Re: Intel Bluetooth Driver will not update

RMott · ‎04-03-2026

I keep getting prompted to update Intel Bluetooth drivers for my Windows 11 laptop.

So I go to the Intel Support page, download the latest driver - 24.10.0.4, and tell it to install.

The installation fails as it says' a newer driver is already installed', even though the current driver is older (23.1.20.04).

Any suggestions how to resolve this Catch22?

JeanetteC_Intel · ‎04-03-2026

Hello RMott,

Thank you for posting in Intel Communities.

I appreciate you providing such detailed information about your Intel Bluetooth driver situation - this comprehensive background will help us reach a solution efficiently. I'm here to help you resolve this version detection issue and get your driver properly updated. To ensure I can provide the most effective recommendation, please share the following key information:

1) Are you having Bluetooth connectivity issue, the reason why you wanted to update its drivers? If yes, please provide a brief issue description.

2) Is the wireless/Bluetooth component pre-installed on your laptop or was it an upgrade or replacement component?

3) How did you update the Bluetooth driver? Was it manually download and install, or did you use a driver updater tool?

4) If using a driver updater tool, what tool did you use and did you encounter any error(s) while trying to update? *Please share screenshot(s) if possible.

5) Please help share screenshot(s) of your system "system information" (sample screenshot attached).

Click Start.
Type msinfo32 in the search box. Click msinfo32.exe when it displays.

6) Please also share screenshots from your 'Device Manager's (sample screenshots attached)

Network adapter > wireless adapter
Bluetooth > General Tab > Status
Bluetooth > Properties > Driver's tab.

Once I receive this information, I'll be able to provide targeted troubleshooting steps.

Looking forward to your reply.

Best regards,

JeanetteC.

Intel Customer Support Technician

RMott · ‎04-04-2026

Hello Jeanette, thanks for the quick reply and the offer to help.

In answer to your questions

1. Bluetooth works fine. But I keep getting messages from Intel to update the driver and then it will not update.

2. I'm using a Dell XPS13 laptop, Bluetooth was pre installed. Driver updates have worked fine until the last few months.

3. I have tried using the Intel support page https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/intel-driver-support-assistant.html. I have also tried downloading the driver (BT-24.10.0-64UWD-Win10-Win11.exe) to the laptop and running that, but with the same result.

4. When I try to update the driver, I get the message 'Are you sure you want to update from version 23.90.0.8 to version 24.10.0.4?' I answer yes, but the installation fails with the message 'A newer product version is already installed'. (first screenshot)

5 and 6. Screenshots attached.

I have tried uninstalling the Bluetooth driver but Windows seems to revert to an earlier version and I get the same problem.

Thanks again for your help

Robert

JedG_Intel · ‎04-05-2026

Hi RMott,

Thank you for sharing all the requested information. Please be advised that we recommend using the drivers provided by your OEM, as these are customized and modified by your system manufacturer to ensure full compatibility with your system.

It’s possible that the error you’re encountering is due to a conflict between the latest OEM driver (version 23.90.0.8) and Intel’s generic driver.

After reviewing the screenshots you provided, I can see that you are already using the latest driver from your OEM. If you still prefer to use Intel’s generic driver, you may do so by performing a clean installation. However, please note that this may result in potential driver regression or compatibility issues.

If you have any questions, please let us know.

Best regards

Jed G.

Intel Customer Support Technician

JeanetteC_Intel · ‎04-07-2026

Hello RMott,

Just following up on our previous discussion. We'd love to hear whether you decided to keep using the current OEM driver (23.90.0.8) since it's working well for your Bluetooth connections, or if you went ahead and upgraded to the newer Intel Bluetooth driver (24.10.0.4) with a fresh install. Let us know if you need any help.

Best regards,

JeanetteC.

Intel Customer Support Technician

RMott · ‎04-08-2026

Thanks for responding to my questions. I'm sorry but I'm still confused.

I tried doing a fresh install but when I restart Windows installs a driver and I get the same problem when I try to update it.

So I'm still using the 23.90.0.8 version.

Should I just ignore prompts from Intel to update the bluetooth driver? These updates worked fine until January 2026.

Robert

JeanetteC_Intel · ‎04-08-2026

Hello RMott,

Thank you for the update and I completely understand your confusion - this driver update loop can be very frustrating.

Let me help you isolate what's causing this issue. To determine whether this is a problem with the Intel DSA tool itself or a broader compatibility issue, I'd like you to try manual driver installations:

Manual Installation Test:

Download the Intel Bluetooth driver (24.10.0.4) directly from Intel's website (not through Intel DSA)
Try installing it manually. (How to Perform a Clean Installation of Bluetooth Drivers)
If available, also try downloading and manually installing the OEM driver from your computer manufacturer's website

Version 23.90.0.8

This will help us determine whether:

If the issue is specifically with the Intel DSA updater tool
If there's a driver compatibility issue with your system
If your system is configured to only accept OEM drivers (which might explain why it keeps reverting to 23.90.0.8)

Important Note: Please be aware that driver version 24.10.0.4 is the last available version of the wireless drivers for these products. This software has been End of Life and no additional support will be provided to these drivers.

