Updating to a new version of Windows 10 on devices with some driver versions for Realtek Bluetooth radios

If you are trying to update to the Windows 10 November 2019 Update (Windows 10, version 1909), the Windows 10 May 2019 Feature Update (Windows 10, version 1903), or the Windows 10 October 2018 Update (Windows 10, version 1809), you may encounter an update compatibility hold and receive the message, "Realtek Bluetooth: Your PC has a driver or service that isn't ready for this version of windows 10. A new version is avialable."

Windows 10, version 1909 and Windows 10, version 1903:

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Windows 10, version 1809:

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Microsoft has identified compatibility issues with some driver versions for Bluetooth radios made by Realtek. You will need to update to driver version 1.5.1012 or later to remove this safeguard hold.  Any earlier version of the driver is affected by this issue.

To safeguard your update experience, we have applied a compatibility hold on devices with affected driver versions for Realtek Bluetooth radios from installing Windows 10, version 1909 or Windows 10, version 1903 until the driver has been updated.

You should first try manually checking for updates.  For instructions, see Update Windows 10.  If you are offered Realtek Bluetooth drivers and they install successfully, then you should now be able to update to Windows 10, version 1909 or Windows 10, version 1903.  Select Check for Updates again, it should be offered and install as expected.

If you are not offered Realtek Bluetooth drivers, you will need to manually update the drivers.  You can do this by using the following steps:

1. Download both of the Realtek Bluetooth radio drivers to your preferred folder: Driver 1, Driver 2.  Note We recommend downloading them to your Documents folder.
2. Open File Explorer. If there is no file explorer icon in the task bar, select the search box and enter file explorer and select it.
3. Within File Explorer, go the Documents folder or the folder you downloaded the drivers to.
4. Find and double click or double tap on the file named 068de0d6-6ac2-473a-8cbd-bd449cd5c97c_942eec5828662eecc6b98cc2706658bf2433717c.cab
5. Select CTRL+a on the keyboard. This should select all of the files
6. Right click or long press on any of the files and select Extract.
7. Select the New folder button and rename it Realtek Bluetooth.
8. Select the Extract button.
9. In File Explorer, select the back  button to go to the location you downloaded the drivers into.
10. Find and double click or double tap on the file named f2748416-7753-49c6-9185-56f4986f490b_e98e0d664b7e874011b8e3752046ca61f3475295.cab
11. Select CTRL+a on the keyboard. This should select all of the files
12. Right click or long press on any of the files and select Extract.
13. If you are in the folder named Realtek Bluetooth, then select the New folder button and type Realtek Bluetooth 2.
14. Select the Extract button.
15. In the search box on the taskbar, enter device manager, then select Device Manager.
16. Find Bluetooth and expand it.
17. Find the Realtek device and right-click or long press on it.
18. Select Update Driver from the context menu.
19. Select the Browse my computer for driver software button.
20. It should default to your Documents folder, if this is where you saved the drivers then just select the Next button.  If you did not save the drivers to your Documents folder, select the Browse button and find the folder you downloaded the drivers to and select OK.
21. It should now find the updated drivers and install them.  Wait for this to complete and select Close.

After you have updated your Realtek Bluetooth radio drivers, the safeguard hold should be removed and you should be able to install the newer version of Windows 10.