Windows 10: Does disabling bluetooth save power?

I don't use Bluetooth so I've disabled the driver in device manager (with the hope of improving battery life) as I can't find any other way of turning it off.

My question is does doing this help? Does disabling the driver turn off the radio or is it still using power but just not available to use?

:)

 

Bluetooth Disappeared

For my Dell's Bluetooth disappearing act, I have to go into device manager, click view then click show hidden files. The Bluetooth icon will comeback in device manager but it will still say its
disconnected. I then reset the computer and enter the bios. Once in the bios i click on wireless and one at a time disable /save /enable /save both the wireless switch and wireless device enable boxes (disable one, save, re-enable, save, then do the other).
Then exit the bios and go back into Windows. This has worked 100% of the time. I've tried reinstalling drivers from both dell and the intel website and that almost never works. Before i figured this out, my Bluetooth would arbitrarily turn back on after
a day or so. Its weird that it'll disconnect in windows but then i'll dual boot into Linux and Bluetooth is fine.

 

Bluetooth disappeared Windows 10

For my Dell's Bluetooth disappearing act, I have to go into device manager, click view then click show hidden files. The Bluetooth icon will comeback in device manager but it will still say its disconnected. I then reset the computer and enter
the bios. Once in the bios i click on wireless and one at a time disable /save /enable /save both the wireless switch and wireless device enable boxes (disable one, save, re-enable, save, then do the other). Then exit the bios and go back into Windows.
This has worked 100% of the time. I've tried reinstalling drivers from both dell and the intel website and that almost never works. Before i figured this out, my Bluetooth would arbitrarily turn back on after a day or so. Its weird that it'll disconnect
in windows but then i'll dual boot into Linux and Bluetooth is fine.

 

All you need to do is just to turn the bluetooth off to stop it from scanning which drains the battery.





Edit..


Ooops... I missed the part where you said you can't turn it off. What device is it?
If it is disabled there is no way it can operate in any way.

 

It's a Broadcom. I was wondering if disabling it is actually going to save power or if it will use the same amount and just not work...

 

Do you see a BT icon on the icon tray? If not you should be good.

 

If I disable the driver then the Bluetooth icon disappears (and I can't access the various settings). I was just unsure what disabling a driver actually does.

I can't tell the difference turning off Bluetooth on my laptop (there are too many other variables) but on my phone it definitely lasts longer if it is turned off.

 

Yeah, it should be the same as mobile phone. It adds to battery drain.
Think of it as the wifi. If you disable the driver, it will stop scanning.

 

Thanks - that is what I was hoping.