What is the Broadcom bcm20702a0 Drivers on Windows ?

Drivers are special software components that allow the Windows OS to communicate with the hardware devices connected to your computer. These drivers translate the user requests into a low-level language that the hardware can intercept and perform a specific action. So in simpler words, drivers enable the operating system and the hardware devices to work together and perform their functions.

However, drivers can also cause various problems if they are not installed correctly or if they are incompatible with your operating system or hardware device. One of the most common problems caused by drivers is the fatal BSOD error which occurs when Windows encounters a problem that it cannot recover from. Often, this is caused by a faulty, outdated, or corrupted driver that causes a conflict or a crash in the system. Other types of driver problems cause some of the hardware-based features of the system to malfunction such as WiFi, Bluetooth, Camera, etc.

In this article, we will be focusing on a particular driver issue caused by the Broadcom bcm20702a0 driver and taking a deep dive into the functionality of the driver as well as possible reasons that can cause the problem in your system. So, make sure you read our guide until the end so that you can understand the problem in-depth and take the necessary measures to resolve the problem quickly. We will also offer some handy tips in this guide so that you don’t have to face the bcm20702a0 driver problem again.

Also Check: How To Remove Print Drivers On Windows 10 ?

What is the Function of Broadcom bcm20702a0 Driver?

The Broadcom bcm20702a0 driver is a proprietary software component that enables Bluetooth connectivity on Windows 11 devices. It is used in various devices like laptops, desktops, and tablets that have Bluetooth capabilities. The driver is designed to provide some essential software components that allow efficient data transfer between Bluetooth-enabled devices.

The Broadcom bcm20702a0 driver works by communicating with the Broadcom Bluetooth chipset, which is a hardware component that supports Bluetooth technology. The chipset is integrated into the motherboard or attached externally via a USB dongle. The driver then acts as a bridge between the chipset and the Windows OS, translating the commands and data between them. As you can imagine, this driver is essential for the Bluetooth chipset’s functionality. So if this driver is missing, you won’t be able to use Bluetooth on your desktop or laptop. In some cases, the Bluetooth icon will be missing from the taskbar and you won’t be able to find the Bluetooth section in Windows settings.

How to Locate the bcm20702a0 Driver on Windows?

If you are encountering problems with the bcm20702a0 driver, the first thing that you should do is check if the driver is missing from your OS. As we mentioned before, it is possible that the OS will simply remove the option to access the hardware if the drivers are missing, without any proper error code. So, it is also useful to check if the bcm20702a0 driver is missing from the OS if you are not able to find the Bluetooth toggle in the system or if it’s not accessible to you. Here’s how you can check if the bcm20702a0 driver is present in your OS or not:

• Click on the Windows search and type Device Manager.
• Select the first result to open the device manager. Here, you can check all of the hardware devices connected to your system as well as their drivers.
• In this list, find the Bluetooth section and expand it to check the existing Bluetooth devices and drivers.
• If the driver exists in your system, it should show up in this section.
• In case a different version of the driver is installed by mistake, it may not show up or it will display “Generic Bluetooth Driver” instead of the name of the driver.
• If either happens in your case, you need to Troubleshoot the driver issue to regain Bluetooth functionality.

Is it Possible to Download the bcm20702a0 Driver Manually?

Generally, you can try to update the driver from the Control Panel itself by either selecting the “Update Driver” option from the additional options or by troubleshooting the driver. But if the driver is missing from the list, you will have to download the driver manually from an external source and install it. This will make sure that the driver is present in your system and then you can continue with the troubleshooting process.

Check Official Website

The most reliable and trusted way to download the bcm20702a0 driver is by getting the original file from the official website. For that, you can visit the official Broadcom website and search for the bcm20702a0 driver using the product name or the model number. You can also use the Broadcom Bluetooth Software Download tool to automatically detect and download the driver for your device. You will need to agree to the terms and conditions and follow the instructions to install the driver.

If the Broadcom website is not accessible to you, you can try to get the same from your laptop’s official support page. Generally, all laptop manufacturers offer a dedicated support page for the laptop where you can find all the original drivers with the factory installation versions. So, you won’t have to worry about compatibility issues as these drivers have already been tried and tested for your laptop specifically.

Try Driver Scape

This is quite a helpful website that provides a large database of drivers for various devices and operating systems. In fact, almost all the drivers that can be missing from the OS can be found on this website. So, you can visit the Driver Scape website and search for the bcm20702a0 driver using the device name or manufacturer directly. You can also use the Driver Scape Download Manager to automatically download and install the driver for your device. But, you will need to accept the license agreement and follow the on-screen instructions precisely to successfully install the driver.

Try 3rd Party Services

You will also come across some 3rd party services that can get the job done for you. One of the advantages of using such a service is that there is minimal user interaction required and the supportive tools are capable of detecting and troubleshooting driver problems automatically. But, you need to be aware of using a genuine service when it comes to drivers. Just like VPNs and Anti-virus programs, there are a lot of potentially harmful services that can inject malware into your system disguised as drivers. Apart from that, the tool should also be capable of checking the compatible version for your system on its own. So, you should try out one of the trusted 3rd party solutions that we are covering in this guide.

