How to connect to bluetooth

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 needs 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 11 PC supports Bluetooth. For more info on how to check, see Fix Bluetooth problems in Windows. If you need help adding a device without Bluetooth capabilities, see Add a device to a Windows PC.

Turn on Bluetooth

After you’ve checked that your Windows 11 PC supports Bluetooth, you’ll need to turn it on. Here’s how:

If you don’t see Bluetooth in quick settings, you might need to add it. For more info, see Change notifications and quick settings in Windows 11.

To pair a Bluetooth device

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.

Choose the Bluetooth device, 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 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 > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Add device. Wait for it to find nearby printers, choose the one you want to use, then select Add device.

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

To pair a Bluetooth device using Swift Pair

Swift Pair in Windows 11 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.

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.

Connect a Bluetooth device that does not have or require a transceiver

INTRODUCTION

The Microsoft devices that are listed in the «Applies to» section do not include their own transceiver. Instead, the mouse or keyboard relies on the transceiver that is built into the desktop or portable computer to which it is connected. How the mouse or keyboard connects to the computer by Bluetooth varies. The connection depends on how the Bluetooth technology is implemented on the computer. If the the steps in this article do not resolve the problem, you may have to contact the computer manufacturer to find out how to turn on the Bluetooth service on the computer, and about how to add a device to the computer.

Note A transceiver is a kind of USB connector, which is a small plug that has a USB logo on it. To see a USB connecter, click the following link:

More Information

Configuring a Bluetooth device on a Windows-based computer

How to make sure that the Bluetooth service is started

Open the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in for Services. To do this, follow these steps.

Windows Vista or Windows 7

Click Start , copy and then paste (or type) the following command in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER:

In the Programs list, click Services.

If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.

Click Start, and then click Run.

Copy and then paste (or type) the following command in the Open box, and then press ENTER:

Double-click the Bluetooth Support service.

If the Bluetooth Support service is stopped, click Start.

On the Startup type list, click Automatic.

Click the Log On tab.

Click Local System account.

If you prompted to restart the computer, click Yes.

How to connect the Bluetooth device to the computer

Press and hold the Connect button on the bottom of the mouse. If your device has a battery indication light, it will blink and alternate between red and green to indicate that the device is discoverable.

On the computer, open the Bluetooth software. The Bluetooth software is typically located in Control Panel. For more information about opening the Bluetooth software, see the «How to open the Bluetooth software» section.

Click the Devices tab, and then click Add.

Follow the instructions that appear on the screen.

A Microsoft Bluetooth mouse does not require a passkey to connect to the computer. If you are prompted for a passkey, select No passkey. If you do not get the No Passkey option, try to enter 0000 as a passkey by using your keyboard.

If you cannot connect to the computer, you must troubleshoot the Bluetooth connection. For more information about how to troubleshoot the Bluetooth connection, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

883258 How to troubleshoot Bluetooth detection and connectivity problems in Windows XP Service Pack 2

894035 The Bluetooth Devices item is not present when you open Control Panel

How to open the Bluetooth software

There are several versions of Bluetooth software that help you connect your device to your Bluetooth wireless transceiver. For example, a Toshiba portable computer may use Toshiba Bluetooth software. Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP SP2 include Microsoft Bluetooth software.

To open Microsoft Bluetooth software on a Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows XP SP2-based computer, click Bluetooth Devices in Control Panel.

To open Toshiba Bluetooth on Toshiba portable computers, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Toshiba, point to Bluetooth, and then click Bluetooth Settings.

For more information about Toshiba Bluetooth software, visit the following Toshiba Web site:

For other portable computer manufacturers, see the documentation that was included with the computer. Or, contact the following computer manufacturers for more information about their Bluetooth software:

Hewlett-Packard (HP) computers:

For information about how to contact other portable computer manufacturers, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Configuring a Bluetooth device on an Apple (Macintosh)

The devices that are listed in the «Applies to» section are designed to use Bluetooth functionality that is provided by the operating system. These devices do not require Intellitype or Intellipoint software.

