Pair a Bluetooth device in Windows

You can pair all kinds of Bluetooth devices with your PC—including keyboards, mice, phones, speakers, and a whole lot more. To do this, your PC will need to have Bluetooth. Some PCs, such as laptops and tablets, have Bluetooth built in. If your PC doesn’t, you can plug a USB Bluetooth adapter into the USB port on your PC to get it.

Before you start, make sure that your Windows 10 PC supports Bluetooth. For more info on how to check, see Fix Bluetooth problems in Windows 10. If you need help adding a device without Bluetooth capabilities, see Add a device to a Windows 10 PC.

Turn on Bluetooth

After you’ve checked that your Windows 10 PC supports Bluetooth, you’ll need to turn it on. Here’s how:

Select Start > Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices, and turn on Bluetooth.

In action center

Action center can be found next to time and date on your taskbar. On the taskbar, select action center ( or ), then select Bluetooth to turn it on. If it’s turned off, it might appear as Not connected.

If you don’t see Bluetooth in your action center, here’s how you can change it:

Expand quick actions. On the taskbar, select action center ( or ) > Expand. Bluetooth should appear here. It will appear as Bluetooth or Not connected.

Add Bluetooth to action center. Select Start > Settings > System > Notifications & actions > Quick actions. Go to Add or remove quick actions and turn on Bluetooth.

Note: For more info about how to change the apps and settings that appear in action center, see Change notification and action settings in Windows 10.

To pair a Bluetooth headset, speaker, or other audio device

Turn on your Bluetooth audio device and make it discoverable. The way you make it discoverable depends on the device. Check the device or visit the manufacturer’s website to learn how.

On your PC, select Start > Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices > Add Bluetooth or other device > Bluetooth. Choose the device and follow additional instructions if they appear, then select Done.

Your Bluetooth device and PC will usually automatically connect anytime the two devices are in range of each other with Bluetooth turned on.

To pair a Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, or other device

Turn on your Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, or other device and make it discoverable. The way you make it discoverable depends on the device. Check the device or visit the manufactur’s website to learn how.

On your PC, select Start > Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices > Add Bluetooth or other device > Bluetooth. Choose the device and follow additional instructions if they appear, then select Done.

To pair a Bluetooth printer or scanner

Turn on your Bluetooth printer or scanner and make it discoverable. The way you make it discoverable depends on the device. Check the device or visit the manufacturer’s website to learn how.

Select Start > Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners > Add a printer or scanner. Wait for it to find nearby printers, then choose the one you want to use and select Add device.

If you’re having installation issues with your printer or scanner, see either Fix printer problems or Install and use a scanner in Windows 10.

To pair a Bluetooth device using Swift Pair

Swift Pair in Windows 10 lets you quickly pair a supported Bluetooth device with your PC. If the Bluetooth device supports Swift Pair, you’ll receive a notification when it’s nearby and you put it into pairing mode to make it discoverable.

Turn on a Bluetooth device that supports Swift Pair and make it discoverable. The way you make it discoverable depends on the device. Check the device or visit the manufacturer’s website to learn more.

If this is your first time using Swift Pair, select Yes when asked if you want to get notifications and use Swift Pair.

When a notification appears that a new Bluetooth device was found, select Connect.

After it’s connected, select Close.

Before you start, make sure that your Windows 8 PC supports Bluetooth.

Turn on your Bluetooth device and make it discoverable.

The way you make it discoverable depends on the device. Check the device or visit the manufacturer’s website to learn how.

Select Start > type Bluetooth > select Bluetooth settings from the list.

Turn on Bluetooth > select the device > Pair.

Follow any instructions if they appear. Otherwise, you’re done and connected.

Your Bluetooth device and PC will usually automatically connect anytime the two devices are in range of each other with Bluetooth turned on.

Before you start, make sure that your Windows 7 PC supports Bluetooth.

Turn on your Bluetooth device and make it discoverable.

The way you make it discoverable depends on the device. Check the device or visit the manufacturer’s website to learn how.Turn on your Bluetooth device and make it discoverable. The way you make it discoverable depends on the device. Check the device or visit the manufacturer’s website to learn how.

Select Start > Devices and Printers.

Select Add a device > select the device > Next.

Follow any other instructions that might appear. Otherwise, you’re done and connected.

Your Bluetooth device and PC will usually automatically connect anytime the two devices are in range of each other with Bluetooth turned on.

How to Turn On Bluetooth in Windows 7

Going wireless simplifies your work day

What To Know

• Windows 10 and 8.1: Press Start >Bluetooth, and toggle it on.
• Windows 7: Press Start > search for Bluetooth >Change Bluetooth Settings > check Allow. Find This Computer >Ok.

This article explains how to enable Bluetooth on a Windows PC running Windows 10, 8.1, or 7.

How to Turn On Bluetooth in Windows 10 or Windows 8.1

Some computers offer a button or keyboard key that allows you to turn on Bluetooth with a single tap. However, if you cannot find one of these, enable Bluetooth in your computer’s settings.

Select the Start button.

Type «Bluetooth» into the search box and select Bluetooth settings from the list.

Toggle the Bluetooth switch to On.

How to Turn On Bluetooth in Windows 7

The settings to turn on Bluetooth in Windows 7 are slightly different than in newer Windows versions.

