Intel has released updated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth drivers for
Windows 10 May 2020 Update and older. The drivers were
evidently published on August 4, 2020, but have just started
rolling out to some users.
The Wi-Fi driver update from Intel appears to mostly address
‘Blue Screen of Death’ issues encountered on some devices. On
the other hand, the Bluetooth driver update comes with general
performance and security improvements.
It’s worth pointing out that Intel’s updated Wi-Fi driver is
not yet widely available for users and Intel might push the
driver to more devices in the coming weeks once the gradual
rollout period is over.
Wi-Fi drivers
Intel says the latest Wi-Fi driver for Windows 10 addresses
Blue Screen of Death errors caused by the older drivers and
when users resume their laptops from Sleep mode.
Intel is rolling out the driver update for the following
adapters:
- 21.110.1.1 for AX201, AX200, 9560, 9260, 9462, 9461
- 20.70.18.2 for 8265 and 8260.
- 19.51.30.1 for 7265, 3165 and 3168.
To determine whether your device is eligible for the update,
open the Device Manager, click on the “Network adapters” and
expand the branch. If you have one of the above-listed Intel
adapters, then you’ll be able to download and install the new
drivers in the coming weeks.
Here’s the complete changelog of the Wi-Fi driver update:
- Fixes an issue where the data transfer performance is
reduced when the network connections shifts from Wi-Fi Direct
to 2.4 GHz AP. - Fixes BSOD caused by the Intel wireless driver.
- Fixes BSOD when you resume your device from Sleep mode and
Modern Standby feature is enabled. - Fixes BSOD reported with Event ID 5010 in Event Viewer.
- Fixes performance issues when you resume your laptop from
sleep mode and Modern Standby is enabled. - Fixes disconnection issues when your system is sitting idle
or you’re streaming online videos at 2.4 GHz. - Includes functional and security improvements.
The Wi-Fi update is not widely available for users and it may
not show up for download when you check for updates.
Bluetooth driver update
Unlike Wi-Fi drivers, Intel’s updated Bluetooth driver is
available for everyone using compatible adapters.
The patched driver includes multiple quality improvements and
bug fixes. For instance, a bug has been fixed where AirPods
audio playback may fail to resume after a Skype call.
Here’s the complete changelog of the Bluetooth driver update:
- Fixes an issue where audio playback fails to resume when
you use AirPods after Skype call. - Fixes an issue where the Bluetooth device disappears from
Device Manager or stops working when you enable Airplane mode
on Windows 10. - Fixes an issue where Bluetooth mouse starts lagging when
you play music over a Bluetooth headset at the same time. - Fixes connectivity issues with second Bluetooth HID/LE
device. - Fixes audio discontinuity or stuttering when playing music.
- Includes general improvements and security fixes.
How to get the update
Windows 10 allows you to update a device driver manually using
Windows Update, Device Manager, and Intel’s Driver & Support
Assistant tool.
On flagship products such as the Surface Pro, Microsoft and
Intel will certify the drivers and push the updates through
Windows Update.
If you don’t own a flagship device, it can take some time until
manufacturers publish newer driver packages on Windows Update.
Fortunately, Intel allows you to manually download the driver
packages that have been tested, verified, and signed by the
company.
To get the new driver updates, follow these steps:
- Download and install Intel Driver and Support
Assistant (iDSA) tool from here. - Run the installer.
- Open the Update Assistant tool and follow the on-screen
instructions. - Once installed, you can access Intel’s update tool from
Windows 10’s system tray.
Remember that the drivers can take up to a couple of weeks to
fully roll out and the update may not show up immediately.
