair a device (in my case bluetooth speakers) Windows 7 may install some necessary drivers and then you should be good to go. More X220 Bluetooth info. My X220 has a bluetooth daughter card in it, which I can only assume is original. It doesn't show up in Device Manager at all. Bluetooth is enabled in the BIOS, all updates and drivers have been installed that the system thinks it needs. Bluetooth doesn't work after a Windows 10 update is installed. Bluetooth doesn't work after you upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 8.1 or Windows 7. Bluetooth doesn't appear in Device Manager, and there are no unknown devices listed. To get started, select a heading to see more info.

The Bluetooth indicator at the bottom of the screen, above the PrtSc & ScrLk keys, should light up when Bluetooth is activated. I believe this light is either on or off, and doesn't change colour, but I'm not calling a daughter over again to confirm that.

If this still doesn't work, it's possible that your Thinkpad does not have a Bluetooth module at all. You should strip down and physically inspect your Thinkpad. Unplug and remove the battery, then remove the keyboard and the palm rest ('C surface') only. The WiFi and Bluetooth modules will be under the palm rest. Here's some guides:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Trx6kEH_oJc - Laptop Retrospective's guide to stripping down and replacing the PCIe WiFi module; also shows more generally, how to remove the keyboard and palm rest

http://www.myfixguide.com/manual/lenovo-thinkpad-x220-disassembly/ - MyFixGuide's thorough pictorial guide to X220 disassembly covering much more than just the keyboard and palm rest ('C surface').

Here's a photo of the area underneath the palm rest from MyFixGuide, to which I've added arrows labelling the WiFi and Bluetooth modules:

If you don't have a Bluetooth module, you have two options:

• Buy a Broadcom BCM92070MD FRU 60y3271 module from eBay for eight quid or so, strip down your Thinkpad and fit it, or...

• Replace the PCIe N 6205 WiFi module with an Intel 7260 module from eBay for fifteen quid or so. This combined module is an upgrade which provides both WiFi (including WiFi C; the original only provides up to WiFi N) and Bluetooth 4 (including Bluetooth Low Energy; the original BCM92070MD only provides Bluetooth 3). However you will also need to flash your X220 BIOS to the 'Whitelist BIOS'. Note that the Whitelist BIOS allows you to do potentially stupid things that could brick your Thinkpad, There are two good video guides:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsCfFOywZs0 - Laptop Retrospective's guide to updating the BIOS to the 1.46 Whitelist BIOS (also known as the Whitelist Removed BIOS)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Trx6kEH_oJc - As previously mentioned, Laptop Retrospective's guide to stripping down and replacing the PCIe WiFi module

To be honest, I found the performance of the factory-fitted Broadcom module to be a little flaky under Windows 10. My headset, which worked fine with other Windows 10 laptops and Android phones, suffered from audio drops, and when disconnected wouldn't reconnect without turning Bluetooth off and back on again ('Hullo, IT...'). It is possible that there are better Windows 10 drivers out there than the ones I linked from the HP website - do email me if you find any better.

Finally, it's well worth having a look at McDonnellTech's Thinkpad X220 Resources web page, for general X220 tips.

Bluetooth

Comments, errors and corrections to: andrew@aoakley.com

Support family coding workshops in Gloucestershire:paypal.me/cotswoldjam

Public Domain - Andrew Oakley - 2018-09-04

Top - More Computing Articles - Article Index - aoakley.com

When Windows 10 was initially released, it was offered for free to those who wished to upgrade from the 8.1 and 7 versions. Of course, many were eager to experience the new operating system for free. After all, a fresh install of Windows 10 could cost them hundreds of dollars.

However, many users discovered that the upgrade was not as they had expected. Users were supposed to go through this new operating system with ease and simply watch it work. However, there were still issues that Microsoft did not anticipate, including the Bluetooth not finding headphones and other devices. Specifically, many users who upgraded from the older OS to Windows 10 have found that the system can not recognize their Bluetooth devices. Don’t panic just yet because there are still some solutions you can try that do not involve reinstalling Windows entirely.

How to fix Bluetooth device not connecting?

Many people use Bluetooth technology on a daily basis. As for those users, they cannot go on through their daily tasks without using peripherals connected by Bluetooth. However, what if Bluetooth does not discover devices?

Before we discuss how to fix the Bluetooth not recognizing devices issue on Windows 10, it is best that we discuss scenarios related to the problem. This way, you will get a better understanding of how to deal with it.

  • Bluetooth not working on Windows 10 – Many users reported that they could not get Bluetooth to work on their computer. The best way to fix this is to reinstall the Bluetooth device and update its driver.
  • Bluetooth not recognizing or detecting devices on Windows 10 – If you encounter this issue, you should restart Bluetooth Support Service and check if that fixes the issue.
  • Bluetooth not finding headphones or keyboard – This issue can happen with different devices. To fix it, make sure that you are pairing the device properly with your computer.
  • Bluetooth not connecting – If Bluetooth does not seem to connect, the problem has probably something to do with your Wi-Fi. In some devices, the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are contained in a single card. This can be resolved by temporarily disabling the Wi-Fi.
  • Bluetooth does not discover devices – After an upgrade to Windows 10, you will possibly encounter this issue. However, you will be able to resolve this by running the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter.
X220 Bluetooth Driver Windows 10

Method 1: Try Adding the Bluetooth Device Again

  1. On your keyboard, press Windows Key+S.
  2. Type “control panel” (no quotes), then hit Enter.
  3. Click Hardware and Sound, then select Devices.
  4. Look for the malfunctioning device and remove it.
  5. Now, you have to click Add to bring back the device again.

