Let me start with the fact that almost every laptop has a built-in Bluetooth module. Not even on the newest models. This means that Bluetooth on a laptop should work without installing additional devices. I will introduce USB adapters that are necessary for desktop computers. Since there simply is no built-in module. Although, some motherboards already have built-in Bluetooth.

In this article I will try to show in detail how to enable Bluetooth on a laptop. How to do this in the operating system Windows 10, Windows 8 (8.1) and Windows 7. I will also show you how to set up a wireless module and connect different devices to your laptop. I have a mouse and wireless headphones connected to my laptop via Bluetooth. Very comfortably. You can also connect, for example, a wireless speaker, keyboard, mobile phone, etc.

All that is needed for Bluetooth to work on a laptop is the installed driver. The driver must be downloaded and installed from the official website of the laptop manufacturer. For your model and installed Windows system. But don’t rush to go to the manufacturer’s website and download drivers. It is quite possible that you already have everything installed and working. Especially if you have Windows 10 installed. As a rule, it installs the necessary drivers itself. Then you just need to turn on Bluetooth in the laptop settings and you can use it.

Where to find Bluetooth on a laptop and how to turn it on?

Most likely, you already have everything turned on and everything is working. Regardless of Windows installed, if the Bluetooth driver is installed, there will be a blue “Bluetooth Devices” icon in the notification panel. This means it is turned on and ready to go. Check on your laptop. In rare cases, this icon may be disabled in Settings.

By clicking on this icon, you can perform various operations: add a device, show connected devices, receive/send a file, configure the adapter itself, etc.

If you don’t have such an icon, then there are three options:

1. Bluetooth is disabled on the laptop and needs to be turned on.
2. Removed the BT icon itself from the notification panel.
3. Or the required driver is not installed.

Let's try to turn it on.

BT on Windows 10

The easiest way is to open the notification center and click on the appropriate button.

Or go to the settings, then to the "Devices" section, and on the "Bluetooth and other devices" tab, turn on the module with the slider.

I wrote a separate article on Windows 10: . After this, an icon should appear in the notification panel, as I showed above.

How to connect the device?

Click on "Add Bluetooth or other device" and select the appropriate item in the next window.

Turn on Bluetooth on a laptop with Windows 8 and 8.1

Opening the side panel (you can use the keyboard shortcut Windows + C) and select "Options". Next, click on “Change computer settings.” Go to the "Bluetooth" section and turn on the module with the switch.

Windows will begin searching for available devices to connect to.

An icon should appear on the notification panel through which you can manage connections.

How to activate Bluetooth in Windows 7?

If there is no blue icon in the notification panel, then go to “Network and Sharing Center” – “Change adapter settings” and see if the “Bluetooth Network Connection” adapter is there. If not, then install the driver for your laptop model, or check for the presence of an adapter in the device manager (more on this later in the article). And if there is, then see if it is turned on. It may need to be enabled on the laptop.

How to connect the device?

Click on the "Bluetooth" icon and select "Add a device..."

A new window will open, in which connect your device following the instructions.

Or go to the "Control Panel", in the "Devices and Printers" section. And click on the "Add device" button. You can also open the properties of "Bluetooth Adapter" and enable the display of the icon in the notification area. This will make it easier to connect and manage devices.

How to check and enable Bluetooth in Device Manager on a laptop?

If you cannot find Bluetooth on your laptop, there are no settings, adapter, buttons, icons, etc., then most likely the necessary drivers are not installed. You need to go to device manager and check this. Or maybe you just need to use a BT adapter.

Open Device Manager. You can right-click on My Computer and select Properties. In the new window, go to "Device Manager". Or press the keyboard shortcut Win+R and run the command devmgmt.msc.

There you should see a "Bluetooth" section (may be called differently in Windows 7), which will contain the module itself (the name may also be different). This is what I have on my laptop:

If it exists, but with an "arrow" (icon next to the adapter), then just right-click on it and select “Engage”.

Perhaps you don’t have anything similar to Blues in your device manager. In this case, you need to download and install the driver.

Go to the official website of your laptop manufacturer. Using the search (or menu), find your model, and in the “Support”, “Downloads”, etc. sections, download the driver for the Bluetooth module. Install it, restart your laptop and after that everything should work.

Bluetooth is a method of transmitting data and exchanging information over a wireless network; it operates at a distance of 9-10 meters, depending on the obstacles that interfere with signal transmission. The latest Bluetooth 5.0 specification has improved throughput and range.

Let's look at the main ways to connect a Bluetooth adapter to a PC and the difficulties that may arise. If you already have a built-in Bluetooth module, but you don’t know how to turn it on or are experiencing difficulties with it, this will be discussed in methods 2 - 4.