IObit – Driver Booster

This is a very popular and reputed service that provides a driver update and installation tool that can boost your device’s performance and stability. Apart from that, IObit also provides other helpful tools such as a memory manager and advanced system care tools. You can download and install the Driver Booster tool from IObit and run it on your device without any problem. It will scan your device and detect outdated or faulty drivers. You can then update or install the drivers with a single click. However, you must register and activate the tool to use its full features.

Artur Kuzyakov- DriverPack Solution

This is a free service provided by Artur Kuzyakov that provides a driver update and installation tool that can simplify the process of finding and installing drivers. This tool simply scans your device and finds the compatible drivers for it across the web. You can then choose to update or install the drivers automatically. Furthermore, you can customize the installation process by selecting specific drivers from the list such as bcm20702a0.

Driversol

Driversol is one of the all-in-one tools that are designed to perform driver updates as well as to optimize your device performance and security. Driversol is capable of finding the best drivers for your device, avoiding compatibility issues altogether. But, keep in mind that you will need to purchase a license and activate the tool before you can use it.

Microsoft Update Catalog

Instead of going to a 3rd party service and paying a premium fee, you should first check out the Microsoft Update Catalog as it can also help you find missing drivers from your system. This is a free service from Microsoft that provides a complete catalog of drivers and updates for various devices and operating systems. You can visit the Microsoft Update Catalog website and search for the bcm20702a0 driver followed by your device’s name and model number. You can then download and install the driver manually from the catalog. But unlike other options, the installation procedure here is manual. Once download is completed, you need to unzip the driver file and use the Device Manager troubleshoot tool to install the driver.

Outbyte Driver Updater

Outbyte Driver Updater is a service that provides a driver update and installation tool that can improve your device performance and stability. You can download and install the Outbyte Driver Updater tool from the official website and run it on your device. Once the scan is completed, it will offer you options for updating or installing the correct drivers.

Different Errors Caused by bcm20702a0 Driver Issues

If the bcm20702a0 driver is missing from your system, it will cause the Bluetooth functionality to disappear or misbehave. But, you may also encounter a specific error code or alert message that indicates problems with this driver. And, each error code indicated a different type of problem with the error. In this section, we are covering all the possible error messages that appear because of problems with the bcm20702a0 driver.

• bcm20702a0 driver is missing: This error occurs when the driver is not installed on your device or the system is not able to detect it. This can prevent your device from detecting or connecting to any Bluetooth devices.
• bcm20702a0 driver failed to respond: Failure to respond indicates that the driver is present in your system and Windows is able to detect it. However, the fault lies in the functionality of the driver such as the driver not working properly or conflicting with other drivers or programs. This can cause your device to freeze, crash, or even go through a sudden restart followed by BSOD.
• bcm20702a0 driver appears as an unknown device: This error occurs when the driver is incompatible with your device or operating system. This can cause your device to show the bcm20702a0 driver as an unknown device or a generic Bluetooth device. While it still allows Bluetooth to work, it affects the performance and functionality of your Bluetooth devices as well as the data transmission speed.
• can’t install bcm20702a0 driver: There can be many different reasons behind the bcm20702a0 driver not installing in your system. First and foremost, this error appears at the time of manual installation which indicates an incompatible version or the new driver trying to write over the older driver files that can create inconsistent results.

Reasons Behind bcm20702a0 Driver Error

If you wish to resolve the bcm20702a0 driver error completely, you will first have to understand the actual reason behind the problem in your system. With that information, you can completely get rid of the problem as well as avoid it in the future. If you are facing a driver problem on your work laptop, you should carefully check the following reasons and make sure that you are avoiding all of these reasons that can cause workflow and connectivity issues.

Incompatible Driver Version

If the driver is not suitable for your device or operating system, it can throw the bcm20702a0 driver error. This can happen if you download the wrong driver from an untrusted source, or if you upgrade or downgrade your operating system without updating the driver accordingly. This can cause your device to fail to recognize or connect to any Bluetooth devices, or to display the driver as an unknown device or a generic Bluetooth device.

Incorrect Installation

Even if you have the correct and compatible driver, it can cause errors if it is not installed properly on your device. This can happen if you interrupt the installation process midway, or if you do not follow the installation instructions correctly. This can cause your device to show the driver as missing, or to display a blue screen of death.

Outdated or Corrupt Driver

This can happen if you do not update the driver regularly, or if the driver is affected by malware or viruses. Usually, users face driver issues after a recent Windows update that has created problems with the drivers. This can cause your device to experience performance issues, such as freezing, lagging, or stuttering, or to display the driver as not responding.

Driver Blocked by Firewall

This is when the driver is prevented from communicating with the Bluetooth devices by the firewall or antivirus software. This can happen if you do not allow the driver to access the system network or block it accidentally using Windows Firewall. This can cause your device to fail to pair, connect, or exchange data with the Bluetooth devices.

