Before proceeding to the study of the issue itself, let's find out what Bluetooth is and how it works.
What is Bluetooth? This is a module for wireless data transmission. They can be voice, streaming (audio) and regular files. It works in two modes: both as a receiver and as a transmitter. This wireless device is indispensable when transferring files from your smartphone to your computer.
The Bluetooth adapter can come in different revisions or versions, starting with 1.0, which was released in 1998 and had a number of compatibility problems, and ending with version 4.1 with low power consumption and high speed.
In mobile computers, the wireless module reduces the device's battery life. Therefore, manufacturers have provided both hardware and software enable/disable of these modules. Below is an instruction on how to enable the bluetooth adapter on a laptop.
How to check if laptop has bluetooth
You can try to turn devices on or off, puzzle over why it does not work. But it simply may not be in the laptop.
There are several ways to check the availability of a function on a laptop.
- by laptop part number;
- according to the corresponding stickers;
- by the presence of a bluetooth status indicator.
The part number is the full name of the laptop model. For example, if we are talking about ASUS, then it will look something like this: X102BA-DF010H. By entering this number into the search on the manufacturer's website, you can find out if the laptop has this function.
Be careful and carefully check that all letters and numbers match your model. A number with one slightest difference can correspond to a completely different laptop.
Sometimes laptop manufacturers indicate the availability of additional options using stickers. So, a sticker with the bluetooth model and version can be glued to the bottom of the case. If there is such a sticker on the bottom of your computer, then everything is in place.
If there is a small bluetooth logo on the laptop status indicator panel, this is a sure sign that it is present in this laptop. If it is not there, then you need to inspect the keyboard for hot keys for enabling this option. But the surest way is to check by part number, which never lies.
bluetooth in bios
Sometimes, after changing the hardware configuration, after reinstalling the OS, or after other manipulations with the computer, the system does not see wireless devices: neither bluetooth nor Wi-Fi modules. This is a sure sign that these modules are disabled by software through the BIOS.
How to enable bluetooth on a laptop in bios? You can do the following:
- go to BIOS. To do this, hold down the DEL or F2 key when starting the laptop. In the latest versions of laptops, the ESC or F1 keys are used to enter the BIOS;
- check the status of the bluetooth module. Opposite the value of "bluetooth" should be "enable". If it is "disable" - change the value. If it is impossible to turn it on or off in BIOS, it means that it is constantly active. If it is not visible when loading the BIOS, you need to flip through the pages and menus;
- Be sure to save the settings and restart your computer. After that, the OS will detect a new device and request a driver.
Video: How to turn on wifi on an Asus laptop
How to turn on bluetooth on a laptop
First you need to install the drivers provided by the manufacturer. Even if standard drivers are embedded in the system after installing Windows, they may not work correctly with different device models. You need to download drivers only from the official websites of laptop manufacturers.
Standard path:
- in the notification area, click on the oval Bluetooth icon;
- in the menu that opens, click enable / disable Bluetooth.
Ways to turn on
Main tools:
- using hardware buttons;
- using the keyboard;
- through the OS control panel;
- from the command line.
Some laptop models have hardware switches. If it is, you need to move it to the "ON" position. These switches are often found in premium laptops such as the Sony VAIO.
Keyboard shortcut
Almost all laptops are equipped with the FN key, which is always used to access additional features of the laptop. In combination with others, this key can control the speaker volume level, display backlight brightness, and enable or disable optional equipment.
You can turn on bluetooth in a laptop using the FN key combinations + the key with the bluetooth icon. This key is usually F3. Often bluetooth and Wi-Fi are one module. Accordingly, they are also turned on and off together with the FN + F5 key combination. Next, consider how you can enable this module without a keyboard.
How to enable without a keyboard
If the keyboard does not work, the adapter can be turned on without it. Different OS versions provide different ways to programmatically enable wireless devices. Consider the simplest and easiest ways for each operating system. Let's start with the most recent.
In Windows 8.1, this is also very easy.
In Windows 8, this is no more difficult to do:
In Windows 7, the easiest way to monitor the operation of the bluetooth is with the help of factory utilities, which often come with a laptop, or are available for download from the computer manufacturer's website. The interface of such programs is extremely simple, and they do not need an explanation.
It is also convenient to manage the status of the bluetooth adapter using a special icon to the right of the taskbar. By right-clicking on this icon, you can access various modes and features of the adapter. You can turn it on and off, pair it with devices, control data transfer, and more.
If these methods do not help, make sure that the bluetooth module is enabled in the device manager. Also check if the drivers are installed correctly.
