- 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 pair and disconnect a Bluetooth device to a smartphone
- Pair a Bluetooth device with an Android
- Put your device (earbuds, headphones, etc.) in pairing or discoverable mode
- Turn on pairing on your smartphone
- Pair a Bluetooth device with an iPhone
- Put your device (earbuds, headphones, etc.) in pairing mode
- Turn on pairing on your smartphone
- Disconnect a Bluetooth device from Android
- Disconnect a Bluetooth device from iPhone
- Related information
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 pair and disconnect a Bluetooth device to a smartphone
Most electronic devices that communicate with other devices now have a Bluetooth connection. These include speakers, headphones, earphones, smartphones, and smartwatches. The following page shows you how to pair and disconnect said devices to and from a media source.
Select your type of smartphone and the action you want to perform from the list below, and follow the instructions.
Pair a Bluetooth device with an Android
Pair your device with your Android phone using the steps below. For this example, we are pairing Boltune earbuds with an Android phone.
As Android phones vary from model to model, the steps below may vary slightly for yours. Be sure to read the owner’s manual for the exact pairing steps.
Put your device (earbuds, headphones, etc.) in pairing or discoverable mode
- Press and hold the power button on the device for 5 to 10 seconds until the lights flash, indicating the device is in pairing mode. This light is usually red and blue, blue and white, or red and white lights quickly flashing together.
If your device doesn’t have a power button, navigate to its settings and locate the Bluetooth section for instructions on entering pairing mode.
- If it’s an audio device, like speakers, earbuds, or headphones, it confirms by audibly saying «pairing.» If it’s a device with a screen, it shows «pairing» or similar wording.
Turn on pairing on your smartphone
Swipe down twice from the top of the phone’s screen, and in the Quick Settings area, tap and hold Bluetooth.
- If a notification appears with the text «Allow access to your contacts and call history,» tap the checkbox (A), and then tap Pair (B).
- If the paired device is an audio device, like speakers, earbuds, or headphones, it confirms the connection by saying «connected.» If it’s a device with a screen, it shows «connected» or similar wording.
Pair a Bluetooth device with an iPhone
Pair your new device with your iPhone using the steps below. For this example, we are pairing Boltune earbuds with an iPhone.
For most iPhone models, the steps below are similar but slightly vary. Be sure to read the owner’s manual for the iPhone you’re pairing for the exact steps.
Put your device (earbuds, headphones, etc.) in pairing mode
- Press and hold the power button for several seconds, sometimes 10 seconds or longer, until the lights flash, indicating pairing mode. This light is usually red and blue, blue and white, or red and white lights quickly flashing together.
If your device doesn’t have a power button, navigate to the device’s settings and locate the Bluetooth section for instructions on entering pairing mode.
- If it’s an audio device, like speakers, earbuds, or headphones, it confirms by saying «pairing.» If it’s a device with a screen, it shows «pairing» or similar wording.
Turn on pairing on your smartphone
- If the paired device is audio, like speakers, earbuds, or headphones, it confirms the connection by audibly saying «connected.» If it’s a device with a screen, it shows «connected» or similar wording.
- The device now appears under My Devices.
Disconnect a Bluetooth device from Android
To disconnect a Bluetooth device from your Android smartphone, follow the steps below.
Swipe down twice from the top of the phone’s screen, and in the Quick Settings area, tap and hold the Bluetooth option.
- Tap Disconnect to temporarily disconnect the device (A), or tap Forget to remove the device permanently (B).
- If you choose Forget, a message might pop up on your phone asking to confirm forgetting the device. Tap Forget device in that pop-up message.
- An audio device, like speakers, earbuds, or headphones, confirms the disconnection by audibly saying «disconnected.» If it’s a device with a screen, it shows «disconnected» or similar wording.
Disconnect a Bluetooth device from iPhone
To disconnect a Bluetooth device from your iPhone, follow the steps below.
- Locate the device you want to disconnect.
- To the right of Connected, tap the icon.
- Tap Disconnect to temporarily disconnect it (A), or tap Forget This Device to remove it permanently (B).
- An audio device, like speakers, earbuds, or headphones, confirms the disconnection by audibly saying «disconnected.» If it’s a device with a screen, it shows «disconnected» or similar wording.