- Pair two Android phones via Bluetooth
- Pair Android phones via Bluetooth
- Make your Android device visible to other phones
- Pair Android phones via Bluetooth
- Pair a Bluetooth device in Windows
- Turn on Bluetooth
- To pair a Bluetooth device
- To pair a Bluetooth printer or scanner
- To pair a Bluetooth device using Swift Pair
- Turn on Bluetooth
- To pair a Bluetooth headset, speaker, or other audio device
- To pair a Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, or other device
- To pair a Bluetooth printer or scanner
- To pair a Bluetooth device using Swift Pair
- Related topics
- How to connect phone to laptop?
- How to use Bluetooth to pair devices?
Pair two Android phones via Bluetooth
We all want to, at one point or another, share a file on our phones with others. This can be done easily when both phones can be connected to the internet or an intermediate device, like a PC, Mac or router. If you are on the go or some where without Wi-Fi or any computer, how can you share data and files on the phone? Bluetooth is the answer. It provides us an easy and fast solution for short range wireless connectivity and data exchange. It is rare when you find a smartphone that doesn’t contain the Bluetooth technology nowadays. Today, we will discuss how you can quickly pair two Android mobile phones through Bluetooth.
Pair Android phones via Bluetooth
To transfer files from one phone to another using Bluetooth, you must pair one Android phone with the other first. To turn on Bluetooth on Samsung phone, you can go Apps >> Settings >> Bluetooth. You can enable Bluetooth on Samsung phone from there. Then you will see a list of available devices. Nearby devices will display on the screen. If the Samsung phone does not automatically detect the other Android phone. Go to turn on Bluetooth on the other phone, then tap Scan button from the bottom of the Bluetooth devices management screen on Samsung phone to search and find the other phone again.
Make your Android device visible to other phones
If you want to pair a Bluetooth device with a Samsung Galaxy phone, you may also need to make your Samsung phone visible so other devices can find it. Go to the Bluetooth management screen on Samsung mobile phone, tap More options >> Visibility timeout. Then choose a time period for your device to remain visible. Or when you see your Samsung phone is only visible to paired devices under the My Device section, tap your Samsung phone name so your phone will be visible to all nearby devices for a certain period of time. You should initiate the pairing as soon as possible after you turn on visibility.
On the other phone, you also need to enable Bluetooth. The steps are very similar. In this demo, we will use an HTC smartphone to show how to pair two Android phones via Bluetooth. Unlock the HTC phone screen, open Settings, you should find Bluetooth option right below the Wi-Fi or WLAN entry. Touch the ON/OFF toggle to turn on Bluetooth on HTC mobile. Tap Bluetooth to see a list of all available Bluetooth devices.
Pair Android phones via Bluetooth
Touch “Scan” or “Scan for devices” on Samsung or HTC, if you can’t find one phone from the other. And make sure to have made your Android phones visible to all others following instructions included at last paragraph. When you can discover each other on the phones’ Bluetooth management screen, you can initiate the Bluetooth pairing.
Find the name of your other mobile phone displayed in the Bluetooth devices section, tap the phone name. Your current phone will then automatically tries to pair with the other phone. A “Bluetooth pairing request” will be sent from the first phone to the second with the PIN/PASSKEY. Make sure the PIN or Passkey is correct on the other Android phone, and accept the connection request, thus both Android devices are connected via Bluetooth.
Once the phones are paired through Bluetooth, you can send pictures, videos, music, apps and other files from one phone to another wirelessly through Bluetooth. All Android phones should come with a File Manager, you can go there to find any files saved on your phone, then tap Menu >> Share >> Bluetooth, select the Bluetooth device you want to share the file with. To send pictures and videos from one phone to another via Bluetooth, you can run the Gallery app, tap and hold the pictures/videos you want to share, touch Share >> Bluetooth, select the Bluetooth device you want to share the file with.
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:
- In Settings: Select Start >Settings >Bluetooth & devices , and then turn on Bluetooth .
- In quick settings: To find the quick setting for Bluetooth, select the Network, Sound, or Battery icons ( ) next to the time and date on the right side of your taskbar. Select Bluetooth to turn it on. If it’s turned on without any Bluetooth devices connected, it might appear as Not connected .
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.
- On your PC, select the Network , Sound, or Battery icons ( ) next to the time and date on the right side of your taskbar.
- Select Manage Bluetooth devices on the Bluetooth quick setting, then select your device under New devices.
Your Bluetooth device and PC will usually automatically connect anytime the two devices are in range of each other with Bluetooth turned on.
Tip: If you don’t see the Bluetooth device you want displayed in the list, you may need to set the Bluetooth devices discovery setting to Advanced. To learn how, see Fix Bluetooth problems in Windows.
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:
In Settings: 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.
Tip: If you’re a small business owner looking for more information on how to get Microsoft 365 set up, visit Small business help & learning.
Related topics
How to connect phone to laptop?
This article will show you how to connect a phone with a computer via Bluetooth. Once paired, the devices can share information — such as photos, videos, or files — between one another with no need for a network connection.
How to use Bluetooth to pair devices?
The location of the Bluetooth capability can vary between phones, but in most cases, enabling the feature can be done in your phone’s Settings. Android users can turn on Bluetooth by heading to Settings > Wireless & networks > Bluetooth and turning the feature ON. iPhone users can find the Bluetooth feature by going to Settings > Bluetooth and flipping the switch ON.
Once Bluetooth is enabled, it will be visible to other devices with Bluetooth capabilities.
Most recent notebook models come with Bluetooth enabled, but users do have the option of disabling the option if they choose. Check your system settings to disable the feature.
Once Bluetooth is enabled on both devices concerned, it is time to establish the connection.
- Click the Bluetooth icon (represented by two right-facing arrows with a small tail) to display available devices.
- Then, select the device with which you’d like to pair your device.
- The devices will begin the pairing process. You will know when they have «found» each other when the «host» device is prompted for a password.
- Create a password (or use the one given), and insert the password into the prompt on the other device.
Once the devices have paired, you will be able to send files between them.