To begin with, 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 have to introduce USB adapters which are required for desktop computers. Since there is simply no built-in module there. 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 Windows 10, Windows 8 (8.1) and Windows 7. I will also show you how to configure the wireless module and connect different devices to the 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 an 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 do not rush to go to the manufacturer's website and download drivers. It is possible that you already have everything installed and working. Especially if you have Windows 10. As a rule, it installs the necessary drivers by itself. Then you just need to turn on Bluetooth in the laptop settings and you can use it.
Where can I find Bluetooth on my laptop and how to turn it on?
Most likely, you already have everything included and everything works. Regardless of the Windows installed, if the Bluetooth driver is installed, then there will be a blue "Bluetooth devices" icon on the notification bar. This means that it is turned on and ready to go. Check on your laptop. In rare cases, this icon may be disabled in the 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:
- Bluetooth is disabled on the laptop and needs to be enabled.
- Removed the BT icon itself from the notification bar.
- Or the required driver is not installed.
Let's try to enable.
BT in Windows 10
The easiest way is to open the action center and click on the appropriate button.
Or go to the parameters, then to the "Devices" section, and on the "Bluetooth and other devices" tab, enable the module with the slider.
For Windows 10, I wrote a separate article: how to enable and configure Bluetooth on a laptop with Windows 10. After that, an icon should appear in the notification bar, 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.
If your device is turned on and searchable, it will appear in the list of devices available for connection. We select it and connect it to the laptop. You can look at an example of connecting Bluetooth headphones.
Turn on Bluetooth on a laptop with Windows 8 and 8.1
Open the side panel (you can use the Windows key + C keyboard shortcut) and select "Options". Then click on "Change computer settings". Go to the "Bluetooth" section and turn on the module with the switch.
Windows will start looking for available devices to connect to.
An icon should appear on the notification bar, through which you can manage connections.
How to activate Bluetooth in Windows 7?
If there is no blue icon in the notification bar, then go to "Network and Sharing Center" - "Change adapter settings" and see if there is a "Bluetooth Network Connection" adapter there. If not, then install the driver for your laptop model, or check for the adapter in the device manager (about this below in the article). And if there is, then see if it is turned on. It may need to be turned on on the laptop.
How to connect the device?
Click on the "Bluetooth" icon and select "Add device ..."
A new window will open in which to 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 "Bluetooth Adapter" properties 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 laptop?
If you cannot find Bluetooth on the laptop, there are no settings, adapter, buttons, icons, etc., then most likely the necessary drivers are not installed. You need to go to the device manager and check it. Or maybe you just need to use the BT adapter.
Open Device Manager. You can right-click on "My Computer" and select "Properties." In a new window, go to "Device Manager". Or press the keyboard shortcut Win + R and execute the commanddevmgmt.msc.
There you should see the "Bluetooth" section (in Windows 7 it may be called differently), in which the module itself will be (the name may also be different). On my laptop like this:
If it is, but with an "arrow" (the icon next to the adapter), then just right-click on it and select "Enable".
Perhaps you don't have anything similar to Bluetooth in your device manager. In this case, you need to download and install the driver.
Go to the official website of your laptop manufacturer. Find your model through the search (or menu), and in the "Support", "Downloads", etc., download the driver for the Bluetooth module. Install it, reboot your laptop, and after that everything should work.
