How to set up Bluetooth on Windows 10

The connectivity Bluetooth has become a basic equipment and standard on smartphones. But also on computers portable and other devices. However, in desktop computers this is not usually the case and we have to add a component of hardware to support this type of connection.

In any case, if we have Bluetooth, how should we configure it? We explain How Bluetooth Works in Windows 10 from configuration to adding and removing devices and other details.

Although we usually associate Bluetooth with our mobile phone, to connect a smart watch, a bracelet, a photo printer or another device… It is also a fundamental technology on our computer and is mainly used to connect peripherals.

You may have a computer with Bluetooth and not know it, but you can connect a controller to play games video games, a wireless mouse or keyboard, etc. Let's see how to do it, what are the advantages, the most common problems or what you can do if your computer does not have Bluetooth connectivity but needs it.

You can also read: How to Change the Language of Bluetooth Headphones

Advantages of having a computer with Bluetooth

The most common wireless connection on a computer is WiFi, which is used to connect to the network, allowing you to access the Internet without using an Ethernet cable. But what about Bluetooth?

Like we have already said, Laptops usually come equipped with Bluetooth from the factory.However, few desktop computers are equipped to offer this type of wireless connection, but why is it a good idea?

This type of connection is useful for connecting wireless peripherals such as keyboards and mice, which do not require cables and give us more freedom of movement. But also for connecting to mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Other details

Connecting to a mobile phone via Bluetooth makes it easy to share files, such as photos, or connect to a network. That is, establish an Internet connection with a computer through our mobile data connection smartphone. Something that we could certainly do by cable as well, but in a more cumbersome way.

In addition, the Bluetooth adapter for computers costs less than 15 euros if you buy it in "pendrive" format. And It has a very small sizeWe can also use it when we assemble the computer in parts and buy a more complete network adapter with Ethernet, WiFi and Bluetooth.

How to configure Bluetooth in Windows 10

There are several ways to turn on Bluetooth in Windows 10, but all of them are simple:

Turn on Bluetooth in Windows 10

On Windows 10 computers, Bluetooth settings are easy to find, here are the steps to enable or disable it:

• Open the page setting on Windows 10.
• Select your devices.
• Click on the option Bluetooth.
• Slide the switch to turn it on or off.

The first thing we need to do is open the Windows 10 settings page, which can be done by simply pressing Win+I or from the Start > Settings menu.

Next, we select Devices, and if the wireless adapter is installed correctly, we should find the Bluetooth option and other devices, which we must select by left-clicking.

In “Bluetooth Connection” we can move the Bluetooth slider to the left or right to activate or deactivate the wireless connection of our computer.

We can always leave the Bluetooth connection on, but as with the WiFi connection, for security and privacy reasons, It is better not to use it when it is not being used.The same thing happens with laptops, except that it is an unnecessary consumption of energy when we are not using it.

Add or remove Bluetooth devices in Windows 10

Thanks to wireless connectivity, there are many types of devices that we can connect to a Windows 10 computer. For each type of device, there are slight differences in the connection settings. In Windows, there are several ways to add Bluetooth devices:

1. From the System Configuration page.
2. Via the Windows 10 Action Center.
3. Via the Bluetooth icon on the taskbar.

For devices such as keyboards, mice, and controllers that are used more frequently, the steps are simple: you just need to activate the device and make it discoverable, then enable Bluetooth on your computer by following the steps above, and finally add Bluetooth or select Other Device > Bluetooth in the Bluetooth settings menu.

For these and other types of devices, We can use the Settings menu or the aforementioned Action Center. To do this, we must go to Settings, then to System and finally to Notifications and Actions.

Here we can add or remove quick actions, and of course, what we are interested in is enabling Bluetooth. Then we can always go to the bottom right corner of the taskbar and click on the Action Center icon to quickly find the settings.

How to add a new Bluetooth device

If we want to add a new Bluetooth device through the Action Center, just expand it and find the Connect button. Once you click the button, the program will automatically start searching the range for compatible wireless devices.

After a while a complete list of all Bluetooth devices that are in range and Search mode will be available, allowing you to connect to any of them.

If Bluetooth is enabled on your computer, a Bluetooth icon will appear on the taskbar. If you right-click on the icon, you will see a menu in which you will find the option “Add Bluetooth device» and it will automatically take us to the configuration page where we will see the option to add new devices.