Note These steps may differ in different version of the Macintosh operating system.
To add the Bluetooth mouse or keyboard device, follow these steps:

Make sure that you have fresh set of batteries. If you do not, turn off your Bluetooth device. The green light on the device should be turned off.

Note Both mouse and keyboard devices may have the On/Off switch on the bottom. Refer to the following illustrations. Shining light (indicates that the device is on)

Changing batteries

Turning on or turning off the device

On the Apple menu, click Preferences.

Click to select the On and Discoverable check boxes.

Click Set Up New Device, or click the plus sign (+) at the bottom-left corner of the window.

In the Bluetooth Setup Assistance window, click Continue.

Turn on the device by using the On/Off button on the bottom of the device.

Select either Mouse or Keyboard, and then click Continue.

Press the sync button on the bottom of the device if the button exists. If there is a sync button, it should be located next to the Bluetooth symbol. If your device does not have a sync button, go to the next step.

Syncing the device

The computer will detect the device. Select the name of the mouse or keyboard device, and then click Continue.

After the setup is complete, click Quit. The device should now work.

If you are trying to configure a Bluetooth mouse, it maybe helpful to download and install an advanced driver for USB and for Bluetooth mice. To obtain the appropriate driver, visit the following Apple Web site:

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/drivers/steermouse.html For detailed instructions about how to set up your Bluetooth device on the Macintosh, visit the following Apple Web site:

http://www.apple.com/support/bluetooth/ Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.

How to Connect Bluetooth Headphones to a PC

This article was written by Travis Boylls. Travis Boylls is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Travis has experience writing technology-related articles, providing software customer service, and in graphic design. He specializes in Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux platforms. He studied graphic design at Pikes Peak Community College.

The wikiHow Tech Team also followed the article’s instructions and verified that they work.

This article has been viewed 139,706 times.

This wikiHow teaches you how to connect a pair of Bluetooth headphones to a PC.

I edited this screenshot of a Windows icon.\n

I edited this screenshot of a Windows icon.\n

I edited this screenshot of a Windows icon.\n

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 needs 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 11 PC supports Bluetooth. For more info on how to check, see Fix Bluetooth problems in Windows. If you need help adding a device without Bluetooth capabilities, see Add a device to a Windows PC.

Turn on Bluetooth

After you’ve checked that your Windows 11 PC supports Bluetooth, you’ll need to turn it on. Here’s how:

If you don’t see Bluetooth in quick settings, you might need to add it. For more info, see Change notifications and quick settings in Windows 11.

To pair a Bluetooth device

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.

Choose the Bluetooth device, 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 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 > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Add device. Wait for it to find nearby printers, choose the one you want to use, then select Add device.

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

To pair a Bluetooth device using Swift Pair

Swift Pair in Windows 11 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.

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 on Windows 10 (and lower), macOS, Linux, Android and iOS

The basics: How Bluetooth pairing works

Bluetooth wireless technology, which has been in existence since 1999, was deliberately conceived as an industry standard by its creators, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). That means the procedure for connecting two Bluetooth-enabled devices, called pairing, is basically always the same:

How to connect Bluetooth: Windows 10 (and lower)

Here, we’ll look at how to turn on Bluetooth on Windows 10 and lower. To check whether your Windows computer has a built-in Bluetooth interface, go to the Device Manager. You can easily access the Device Manager from the search bar of your operating system. In the list of hardware components, “Bluetooth” you should see “Bluetooth” roughly between the “Sound, Video, and Game Controllers” and “Computer” options. If not, you might need to download and install the appropriate driver from the manufacturer’s website, even if the Bluetooth is definitely installed on the device.

The Bluetooth feature is usually enabled by default in the hardware of desktop PCs, but not on laptops. This is done to save battery. However, you can change the Bluetooth settings very easily. The steps differ slightly in Windows 10, 8, and 7:

How to connect Bluetooth: Windows 10

To connect a device to your computer for the first time, go to Windows Settings:

The speech bubble icon at the bottom right of the screen in the taskbar opens the Windows 10 Notification Area, where you can access the Bluetooth settings and features.