For this you need:
- open the control panel;
- in the "Administration" category, go to the "computer management" item. The computer control panel will open;
- by going to the "Device Manager" tab, you can see all the devices and modules running on the computer. Find your Bluetooth device.
If an icon with a question mark or an exclamation mark is drawn next to it, the drivers need to be updated or reinstalled.
It may happen that in nature there is simply no driver for your bluetooth adapter for some older versions of Windows. For example, for XP, many laptop manufacturers do not test or even write drivers. This problem can be circumvented by purchasing an external bluetooth adapter.
Using the command line
You can also manage the status of wireless devices from the command line. But this method is much more complicated than all of the above.
For frequent use, you can simplify this process a little. The command: "devcon enable ID" can be placed in an empty text file, which we then save with the *.bat extension. To enable the adapter, it will be enough to run this file with the command.
If there is no fn button
It is extremely rare for laptops to have no FN button. Without the fn button, controlling a laptop is not so convenient. But, you can turn on Bluetooth without it. You can use software tools from different software vendors.
Some of them:
- Lenovo ReadyComm - for Lenovo laptops;
- ASUS Wireless Console - for ASUS laptops;
- HP Utility Center - a comprehensive utility from HP to manage all devices, including Bluetooth;
- Widcomm, AirShare - paid and free third-party utility.
These programs are extremely easy to use. For example, let's see how bluetooth is turned on through Widcomm software:
- after installing the utility, a shortcut with the Bluetooth logo will appear to the right of the taskbar and on the desktop;
- Right-clicking will open a menu with a lot of options. Among them will be the item "Enable / disable Bluetooth device";
- by clicking on it with the left mouse button, the wireless adapter will turn on.
Also, in the absence of a function key, you can use the methods described above:
- enable via command line;
- activation through the control panel;
- enabling with hardware switches.
Bluetooth can be turned on in several ways. If you are not familiar with the operation of the computer, then use the method that you understand. You should not use the command line and other complex schemes.
If you are using Windows 8, then there should be no problems with launching the bluetooth module. All hardware manufacturers regularly update driver versions for this OS. In addition, the interface and work with Bluetooth are user-friendly and devoid of all sorts of problems.
To begin with, almost every laptop has a built-in Bluetooth module. Not even on the newest models. And this means that Bluetooth on a laptop should work without installing additional devices. I have the USB adapters that are required for desktop computers. Since there is simply no built-in module. 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 set up the wireless module and connect different devices to your 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 installed. As a rule, it installs the necessary drivers on its own. Then you just need to turn on Bluetooth in the laptop settings and you can use it.
Where to find Bluetooth on a laptop and how to turn it on?
Most likely, you already have everything turned on and everything works. Regardless of the installed Windows, if the driver for Bluetooth is installed, then there will be a blue "Bluetooth devices" icon on the notification panel. This means that it is on and ready to go. Check on your laptop. In rare cases, this icon can 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 do not have such an icon, then there are three options:
- Bluetooth on the laptop is disabled 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 turn it on.
BT in Windows 10
The easiest way is to open the notification center and click on the corresponding button.
Or go to the settings, then to the "Devices" section, and on the "Bluetooth and other devices" tab, turn on the module with the slider.
For Windows 10, I wrote a separate article:. After that, an icon should appear on 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.
Turn on Bluetooth on a laptop with Windows 8 and 8.1
Opening the sidebar (you can use the keyboard shortcut Windows + C) and select "Settings". Then click on "Change PC 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 on the notification bar, then go to "Network and Sharing Center" - "Change adapter settings" and see if there is a "Bluetooth Network Connection" adapter. If not, then install the driver for your laptop model, or check for an adapter in the device manager (more on this later in the article). And if there is, then see if it is enabled. It may need to be enabled on the laptop.
How to connect the device?
Click on the "Bluetooth" icon and select "Adding a device..."
A new window will open in which 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 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 a laptop?
If you cannot find Bluetooth on a laptop, there are no settings, an adapter, buttons, icons, etc., then most likely the necessary drivers are not installed. You need to go to 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 the new window, go to "Device Manager". Or press the keyboard shortcut Win+R and run the command devmgmt.msc.
There you should see a "Bluetooth" section. (may be called differently in Windows 7), which will contain the module itself (name may also be different). This is what I have on my laptop:
If it is, but with an "arrow" (icon next to adapter), then just right-click on it and select "Enable".
Perhaps you don't have anything in your device manager that looks like Bluetooth. In this case, you need to download and install the driver.
Go to the official website of your laptop manufacturer. Through the search (or menu), find your model, and in the section "Support", "Downloads", etc., download the driver for the Bluetooth module. Install it, restart your laptop and after that everything should work.