How to Fix the bcm20702a0 Driver Error ?

Now that you have all the knowledge you will need about the bcm20702a0 driver and the problems that revolve around it, let us focus on fixing the problem. There are a handful of things that you can try to fix the bcm20702a0 driver error temporarily, or even permanently based on the severity of the error in your case. Just keep in mind that these are basic solutions that deal with altering the drivers in different ways. So, we will recommend performing all of these solutions sequentially to get the best results.

Restart the System

This is the simplest and most effective solution to fix almost all driver-related problems. Restarting the system can clear the cache, reset the settings, and reload the drivers which fixes a lot of driver-related issues. To restart the system, you can follow these steps:

• Click on the Start menu and select Power.
• Click on Restart and wait for the system to reboot.
• Check if the Bluetooth device is working properly after the Restart.
• Alternatively, you can also try to boot the system in Safe Mode to check if an external service is affecting the driver’s functionality. In safe mode, Windows will only execute essential processes and drivers that are necessary for the system and connected hardware.

Run Built-in Windows Bluetooth Troubleshooter

This is a tool that can automatically detect and fix common Bluetooth problems. Running the Bluetooth troubleshooter can help you resolve the driver issues and restore the Bluetooth functionality. To run the Bluetooth troubleshooter, you can follow these steps:

• Click on the Start menu and select Settings.
• Click on Update & Security and select Troubleshoot. Here, you can use the built-in troubleshooting for Windows to resolve the majority of software problems.
• Click on Additional Troubleshooters and select Bluetooth.
• Click on Run the Troubleshooter and follow the instructions on the screen.
• Check if the Bluetooth device is working properly after the troubleshooter has finished scanning for problems and applied one or more fixes.

Restart Bluetooth Service

This is a service that manages the Bluetooth devices and connections on your system. Restarting the Bluetooth service can help you refresh the driver and fix the connection problems. To restart the Bluetooth service:

• Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
• Type services.msc and click OK to open the Services window.
• Locate the Bluetooth Support Service and right-click on it.
• Select Restart and wait while the service restarts.
• Check if the Bluetooth device is working properly after the service is restarted.

Toggle Airplane Mode

This is a feature that can disable or enable wireless communication on your device completely. In fact, airplane mode is specifically designed to be used inside airplanes as the outgoing and incoming services of a laptop or even your smartphone can interfere with the airplane guidance system, emergency system, communications, etc. But, toggling the airplane mode can help you reset the Bluetooth driver and fix the pairing or connection problems as it disables and re-enables all of your peripherals.

• Click on the Action Center icon on the bottom right corner of the screen.
• Click on the Airplane mode button to turn it ON.
• Wait for a few seconds and then turn it back to OFF.
• Check if the Bluetooth device is working properly after the airplane mode toggle.

Uninstall Peripheral Drivers and Restart the System

This is a solution that can help you remove the corrupted or incompatible drivers and reinstall the correct ones. Uninstalling the peripheral drivers can help you fix the driver errors and improve the Bluetooth performance. When you restart the system, the system will detect the missing driver for your peripherals and attempt to download the latest stable version of the driver by itself.

• Click on the Start menu and select Device Manager.
• Locate the Bluetooth category and expand it.
• Right-click on each Bluetooth device and select Uninstall device.
• Check the box that says Delete the driver software for this device and click OK.
• Repeat the same process for all the Bluetooth devices under the Bluetooth category.
• Restart the system and wait for the system to automatically install the drivers for the Bluetooth devices.
• Check if the Bluetooth device is working properly after the driver installation.

Update the Driver Manually

This is the final solution that can help you install the latest compatible driver for your Bluetooth device based on your preference. Updating the driver manually can help you fix the driver issues and enhance the Bluetooth functionality. To update the driver manually, you can follow these steps:

• Download the bcm20702a0 driver from the official Broadcom website or from your device’s manufacturer’s website.
• Unzip the driver file and save it to a location that you can easily access.
• Click on the Start menu and select Device Manager.
• Locate the Bluetooth category and expand it.
• Right-click on the Bluetooth device that you want to update and select the Update driver.
• Select Browse My Computer for driver software and navigate to the location where you saved the driver file.
• Select the driver file and click Next to Install the driver.
• Check if the Bluetooth device is working properly after the driver update.

Broadcom bcm20702a0 Drivers on window – FAQs

Conclusion

The Broadcom bcm20702a0 driver plays a crucial role in enabling Bluetooth connectivity on Windows devices. When this driver encounters issues, it can lead to various problems such as the disappearance of Bluetooth functionality, error messages, and even system crashes. So, we have created this comprehensive guide on how to identify, troubleshoot, and resolve bcm20702a0 driver issues with ease. Today, we discussed various aspects of the driver such as its importance, how to check its presence, and the different types of errors caused by problems with this driver. So, you will be able to easily find out the root cause of the problem in your case and proceed with the correct solution.