Devices which are bluetooth enabled

Does Your PC or Mac Have Bluetooth? 4 Ways to Check

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, 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.

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Do you want to know if your computer has Bluetooth? Bluetooth is a short-range radio technology that allows electronic devices to transfer data over short distances. Bluetooth allows you to connect wireless headphones, game controllers, and other accessories to your computer and mobile devices. Bluetooth has become the standard that most electronic devices use to communicate with other devices. [1] X Research source Most modern computers come with Bluetooth already installed. However, some older computer models may not have Bluetooth. This wikiHow article teaches you how to find out if your computer has Bluetooth and how to add it if it does not.

• Bluetooth is the standard that is used to connect wireless devices to your computer, smartphone, or other devices.
• Most modern computers have Bluetooth and Bluetooth drivers pre-installed. Some older computers may not have Bluetooth.
• If your computer does not have Bluetooth, you can add it using a USB Bluetooth dongle, or Bluetooth PCI card.

Using a Windows PC

• Alternatively, you can click the Windows Start menu or click the search bar and type «Device Manager.»

Click Device Manager . It’s in the context menu that appears when you right-click the Windows Start menu.

Look for the «Bluetooth» heading. If you find a «Bluetooth» heading near the top of the window (e.g., in the «B» section), your computer has built-in Bluetooth capabilities.

Look under «Network Adapters.» If you don’t see the Bluetooth heading, you may still have a Bluetooth device listed under Network Adapters. Click the right-facing triangle icon next to «Network Adapters» to see a list of all network adapters on your computer. Look for a network adapter with «Bluetooth» in the title. If you do not see one, your computer likely does not have a Bluetooth adapter installed. [2] X Research source

• Windows 10: Click the Windows Start button, followed by Settings. Click Devices, followed by Bluetooth & other devices. Click the toggle switch next to «Bluetooth» to turn Bluetooth on and off.
• Windows 11: Click the Windows Start button followed by Settings. Click Bluetooth & devices. Click the toggle switch next to «Bluetooth» to turn Bluetooth on and off.

Using a Mac

Confirm that your Mac has Bluetooth. If you see the «Bluetooth» sub-heading, click once the heading to select it. If clicking the heading displays Bluetooth information in the right-hand side of the window, your Mac has Bluetooth capabilities; if not, your Mac doesn’t allow Bluetooth use. [4] X Research source

• Click the Apple icon in the upper-right corner of your desktop.
• Click System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions of macOS).
• Click Bluetooth in the menu to the left, or in the System Preferences menu.
• Click Turn Bluetooth on.

Using a Linux PC

sudo lsusb |grep Bluetooth

Enter your password. When prompted, type in the password you use to log into your computer, then press Enter.

• If you see a blank line appear, Bluetooth isn’t installed on your computer.
• Keep in mind that some versions of Linux don’t support built-in Bluetooth adapters.

Enable Bluetooth. If your computer has Bluetooth, but your devices aren’t connecting, check to make sure Bluetooth is enabled. Most Linux distributions have a Bluetooth icon in the panel or taskbar. Click the Bluetooth icon and select the option to turn Bluetooth on. You can also use the following command to enable Bluetooth from within the Terminal: [5] X Research source

sudo systemctl enable bluetooth

Adding Bluetooth to a Computer

• Once you plug in the Bluetooth dongle, you can easily connect Bluetooth devices to your computer using the Bluetooth menu.
• Even if your computer has Bluetooth, you may be able to use a Bluetooth dongle to upgrade to a newer version of Bluetooth, such as Bluetooth 5.0.
• If you are using an older version of Windows that doesn’t have Bluetooth drivers, or you are using a Bluetooth dongle to upgrade your Bluetooth, you may need to install the Bluetooth drivers for your Bluetooth dongle. You can download the drivers from the manufacturer’s website of your Bluetooth dongle, or you can install them using the disk that came with the Bluetooth dongle.

• If you have a free PCI slot in your computer, you will need to open your computer case and install the Bluetooth card in a free PCI slot inside your computer tower.
• If you are using a laptop, you will need to check to make sure your laptop has expandable slots for new hardware. If it does, you will need to take the bottom panel off of your laptop and install the mini-PCI card in the communications port of your laptop.
• If you have an older computer that doesn’t have Bluetooth drivers, you may need to install them. You can download the Bluetooth drivers from the manufacturer’s website of your Bluetooth card, or you can use the disk that came with your Bluetooth card.