In Windows Settings, go to “Devices.”

Under “Bluetooth & other devices” you can view paired devices and turn Bluetooth on and off using a toggle switch.

Click the “Add Bluetooth or other device” button. Windows automatically searches for available devices.

Follow the same steps to turn off Bluetooth when you’re done using it. However, you turn it off much more easily from the Windows Notification Area, which you can open by clicking the speech bubble icon at the bottom right in the taskbar. In the Notification Area, click the prominently displayed Bluetooth icon to turn the function on and off at will. To permanently unpair a device from your computer, select it under “Settings” > “Bluetooth & other devices” and click “Remove Device.”

Many Windows laptops allow you to easily turn Bluetooth on and off using a keyboard shortcut such as [Fn] + [F8]. Some models even have a special button with the unmistakable Bluetooth symbol on it.

How to connect Bluetooth in Windows 8

To change your Bluetooth settings in Windows 8, use the Charms bar:

In order to protect your privacy, the video will not load until you click on it.

How to connect Bluetooth in Windows 7

If you have a Bluetooth-enabled computer or a computer with a USB Bluetooth adapter that is still running Windows 7, proceed as follows:

Troubleshooting in Windows

If you encounter problems with Bluetooth pairing in Windows 10, 8, or 7, there may be different causes (see below):

Probably the most common cause is an outdated or missing Bluetooth driver. In Windows 10, you can easily resolve the problem by choosing “Troubleshoot” under “Start” > “Settings” > “Update & Security.” Under “Find and fix other problems,” you can select “Bluetooth” and then click “Run the troubleshooter.” Windows then guides you through a process that checks and updates your hardware drivers, if necessary.

Alternatively, you can find the drivers directly on the website of your computer or laptop manufacturer. In this case, be sure to download the latest drivers for both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi because these two functions are often installed on the same hardware module.

Sometimes the Bluetooth service may not start properly when your computer is booting. In this case, use Windows command prompt: Type cmd in the Windows search bar and press the [Enter] key. In the window that opens, enter the command net start «bthserv” and press the [Enter] key to confirm.

How to connect Bluetooth in macOS

Most Mac computers come with Bluetooth technology built-in. You can check to see if your computer supports Bluetooth by clicking “About this Mac” in the Apple menu, which you can open via the Mac Logo in the top left corner. In the window that appears, choose “More info” > “Hardware” to see your Bluetooth settings and configuration.

The steps for turning Bluetooth on and off are similar to the steps in Windows:

If the Bluetooth icon is shown in the menu bar, simply click on it and select “Open Bluetooth Preferences” in the context menu.

Under Bluetooth Preferences, you can adjust your Bluetooth settings: Click a button to turn the Bluetooth on and off, view the Bluetooth name of your Mac computer and choose to show Bluetooth in the menu bar.

The Bluetooth pairing process is nearly identical in macOS and Windows.

Troubleshooting in macOS

If your Mac operating system refuses to connect to a Bluetooth device after numerous attempts, try deleting the com.apple.Bluetooth.plist file from the /Library/Preferences folder and restarting your computer.

Another method is to restore the Bluetooth module to factory settings using debug mode (you must then restart your computer). You can find this option by clicking the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar and holding down the [Shift] and [Option] keys. But be careful: If you choose this option, all Bluetooth connections will be lost and you will have to reconnect the devices later.

How to connect Bluetooth in Linux

All major Linux distributions (such as Mint and Debian) support Bluetooth. You turn on Bluetooth in Ubuntu as follows:

Troubleshooting in Linux

If you are running a personalized Linux operating system on a custom-built computer, you may first have to retrofit a Bluetooth interface or adapter in order to use the wireless technology (if your hardware is Bluetooth-enabled, enter the terminal command Isusb | grep Bluetooth). You then have to set up the Bluetooth function in the software by installing the necessary packages from the command line. To do this, enter the command sudo apt-get install bluez-utils libopemnobex1. If a problem arises, you often have to check precisely these software packages for proper functioning.