Method 1: Connect to a computer

Bluetooth adapters come in two versions: external and internal. Their difference lies in the connection interface. The first one is connected via a USB port like a regular flash drive.

The second requires disassembling the system unit, as it is installed directly into the PCI slot on the motherboard.

After installation, a notification will appear on your desktop indicating that a new device is connected. Install the drivers from the disk, if available, or use the instructions from method 4.

Method 2: Windows Settings

After successful installation of the module, you need to enable it in Windows. This method will not cause difficulties even for the most inexperienced users, and is distinguished by its speed and accessibility.

Method 3: BIOS

If the previous method did not work for some reason, you can enable Bluetooth through the BIOS. This method is more suitable for experienced users.

If for some reason you cannot enter the BIOS, use the following article.

Method 4: Installing Drivers

If, after performing the previously described steps, you do not achieve the desired result, the problem may lie in the drivers of the Bluetooth device.

Conclusion

We looked at the main ways to install Bluetooth on a computer, turn it on, as well as possible difficulties and ways to eliminate them.

Bluetooth is one of the important functions of computer devices, especially mobile ones. However, due to the fact that in always-on mode it uses a lot of battery power, this function is disabled by default on the laptop. Therefore, many users sooner or later have a question: how to turn on Bluetooth on a laptop.

There are two ways to quickly use the function: software and hardware. Simply put, use the Windows menu or a special physical button on the keyboard.

Software connection

On computers, laptops and netbooks running Windows 10, you can activate the function in a few clicks without using third-party programs.

1. Click on the notification panel button in the lower right corner of the screen.

1. Please note that the menu may be displayed collapsed, and the Bluetooth power button will then be located in the hidden part. You just need to click on “Expand”.

1. Click on the corresponding button in one of the columns of the tiled menu.

1. After a few seconds, the tile will light up and a familiar icon will appear on the bottom bar.

That's it, the function can be used. Desktop PCs with an adapter, smartphones, mice, headphones and other devices that support Bluetooth can already be connected.

Hardware connection

Most laptop keyboards have dedicated buttons to turn on Bluetooth. There are several placement and designation options.

1. The button in the F1 ... F12 row has the familiar Bluetooth icon. The button can even change from model to model from the same manufacturer, so look carefully. If the icon is white, just press the key. If it is colored (which means secondary) - most often blue or red - you will need to simultaneously press the Fn button (usually located near the lower left Ctrl.
2. There is also another icon indicating a wireless connection in general. It works the same way, but is also responsible for Wi-Fi.
3. There is a separate key for connecting Bluetooth. This is most often found in large format laptops. The button is placed on additional functional panels.

However, such a button may not exist. In this case, only the software connection remains.

Important! Once the icon appears on the bottom panel, it may quickly disappear from it. This does not mean that Bluetooth on the laptop stopped working: most likely the shortcut was simply hidden. It's easy to check: click on the up arrow, which allows you to display hidden icons.

Connecting devices

To launch the setup menu for connected devices, you can use two ways:

Via "Start"

1. Right-click on “Start”. There we select “Options”.

1. Next, click on the “Devices” button.

1. We find ourselves in the required window and here we connect our device.

Via tray shortcut

1. Right-click on the Bluetooth shortcut.

1. Select “Show Bluetooth devices” and find yourself in the menu already shown above. Then both paths converge.

From here you can perform pairing.

Adding third-party devices

1. In the found menu, select the top item - add Bluetooth or other device.

1. In the window that opens, click on the appropriate line.

The laptop will find all available devices and offer to connect to them.

Bluetooth doesn't work: why?

There are three main options here and they are all related to the radio module: there is a problem with its drivers, it is broken or it simply does not exist. To find out the reason, it is better to move according to a specific plan.

Does the laptop have bluetooth?

Unfortunately, the description of the computer written on the website does not always correspond to what the buyer actually receives. The thing is that the manufacturer often reserves the right to change the elements of the device.

To find out whether the module you need is there at all, you need to carefully inspect the case and find the relevant information - most often in the form of a familiar icon. Sometimes it's a small sticker on the front panel. But more often the information is placed on the back wall of the case. However, not all manufacturers consider it necessary to somehow display data externally.

You can also find information in Device Manager:

1. Right-click on “Start” and select “Device Manager”.

1. We look for Bluetooth in the list and, accordingly, make sure of its presence or absence.

Something is wrong with the drivers

This rarely happens on Windows 10, but it's still worth checking.

1. In the “Device Manager” (how to enter is shown in the previous paragraph), expand the “Bluetooth” item.

1. We select the sub-items with the right button and try to update the drivers through automatic search.

If this does not solve the problem, you can try downloading drivers from the manufacturer's website on the page for the desired model and installing them manually.

Module damaged

If Bluetooth was already working or the user is simply confident that it is there, but nothing helps, the adapter is probably damaged. The only option is to contact customer service.