As of January 2020, Microsoft is no longer supports Windows 7. We recommend upgrading to Windows 10 to continue receiving security updates and technical support.

Select the Start button.

Type Bluetooth in the Start Search box.

Select Change Bluetooth Settings in the search results. The Bluetooth Settings dialog box opens.

Select the Allow Bluetooth Devices to Find This Computer checkbox under Discovery.

Optionally, on the same screen, select the Allow Bluetooth Devices to Connect with This Computer checkbox and the Alert Me When a New Bluetooth Device Wants to Connect checkbox under Connections. These two options streamline the connection process without additional manual steps to connect a specific device.

Select Apply and then select OK.

The Bluetooth icon appears on your taskbar or in the Hidden Icons folder to the left of the date and time on your taskbar.

After you activate Bluetooth and made your computer discoverable, connect Bluetooth headphones to your computer or pair any Bluetooth-enabled device—such as a keyboard, mouse, or speakers—to your computer.

The computer is now paired with the other device. They should automatically connect any time the two devices are within pairing range, provided Bluetooth is enabled on both.

Troubleshooting Bluetooth Issues

If you are unable to enable Bluetooth on your Windows 7 computer, or if you are not able to pair another device with your computer through Bluetooth, troubleshooting can help you find the solution.

How to turn on & use Bluetooth in Windows 10

To most, Bluetooth, often means the ability to connect their headset wirelessly, computer, smartphone to each other. But there are several other uses of Bluetooth. Today in this post, we will see how to turn on or enable – and use Bluetooth in Windows 10, to send & receive files.

Enable or Turn On Bluetooth in Windows 10

Click open the Sart Menu. Next open Settings and select Devices to open the Windows 10 Devices Settings. Now in the left panel, you will see Bluetooth. Click on it to open the following settings.

To turn on Bluetooth, toggle the Bluetooth slider to the On position.

Your PC will start searching for other devices to pair up with. So make sure that you have turned on Bluetooth on your smartphone or another device.

Once the device is found, it will be displayed there. Click on it to expand it. You will see a Pair button.

Clicking on Pair will connect your PC to your other device.

Before the devices are paired, you will have to confirm that the passcode displayed on both the devices is the same.

Once you have confirmed this, click on Yes – and the devices will be connected via Bluetooth.

Incidentally, clicking on More Bluetooth settings (first image above) will open up the following panel where you will be offered more settings like – Allow Bluetooth devices to find this PC, Alert me when a new Bluetooth device wants to connect, Show the Bluetooth icon in the notification area, etc.

Coming back, once the devices are connected, you can use the Bluetooth connection to send or receive files.

You might want to also read about Infrared on Windows 10.

How to use Bluetooth in Windows 10

Click on the Send or receive files via Bluetooth link displayed in the settings (first image above). The following wizard will open.

It is an easy-to-understand wizard and you can use it o Send files or Receive files via Bluetooth.

Toggle to turn Bluetooth On or Off is missing in Windows 10

Windows 10 has always included support for Bluetooth hardware. Well, this support has been here for a while now. And with support for the latest version of Bluetooth 5.0 LE, it keeps getting even better. But at times some users have found that when they go on to use Bluetooth, they find that the option to turn on Bluetooth is missing in the Windows 10 Settings app or the Action Center. If you face this issue, then this post will help you fix the problem.

Toggle to turn Bluetooth On or Off is missing

The scenarios could be different:

• No option to turn on Bluetooth in Windows 10.
• The device does not have Bluetooth.
• Bluetooth won’t turn on Windows 10.
• Bluetooth missing toggle in Windows 10.
• No Bluetooth toggle in Windows 10.
• No Bluetooth switch Windows 10.
• Option to turn Bluetooth on or off is missing.

In order to fix these issues, you will have to carry out the following fixes:

1. Update, Rollback or Reinstall the Bluetooth driver.
2. Enable Bluetooth from Device Manager.
3. Enable Services for Bluetooth.

1] Update, Rollback or Reinstall the Bluetooth driver

If you recently updated your drivers, maybe you could uninstall or rollback any drivers and see if that helps. If you did not, then you could, via Device Manager, either update or uninstall and fresh install the Bluetooth driver. It could be the Bluetooth Generic Adapter driver, Intel(R) Wireless Bluetooth, etc.

2] Enable Bluetooth from the Device Manager

Start by hitting the WINKEY + R button combination to launch the Run utility. Now type in devmgmt.msc and hit Enter. This will open the Device Manager for you.

Now, click on the entry labeled as Bluetooth and expand it.

Then, right-click on all the Bluetooth driver entry. It could be labeled as Bluetooth USB Module, Intel(R) Wireless Bluetooth, etc. If you see it disabled, then click on Enable device.

Restart your computer to check if the issue is fixed or not.

3] Enable Services for Bluetooth

Press the WINKEY+R button combination and then type in Services.msc and then hit Enter to open the Windows Services Manager.

Locate and right-click on each of the following services and click on Properties to check if the Startup Type is set to Automatic:

• Bluetooth Handsfree Service.
• Bluetooth Audio Gateway Service.
• Bluetooth Support Service.
• Bluetooth User Support Service.

Right-click on the services listed above and click on Properties.

Make sure that the Startup Type of all is set to Manual. Click on Apply and then click on OK.

If the above services are not running, right-click on the service and click on Start.