Community Q&A

The «dongle» is a hardware device that plugs into a USB port. In order to use your Bluetooth, the dongle must be plugged into the USB port, however if you need the USB port for another function, and don’t need the Bluetooth function, the dongle may be removed from the port; disabling the Bluetooth function. When you need the Bluetooth again, plug it back into an empty USB and it should reactivate.

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This depends on your laptop hardware and whether it came with built-in Bluetooth. If you have the hardware capabilities, Windows 10 includes the software to allow you to use Bluetooth, which you can find in Control Panel. If your notebook did not come with Bluetooth, you can purchase a USB adapter, which will allow you to use its capabilities.

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How to Turn On or Fix Bluetooth in Windows 10

Steve Larner Steve Larner Steve Larner carries over ten years of content management, editing, and writing experience in a wide variety of industries. As a tech enthusiast, Steve also enjoys exploring new products and devices and helping others solve their technological problems. Read more October 15, 2022

If nothing has worked so far, try using “Device Manager” to see if Bluetooth is listed. Take note that your PC may support Bluetooth functionality and still not show up in the devices list. That scenario occurs when there is no Bluetooth driver set up for the external adaptor or internal component. However, internal Bluetooth devices generally get detected, whether installed or not.

1. Click on the Cortana search bar and type “Device Manager,” and select it from the list.
   
2. Look for Bluetooth entries in “Device Manager.” If you see them, then the PC supports Bluetooth, but it may not be working correctly. Bluetooth locations in “Device Manager” include Bluetooth, Network adapters, and Other devices. If the item and driver are not listed, move on to step 3.
   
3. As previously mentioned, your PC can still support Bluetooth and not show it in Device Manager. In that case, you need to install the appropriate driver.
   

If you find a Bluetooth device within Device Manager and you still can’t turn it on, the issue lies elsewhere.

Update the Bluetooth Driver

Whenever a feature on a Windows computer doesn’t work, you should always look for updates. Like most components, Bluetooth adapters need software to work, and Windows 10 updates have been known to break device drivers and functionality.

Drivers are updated either manually or automatically. The manual method might be a bit tedious, but it will do the job. Just find out which Bluetooth device your computer is using (from the Device Manager). Then, search the name of the device and download the drivers from the official website.

Alternatively, you can download a third-party program that automatically downloads any missing drivers to your computer. These services are often paid options. However, be careful if you choose third-party software. Some programs are more apt to install the wrong driver. Back up your system drivers (at the least) before using the software to update your system components.

After installing the drivers (one way or another), restart your computer and try turning the Bluetooth on again.

Re-Enabling the Bluetooth Software

Sometimes, system errors occur that cause components to stop working correctly. This situation often happens with Bluetooth components, and the best course of action is to give the devices a “wakeup call.”

1. Go to “Device Manager” and find your Bluetooth component.
2. Right-click it and select “Disable device.”
3. Now, right-click the entry again and select “Enable device.”
4. Restart your computer and try turning on Bluetooth again.

If enabling and disabling fails to solve your Bluetooth problem, try uninstalling the driver instead. Sometimes, a fresh installation is all the device needs. Don’t worry, as this won’t mess up the device or make it disappear from the list unless you choose to delete the driver.

Bluetooth Support Service

Now, we’re going to have to delve a bit deeper. If none of the above solutions worked, it’s time to use the “Run” feature.

1. Hold down the “Windows” key and press “R” to bring up the “Run” window.
   
2. Type “services.msc” without quotes in the command box, and then press “Enter” or click “OK.”
   
3. A new window will appear with a list of entries. Right-click on “Bluetooth Support Service” and select “Start.” If you can’t click the Start option, choose “Restart.”
   
4. Unless you want to repeat the process above every time you start your computer, there’s one more step to take. In the “Services” window, click “Bluetooth Support Service” again. Navigate to “Startup type“ found in the “General” tab and select “Automatic.” Click “Apply” and then “OK” if needed.
   

What Else Can Cause Bluetooth Failure?

Although one or more of the above methods generally solve Bluetooth problems in Windows 10, there’s a small chance that you’re still struggling to get Bluetooth to work. In this case, contacting the manufacturer or your retailer would be your best bet. If not, getting a USB Bluetooth adapter should help.

Sometimes, it’s as simple as forgetting to install or adequately reattach the Bluetooth board/device when performing a laptop or desktop teardown, whether for cleaning or repairs. That scenario would cause Bluetooth to disappear from the Device Manager and make it not work.

Turning On Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a simple feature on Windows computers. However, that’s usually not the case. There’s a whole lot that can go wrong with it, from hardware to software issues. Before doing anything else, check if your computer supports Bluetooth in the first place (many older ones don’t) and update the software. Most likely, at least one of the methods should work.

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