Although technology does not stand still, and many types of wireless networks have been invented for data transmission, Bluetooth is still popular and widely used by users. If you need to transfer any file, picture or document to another device without wires and the Internet, then this type of transfer will definitely suit you, since any phone, tablet or laptop is equipped with it. If you don't have a Bluetooth adapter, you can buy one at any hardware store. The external adapter looks like a flash drive and is easy to carry around. In this article, you will learn how to turn on Bluetooth on a laptop and what to do if it does not turn on.
How to turn on bluetooth on a laptop
If your laptop absolutely has a Bluetooth adapter and its drivers are up to date, then the procedure will be quick and not take much time.
Open the tray of the laptop, where most of the icons are located for quick access. Bluetooth always has the same icon that is familiar to everyone - it is an angular white letter "B" on a blue background. If you have it, but it glows red, the wireless network is disabled.
- Right-click on the icon and click "Enable Adapter".
- Wait a few seconds and the adapter will turn on. From now on, you can use Bluetooth on your laptop.
What to do if bluetooth does not turn on
However, you may not have found the desired Bluetooth icon in the tray, or you are not at all sure that such a function is on your laptop. To make sure, follow the algorithm below.
- First of all, log in to the administrative account, since all changes in the system can only be made from it.
- Click on Start in the lower left corner and open Control Panel.
- Sort by category and select the "Hardware and Sound" section.
- Now click on the "Device Manager" link under "Devices and Printers". Wait until a new dispatcher window opens in front of you.
- This is where you need to find the "Bluetooth Radios" item. There will be a small triangle next to it. Click on it to expand the option and open the subsections.
- Now you have two options for what is happening: either you will see the name of your Bluetooth radio, or it will say "Unidentified device" instead. In the first case, everything is much simpler, since you can find suitable drivers by searching the Internet.
- In the case of an undefined device, right-click on it.
- Select "Update Drivers". Automatically the model number will be found and sent to the browser search.
- The easiest way to find your Bluetooth drivers is on the manufacturer's official website. That is, if you have a laptop from HP, then you go to the HP website, if Dell - then to the Dell website. Do not try to install other people's drivers, this may adversely affect the system.
- After installing the drivers, restart your laptop. After that, open the tray and you will find the Bluetooth icon there. Turn it on by clicking the right mouse button.
- To disable the radio, simply click on the icon again and select "Disable Adapter". From here, it's easy to manage your signal visibility, file sharing, and other options.
Despite the fact that every day consumers around the world have more and more portable equipment, not all users know how to turn on bluetooth on a laptop, and whether it is generally built into a laptop. This article will tell readers how to determine if their laptop has bluetooth and how to activate it if it refuses to work properly for any reason.
How to turn on Bluetooth on a laptop? This is a common question. Every day more and more people begin to use this connection for one purpose or another. For example, connecting a wireless mouse, headset, file transfer, and so on. It is worth noting that this technology is quite old, but it is not inferior to newer types of communication, such as Wi-Fi and so on.
Bluetooth firmly occupies its niche due to such qualities as:
- Easy to use.
- Noise immunity.
- Cheapness.
Thus, although Bluetooth is an old technology, it is constantly evolving and being updated. So, set up Bluetooth on a laptop?
How to easily set up and enable Bluetooth on a laptop: Video
Driver installation
Setting up Bluetooth on a laptop, like any other equipment, begins with installing the software. Where to find it? As a rule, with laptops, an installation disk is included. It contains all the necessary programs. You just have to insert it into the DVD drive and complete the installation.
But, very often this disk is lost. There are also laptop models that are not equipped with a DVD drive. In this case, manufacturers provide their customers with online support. In other words, you just need to enter the official website of the manufacturer, enter the exact laptop model and download the necessary programs.
It is recommended to save all available drivers and utilities on a portable drive so that they are always at hand. You can check the operation of the driver and hardware in the device manager. There are several ways to open this service:
Further, if the drivers are installed, then find the Bluetooth adapter in the list. It is worth noting that sometimes it can be located in the "Wireless Adapters" branch. Open the device information by double-clicking the left mouse button. In the "General" tab, you will see the line "Device Status". A little lower should be the inscription "Working fine." If you cannot find the module or there is an error in the information, then you should reinstall the drivers.
How to turn on Bluetooth on a Windows 8 laptop: Video
Bluetooth setting
After installing the software, you can go directly to setting up the Bluetooth module on your laptop. This is done simply. If the drivers are installed and the module is working properly, then you will see the Bluetooth icon in the system tray.