If the manual installation through Intel DSA continues to fail, please try the steps outlined in Intel's troubleshooting guide for installation errors.

Regarding your question, since your Bluetooth is working perfectly with version 23.90.0.8 and this issue only started in January 2026, it may indeed be appropriate to ignore the Intel update prompts for now. However, let's first run these tests to get a clearer picture.

If the issue persists after trying these steps, this may be a driver compatibility issue that would require contacting your computer manufacturer (OEM) for further assistance.

Can you try the manual installation and let me know the results?

Best regards,

JeanetteC.

Intel Customer Support Technician

RMott · ‎04-10-2026

Jeanette

I tried the manual installation as you suggested but with the same result. When I uninstalled the driver, there was nooption to 'Delete the driver software for this device'. There was an option to 'Attempt toremove the driver for this device' which I checked.

It seems as if the best option is to do nothing and ignore all the Intel prompts.

I asked ChatGPT about this - it came up with what looks like a very good summary of the position - I've copied some of it below if you are interested.

Anyway, thanks very much for your help.

Robert

Intel bluetooth not updating from 23.90.0.8 to 24.10.0.4. Dell XPS 13 laptop.

You’ve basically hit a known Dell XPS + Intel driver conflict — you’re not doing anything wrong.

What’s actually happening (specific to your case)

Your 23.90.0.8 driver is almost certainly a Dell OEM-customised driver
The 24.10.0.4 from Intel is a generic driver
Intel’s installer sees Dell’s version and goes:
“Nope — newer product already installed”

Even though the version number looks older, OEM drivers often have:

different internal versioning
custom tweaks for your hardware

This exact issue has been reported by other XPS users, and Intel themselves say:

OEM drivers can block generic installs due to compatibility differences

The key takeaway (important)

23.90.0.8 is likely the latest Dell-approved driver
→ So from your laptop’s perspective, you’re already “up to date”

️ Your options (ranked from safest → most aggressive)

Option 1 — Do nothing (recommended if Bluetooth works)

Dell-tuned driver = best stability
Intel updates are often not necessary for OEM laptops

Honestly, this is what Dell + Intel recommend in your situation

JeanetteC_Intel · ‎04-10-2026

Hello RMott,

Thank you for the update.

I apologize that our previous recommendations didn't resolve the issue.

You're absolutely correct - since your Bluetooth is working properly, no driver update is needed. For Dell devices, it's best to use Dell's customized drivers rather than generic Intel drivers, as these are optimized specifically for your system.

Important Notice: Please be aware that Intel driver version 24.10.0.4 is the final available version for these wireless products. This software has reached End of Life status, and Intel will provide no additional support or updates.

For any future driver needs, please use Dell's automatic updater at: https://www.dell.com/support/product-details/en-us/product/latitude-15-7520-laptop/drivers (click "Check for updates"). Dell support can better assist with driver-related questions since they specialize in their customized drivers.

To address the persistent Intel DSA prompts, you have two options:

Option 1: Complete Uninstall

Open any web browser (Firefox, Chrome, or Edge)
Download and run the Intel® Driver & Support Assistant Uninstaller
Accept the terms & conditions
Click Next, then Close

Source: How to Uninstall the Intel® Driver & Support Assistant (Intel® DSA)

Option 2: Hide Notifications (Keep the tool for future use) Intel DSA allows you to hide or snooze update notifications for different time periods. Note: This only works for hardware-tied Intel products, not applications like Intel RST or Intel Memory and Storage Tool. To access this option, expand the update information window by clicking the caret.

Your approach to ignore the Intel prompts is correct and thank you for the accurate summary of your situation.

Please let me know if you have any other questions I can help with.

Best regards,

JeanetteC.

Intel Customer Support Technician

JeanetteC_Intel · ‎04-14-2026

Hello RMott,

Did you have a chance to review the previous post?

I just want to highlight that getting this message, "A newer product version is already installed" is because our generic driver has already detected that your system is already using the latest DELL OEM driver. However, you still have the option to install the generic driver (if you prefer to do so).

Alternately, you may use Dell SupportAssist for the most compatible drivers for your system, since our tool (Intel DSA) will only detect generic drivers.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Best regards,

JeanetteC.

Intel Customer Support Technician

RMott · ‎04-15-2026

Yes, I'm just going to ignore the messages about updating the driver. Thanks for your help.

Robert

SesanN_Intel · ‎04-16-2026

Hi RMott,

Since the thread is now solved, we will proceed to close it. Please keep in mind that this thread will no longer be monitored by Intel. Thank you for your understanding.

Best regards,

Sesan N.

Intel Customer Support Technician