How to Turn On Bluetooth

Many devices utilize Bluetooth as the connection of choice when communicating with other devices. Bluetooth can be a great way to transfer data and files between devices quickly, but sometimes you can’t find out how to turn Bluetooth on.

We’ll show you how to turn on Bluetooth on the most commonly used devices that support it.

How to Turn On Bluetooth on Windows 10

Windows 10 has an easy way to use Bluetooth. Follow these steps:

1. Select the Start button.
   
2. Open Settings (the Cog icon in the Start menu).
   
3. Go to Devices.
   
4. In the “Bluetooth & other devices” tab, you will find the Bluetooth power switch. Please turn it on or off as desired.
   

Note that your device needs a working Bluetooth adapter for this setting to show up. Laptops usually have one by default.

How to Turn On Bluetooth on Mac

On a Mac device, turning on Bluetooth is just as simple. Follow these steps:

1. On the Mac, click the Bluetooth icon on the Menu bar.
   
2. Choose the turn the Bluetooth on or off.
   

If your Mac doesn’t have a menu icon for Bluetooth, you can locate one:

1. Choose Apple Menu.
   
2. Select Preferences.
   
3. Click Bluetooth.
   
4. Select “Show Bluetooth in menu bar.”
   

If your device uses an external Bluetooth adapter, the icon won’t show up on the menu. To turn Bluetooth off while using an external device, unplug it.

How to Turn On Bluetooth on Chromebook

To turn on Bluetooth on a Chromebook, follow these steps:

1. At the bottom right, select Time.
   
2. Locate the Bluetooth icon.
   
3. If it is off, select On.
   
   

If you do not see a Bluetooth icon when selecting Time, your Chromebook does not work with Bluetooth. You will need to find another way to connect your device to a Chromebook or obtain an external Bluetooth adapter to do the trick.

How to Turn On Bluetooth on an iPhone

To Turn on Bluetooth on your iPhone, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app.
   
2. Tap on Bluetooth.
   
3. Tap the switch on Bluetooth to turn it on. If it’s green, your Bluetooth is on.
   

Alternatively, you can:

1. Swipe up from the top-right of your screen to open the Control center (users of older model iPhones will need to swipe up from the bottom).
2. Tap on the Bluetooth icon.

In this screenshot, we recognize that the Bluetooth is on because it is blue. If it was off, the icon would be grey.

Once your Bluetooth is on, you can look at the Bluetooth menu in your Settings to pair with the device you want.

How to Turn On Bluetooth on an Android device

Turning on Bluetooth on Android is similar to using an iPhone. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app.
   
2. Tap on Bluetooth.
   
3. Tap the Bluetooth slider on the menu. If it’s blue or green, your Bluetooth is on.
   
4. Once you’re in this menu, you can look for devices to pair with your Android.
   

Alternatively, you can:

1. Swipe down from the top of your screen.
   
2. If you don’t see the Bluetooth icon in the control menu, swipe down again.
3. Tap the Bluetooth icon.
   
4. Pressing the small triangle next to Bluetooth will forward you to the devices menu such that you can pair up easily.
   

How to Turn On Bluetooth on Samsung TV

Some newer TV models, especially Samsung TVs, come with Bluetooth capabilities. To check if your TV has Bluetooth support, follow these steps:

1. If your TV has a Smart Remote, there’s nothing you need to do. Your TV has Bluetooth.
2. Open the TV Menu. You can do this by pressing the Home button on your remote.
   
3. Go to Sound.
   
4. Go to Sound Output.
   
5. If the list contains an item such as “Bluetooth Speakers” or “Bluetooth Audio,” your TV supports Bluetooth.
   
6. You will need to go back to Sound on slightly older TVs, then go to Additional Settings or Expert Settings.

If you want to pair a keyboard, speakers, or a mouse to your Samsung TV, the process is slightly different:

1. Navigate to the Source menu on your remote.
2. Select “Connection Guide.”
3. From there, select Bluetooth.
4. Your TV should bring up instructions to pair your device.

Once you’ve connected your Speakers to your TV, you need to go back to the Sound menu and select the paired speakers as your primary device. For input devices such as keyboards or mice, the pairing is automatic from the list of devices.

How to Turn On Bluetooth on Windows 7

To find and enable Bluetooth on Windows 7, follow these steps:

1. Open the Start menu.
   
2. In the search bar, type in “Bluetooth.”
   
3. Open the Bluetooth settings that show up as a result of the search.
   
4. In the Options tab, locate the Discovery menu.
   
5. Check the option named “Allow Bluetooth devices to find this computer.”
   
6. Select Apply, then click Ok.
   

Additionally, you can check the Connections settings on the same tab to allow devices to connect and inform you when something wants to access your computer via Bluetooth. You will need to Apply these settings as well.

The Bluetooth icon will appear on your taskbar or in your taskbar’s hidden items menu (look for the arrow). From there, you can access the Bluetooth settings menu to turn Bluetooth off.

Turning On Bluetooth on Your Laptop

With laptops that have Bluetooth built-in, you can access Bluetooth directly through your keyboard. Look for the Bluetooth icon on your keyboard and press the button or button combination corresponding to it to turn on your Bluetooth. Usually, this button is in the row of F keys above the keyboard, and you may need to press the Fn button first. However, this can differ based on your laptop configuration and settings, so make sure you look properly.

If your laptop is not on a charger, you may want to turn off Bluetooth to preserve battery life.

Pairing with Other Devices

Once you’re in the Bluetooth menu of your device, you can change the name of your device for Bluetooth connection purposes. Changing the Bluetooth name to something simple will help you find it when trying to connect to other devices.

Pairing two devices via Bluetooth is simple. Enable Bluetooth on both devices (for some input devices that’s enabled by default or with a switch), then find one device’s name on the other’s Bluetooth device menu. Once you’ve selected the device that you want to pair with, the rest of the process is automatic.

What to Do If I Don’t Have Bluetooth?

If your Bluetooth is on but doesn’t work, try restarting your device. Usually, that will fix any temporary problems.

If your device isn’t discoverable, make sure you read the manual that came with it properly. For a PC, consult the Bluetooth menu. For a cellphone, make sure Bluetooth is on.

If you’re having trouble connecting your device, make sure that you change its pairing name to something easily recognizable.

However, if your device doesn’t support Bluetooth, there’s only one option left. You have to buy an external Bluetooth adapter. Luckily, there are many options to choose from.

For a computer, they will usually be in the form of a USB stick that you can plug into your PC to enable Bluetooth connectivity. For a TV, you can use either a USB adapter or one that connects via a cable or cables suitable for your TV.

You can even get a Bluetooth adapter in your car! Bluetooth allows you to stream music from your phone while utilizing the powerful speakers of your vehicle. Or you can make phone calls while driving, which, although generally not recommended, is at least a safer method than holding the phone itself.

If you’re using an external adapter, Bluetooth should usually be on by default as long as the adapter is plugged in, but you can access the settings mentioned above to make sure.

Cordless Connectivity

There you have it. You have now learned to enable Bluetooth on all of your favorite devices. Using Bluetooth will save you a lot of trouble with cable management, and it’s just going to look cleaner. Just make sure that your device is Bluetooth-enabled or purchase an adapter of your choice to bridge that problem.

Have you had any problems using Bluetooth? What Bluetooth devices do you use with your PC or Mac? Let us know in the comment section below.