Check Whether Your PC Has Bluetooth Built In

Before you can turn on Bluetooth, your computer needs to have a Bluetooth radio—a small chip that sends and receives wireless signals. Many modern laptops have this built in, but most desktop computers do not. The fastest way to find out is to look in your system settings.

On Windows, open Settings, then go to Bluetooth & devices (or Devices on older versions). If you see a Bluetooth toggle or a list of Bluetooth devices, your PC has it. If the page is blank or the option does not exist, your computer does not have Bluetooth hardware. On a Mac, open System Settings, click Bluetooth in the sidebar, and you will see whether Bluetooth is available.

If your PC does not have Bluetooth, you can buy a USB Bluetooth adapter—a small dongle that plugs into a USB port and adds Bluetooth capability. These cost between $10 and $30 and work with both Windows and Mac.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows PCs turn on Bluetooth through Settings > Bluetooth & devices, where you toggle it on and then pair your device.
  • Mac computers use System Settings > Bluetooth, and pairing happens automatically when you hold down the pairing button on your device.
  • Desktop computers usually need a USB Bluetooth adapter because they do not have Bluetooth built in.
  • Once Bluetooth is on, your PC will remember paired devices and reconnect to them automatically when they are nearby.
  • If Bluetooth does not appear in your settings, your computer does not have the hardware, and you will need an external adapter.

Turn On Bluetooth on Windows

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings," then pressing Enter. Click Bluetooth & devices in the left sidebar (on Windows 10, this may be labeled Devices). At the top of the page, you will see a toggle switch next to "Bluetooth." Click it to turn Bluetooth on. The toggle will turn blue and the status will change to "On."

Once Bluetooth is on, Windows will start scanning for nearby devices. You should see a section labeled Paired devices or Available devices. If you do not see your device listed yet, make sure it is powered on and in pairing mode—usually this means holding down a button on the device for three to five seconds until a light blinks. Then click Add device or Pair new device at the top of the Bluetooth page.

A window will pop up showing devices Windows has found. Click the name of your device—a speaker, headphones, mouse, or keyboard. Windows will pair with it automatically, and you should see it move to the "Paired devices" section. The device is now ready to use.

Turn On Bluetooth on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings. In the sidebar, click Bluetooth. You will see a toggle switch at the top that says "Bluetooth: Off." Click it to turn Bluetooth on. The status will change to "Bluetooth: On" and the toggle will turn blue.

Make sure your device is powered on and in pairing mode. On most devices, you hold down the power button or a dedicated pairing button for three to five seconds until a light blinks. Mac will automatically detect nearby devices and show them in a list. Click the name of your device, and Mac will pair with it right away. Once pairing is complete, the device will appear in the "My Devices" section and will reconnect automatically when you turn it on.

Troubleshoot If Bluetooth Will Not Turn On

If the Bluetooth toggle is grayed out or will not respond when you click it, restart your computer first. This fixes the problem about half the time. After the restart, go back to Settings and try turning Bluetooth on again.

If Bluetooth still will not turn on, check whether your computer is in Airplane Mode. On Windows, open Settings and go to Network & internet, then click Airplane mode. Make sure the toggle is off. On Mac, click the Control Center icon in the top-right corner and check that Airplane Mode is not enabled. Airplane Mode disables all wireless radios, including Bluetooth.

If Bluetooth is still not working after you disable Airplane Mode and restart, your Bluetooth hardware may be faulty or the driver may be corrupted. On Windows, you can try updating the driver: open Device Manager, find Bluetooth in the list, right-click it, and select Update driver. On Mac, this is less common, but you can try restarting in Safe Mode by holding Shift while your computer boots.

Pair a New Device After Bluetooth Is On

Once Bluetooth is turned on, pairing a device is straightforward. Put your device into pairing mode—this usually means holding down a button on the device until a light blinks or you hear a tone. The exact method varies by device, so check the manual if you are unsure.

On Windows, click Add device in the Bluetooth settings. Windows will scan for nearby devices and show a list. Click your device's name. On Mac, your device should appear automatically in the Bluetooth menu. Click it to pair. Both systems will show a confirmation message when pairing is complete.

After pairing, your PC will remember the device. The next time you turn on the device and it is in range, your PC will reconnect to it automatically. You do not need to pair again unless you unpair the device or reset it to factory settings.

Manage Paired Devices and Disconnect

On Windows, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices and scroll down to Paired devices. You will see all the devices your PC remembers. To disconnect a device temporarily, click it and select Disconnect. To remove it permanently so your PC will not reconnect, click it and select Remove device.

On Mac, open System Settings > Bluetooth and look for your device in the list. Click the X next to it to disconnect or unpair. If you want to disconnect without unpairing, you can straightforward turn off the device or move it out of range. Mac will reconnect automatically when the device is turned back on.

You can pair as many devices as you want, but your PC can usually only use one Bluetooth device at a time. For example, if you have both Bluetooth headphones and a Bluetooth mouse paired, you can use the mouse while listening to audio, but you cannot connect two Bluetooth speakers simultaneously.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Bluetooth device keep disconnecting?

Bluetooth has a range of about 30 feet, but walls and other electronics can interfere. Move closer to your PC and away from microwaves, cordless phones, and Wi-Fi routers. If the problem persists, try unpairing the device and pairing it again. On Windows, also check that your Bluetooth driver is up to date in Device Manager.

Can I use Bluetooth on a desktop PC without buying an adapter?

No, desktop computers almost never have Bluetooth built in. You will need a USB Bluetooth adapter. These are inexpensive and plug into any USB port. Once plugged in, Windows or Mac will recognize it automatically, and you can turn on Bluetooth in Settings just as you would on a laptop.

How do I know if my device is in pairing mode?

Most devices show a blinking light or play a tone when in pairing mode. Check your device's manual for the exact signal. Pairing mode usually lasts 30 seconds to two minutes, so if you do not see your device in the Bluetooth scan, try putting it in pairing mode again and scanning when ready.

Will turning on Bluetooth drain my laptop battery?

Bluetooth uses very little power compared to Wi-Fi or your screen. Leaving Bluetooth on will reduce battery life by a small amount, but the difference is usually less than 5 percent. If battery life is critical, you can turn Bluetooth off when you are not using it.

Can I connect multiple Bluetooth devices at the same time?

You can pair many devices, but most PCs can only actively use one at a time. For example, you cannot use two Bluetooth speakers simultaneously. However, you can use a Bluetooth mouse and Bluetooth headphones together because they serve different purposes. If you need to switch between devices, you can disconnect one and connect another in Settings.