Once you’ve performed those changes, check if the issue has been resolved.

Method 2: Reinstalling your Bluetooth device and updating the drivers

If your Bluetooth does not seem to discover your devices, then it is likely that the problem has something to do with your drivers. To fix this issue, we recommend reinstalling your Bluetooth drivers by following the steps below:

  1. Go to your taskbar, then right-click the Windows icon.
  2. From the list, select Device Manager.
  3. Look for the problematic device, then right-click it.
  4. Select Uninstall Device from the options.
  5. Once you see the confirmation dialog box, click Uninstall.
  6. Click the Scan for Hardware Changes icon. Your system should install the missing drivers automatically.

Ideally, removing your Bluetooth device and reinstalling the drivers should resolve the issue. However, to ensure that you have the right drivers and to prevent other potential problems from happening, we recommend using the official drivers that the manufacturer provides. You can go to their website, then look for the latest drivers for your Bluetooth adapter. Make sure you find the one compatible with your system. Otherwise, you might cause instability issues because of installing the wrong drivers.

If you do not have the patience and tech skills to update your drivers manually, we recommend using Auslogics Driver Updater instead. Once you’ve installed and activated this tool, it will start scanning your computer, looking for corrupted, missing, and outdated drivers. Once the scan is complete, it will look for the latest, manufacturer-recommended drivers for your computer. The best part is, this program will take care of all your driver-related issues—not just the one which caused the Bluetooth problem. So, once the process is done, you can expect an improvement in your computer’s performance.

Lenovo Drivers X220

Resolve PC Issues with Driver Updater

Unstable PC performance is often caused by outdated or corrupt drivers. Auslogics Driver Updater diagnoses driver issues and lets you update old drivers all at once or one at a time to get your PC running smoother

Auslogics Driver Updater is a product of Auslogics, certified Microsoft® Silver Application Developer

Lenovo X220 Bluetooth Driver For Windows 10

DOWNLOAD NOW

Method 3: Running the hardware and devices troubleshooter

One of the great things about Windows 10 is it has built-in troubleshooters designed to repair common problems in the operating system. So, if you want to fix the Bluetooth not recognizing devices issue on Windows 10, it is advisable for you to use the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter. You can do that by following these instructions:

  1. On your keyboard, press Windows Key+S.
  2. Type “Settings” (no quotes), then hit Enter.
  3. Select Update & Security.
  4. Go to the left-pane menu, then click Troubleshoot.
  5. Go to the right pane and scroll down until you find Hardware and Devices.
  6. Select it, then click the Run the Troubleshooter button.
  7. Let the tool identify the issue. Follow the on-screen instructions to fix the problem accordingly.

Once the process is complete, check if you can now connect your Bluetooth devices successfully.

Method 4: Restarting Bluetooth Support Service

The Bluetooth technology in your PC can only run properly with the appropriate services, including Bluetooth Support Service. So, if there are problems with this service, you might end up not being able to use your Bluetooth devices. Thankfully, you can restart this service to fix the issue. Here are the steps:

  1. Open the Run dialog box by pressing Windows Key+R on your keyboard.
  2. Now, type “services.msc” (no quotes), then click OK or hit Enter.
  3. Double-click Bluetooth Support Service.
  4. If you notice the service not running, simply click Start to launch it. On the other hand, if it is running, stop it, then start it again.
  5. Save the changes by clicking Apply and OK.

Once you’ve restarted this service, you should be able to get rid of the issue and start using your Bluetooth devices.

Method 5: Ensure that Your Devices are Properly Paired to your PC

It is possible that the problem lies with the pairing process. If you want your Bluetooth devices to be discovered, you should pair them properly. It is worth noting that the process varies from one device to another. However, most of them should have a Bluetooth pairing button. For some devices, a long press on the Power button would suffice. To learn how to pair your Bluetooth device properly, it is best to consult the manual and get the necessary instructions.

Method 6: Removing all Bluetooth Devices

Lenovo x220 drivers windows 7

In some cases, other Bluetooth devices can interfere with the pairing process. So, it is advisable for you to disconnect all the other devices, then pair only the ones you need. This may not be the best workaround for this problem, but some users tried it and claimed that it had fixed the issue.

Method 7: Try Using a Different USB Port for the Bluetooth Adapter

A lot of desktop computers do not support Bluetooth technology, and the only way to get this functionality is to use an adapter. However, not all the time does it work as expected. If this happens to you, you can try using a different port for your Bluetooth adapter. Some users claimed that after switching the adapter from USB 3.0 to USB 2.0, they had been able to resolve the issue completely.

Method 8: Disabling Wi-Fi

There are laptops that contain Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on a single card, which causes some issues. So, if you need to use your Bluetooth device, disable your Wi-Fi adapter temporarily. Some users claimed that they had been able to pair their Bluetooth devices successfully after doing this.

Do you have other ideas for fixing this issue?

Thinkpad X220 Bluetooth Driver Windows 10

Please do not hesitate to share them below!