Conclusion

Bluetooth is sometimes just a necessary feature. Moreover, most often it may be needed at the most unexpected moment. Therefore, it is better to figure out in advance how it turns on. Thanks to optimization of the operating system, this can now be done in just a few clicks!

Video instruction

If you have any problems turning on Bluetooth, or it’s simply more convenient to watch and act synchronously than to read, it’s worth watching the video with detailed instructions.

Now almost all modern laptops and computers are equipped with a Bluetooth function, and if not, you can buy a Bluetooth adapter yourself. I sometimes use Bluetooth on my laptop to transfer or receive photos and other files from phones or other devices. And recently I wanted to transfer a photo from my phone to my laptop via bluetooth and, strangely enough, I couldn’t detect the laptop’s bluetooth. Usually a reboot helps eliminate errors, and I immediately rebooted the phone and laptop, but unfortunately there was no result. Since this was the first time I encountered such a problem, I was not immediately able to find where the bluetooth settings were located on the computer and it took me a lot of time to search. I don’t know why bluetooth disappeared on the laptop, I didn’t turn it off in the settings and no one uses it except me, I think a possible reason is Windows updates, which I recently installed. Below I will describe how to get into Bluetooth settings on Windows and you can activate it yourself.

So that turn on bluetooth on your computer With Windows, do the following steps:
Open “Settings”, to do this we move the mouse pointer to the lower right corner of the screen and see how a menu opens on the side where we select the gear-shaped icon with the description “Settings”.
Next, in the menu that opens, we find the item “Change computer settings”, usually this line is at the very bottom.
Now in the settings select “Computer and devices”.
We see the “Bluetooth” item and go to it.
We turn on Bluetooth on the laptop by moving the slider or checking the box, after which the search for available Bluetooth devices will begin. There you can also delete unnecessary found saved devices. Now you can find your computer or laptop via Bluetooth, transfer or receive files.

• I hope you found where to enable bluetooth in windows settings.
• We will be glad if you leave feedback, useful tips or additions to the article.
• Perhaps your review will help solve problems with bluetooth on your computer!
• Thank you for your responsiveness, mutual assistance and useful advice!

The Bluetooth wireless network is still relevant when you urgently need to exchange data between different devices without resorting to wired methods of transmitting information and the Internet. Bluetooth may also be activated on your computer, but it is not always built in initially, unlike laptops. If you are the owner of a laptop, then you have Bluetooth; if you are a computer, then this fact requires checking. In this article, you will learn how to detect Bluetooth on your computer, turn it on, and how to install Bluetooth if it is not on your computer. Take note of these methods.

How to check for Bluetooth on a computer

• First you need to find out if you have a built-in Bluetooth adapter. Go to Start and then Control Panel.

• Select the “Hardware and Sound” section by clicking on it.

• In the window that opens, select the “Device Manager” subsection in the “Devices and Printers” category.

• Wait a few seconds for the Device Manager window to open.
• In it you need to carefully look for the line “Radio modules” or “Bluetooth radio modules”. If you have such a line in the manager, then your computer has built-in Bluetooth.

• In one of the lines you can see the name of the adapter. This is where you need to look for drivers if you need them.

• If there is no such line, then try opening the “Network adapters” line. It may also include Bluetooth.
• So, if you find Bluetooth on your computer, then you need to install the drivers and start using it. If not, you will have to buy a special USB module.

• You can install drivers on your laptop’s website or simply by searching the Internet for the name of the Bluetooth adapter.

How to enable built-in Bluetooth on a computer

• Just type the word “Bluetooth” into the search bar in Start.

• Now a wireless network icon will appear in the tray, through which all settings and parameters of the adapter will be available to you. Right-click on it.

• Now click “Open Settings” to configure Bluetooth or “Show Bluetooth Devices” to see what devices are already connected to you.

• In the settings, select the main tab called “Settings”, check the box next to “Allow Bluetooth devices to detect this computer.” Without this setting, no nearby devices will be able to transfer files to you or even see your computer.
• Uncheck the box when you are done using Bluetooth, as other users may mistakenly send you unnecessary files or even access some documents.
• Configure other settings on this page, for example, it is better to check the box next to the line “Notify when a new Bluetooth device is connected” so that you can see who wants to connect to you.

How to install Bluetooth on a computer

If you don't have a built-in adapter, the easiest way is to buy a special USB module. It looks like a regular memory card. The principle of operation is as follows:

• You insert the module into your computer.
• The drivers are downloaded automatically, wait until they are installed.
• Bluetooth turns on. You can use the device.

This module is very convenient, as it allows you to carry Bluetooth with you and use it on any computer or laptop. Don't forget to turn off the USB module when you no longer need the wireless network.

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