Connect 2 Windows PCs via Bluetooth

In many cases, it is necessary to connect two computers directly to each other to perform various tasks.

Although It is common to connect several computers by connecting to the same local network, some computers may not want to connect directly to the Internet or simply be on a different network and what we need is a direct connection or the creation of a PAN.

There are several ways to connect two computers to each other, such as

1. Using a serial cable
2. Using an RJ-45 crossover cable
3. Using Wi-Fi network
4. Using Bluetooth

The first thing we need to do is make sure that Both computers have a Bluetooth device installed and working, otherwise we will not be able to connect. Depending on the version of the operating system we are using, this process may be different.

Tutorial

In this tutorial, we will connect two Windows computers using this technology. First You have to open the configuration window Bluetooth by typing “Bluetooth” on the side of the screen.

In this window, you should see the other computer you want to connect to. If it doesn't appear, open the control panel by right-clicking on the Bluetooth icon in the taskbar and selecting Open Settings Menu. There we need to enable an option that allows other computers and devices to find it by scanning the network.

In our case, We will connect to the computer «ruvelro_Aspire8». Click on it and click on the “Pair” button. After a few seconds, the security code will appear on the screen.

Check if the same code appears on both computers. If it does, check that we proceeded with the configuration and initiated the connection between the two devices.

Once this is done, both computers will be connected. What can we do? For example, send and receive files between them, share the Internet connection, synchronize audio, etc. It all depends on the configuration and the applications that we are going to use.

Bluetooth problems

There are many problems with Bluetooth in Windows 10 that we can encounter when connecting or synchronizing the computer with some devices. There are also many reasons that can cause this type of error. Therefore, you should first perform a series of checks to ensure that you only fix the problem.

Common solutions

There are a few things we can do to make sure everything is okay.

1. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on

You just have to go to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth and other devices and check that the Bluetooth switch is on.

2. Check your Bluetooth device

To connect, we need to make sure that the device is on, charged and within range of our PC.

3. Check the PC

If we have problems with Bluetooth, we must make sure that airplane mode is off. If we continue to have problems connecting via Bluetooth, we can try deactivating and activating it again in the Windows 10 settings or removing and reinserting the device we want to connect to.

4. Check the drivers

It is important to ensure that you have the latest version of the Bluetooth drivers installed to ensure proper operation.

5. Check the product information

If you have set up a new device and Bluetooth is not showing up, you need to check the device specifications to make sure it has the Bluetooth function.

6. Make sure airplane mode is off

You need to check if airplane mode is enabled on your system and disable the Bluetooth feature. To do this, Open Settings > Network & Internet > Airplane mode and check if it is disabled. We can also do this from the System Action Center.

7. Turn Bluetooth on and off

Try turn Bluetooth off and on again to see if our device is detected and if we can sync the two devices.

8. Remove and reinsert the Bluetooth device

We can also re-add device removing it first and trying to pair the two devices again.

9. Make sure Windows 10 has been updated correctly

We must ensure that we have installed the latest updates available through Windows Update. For that, Open the System Preferences page, go to Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates. If there is a pending update, install it.

I don't know or don't remember my Bluetooth PIN.

When you are asked to enter a PIN to add a new Bluetooth device to your Windows 10 computer, It is a four-digit numeric codeIt usually appears in the user manual or in the manufacturer's instructions.

In any case, you can try 0000, 1111 or 1234, which are usually the defaults.

In the case of Bluetooth keyboards, it is possible that you have to enter the PIN through the device you want to connect to the computer via Bluetooth and, when you have entered it completely - even if it does not appear on the screen - press Enter.

The device is on, but Windows 10 can't find it.

For audio devices - and other types of devices - it is not enough for the device to be turned on, but the Bluetooth connection must be in search mode.

The manufacturer's instructions tell you how to do this, but the most common method is to keep pressed the power button from when the device is turned off until the LED flashes and a beep sounds. Sometimes there is a special button on the device to turn on Bluetooth and enter this “discovery mode”.

Using Windows 10 to troubleshoot Bluetooth issues

If you are unable to troubleshoot Bluetooth connectivity issues on your Windows 10 PC, your own team may be able to help. Click the “Home«, access the menu «Configuration» and scroll down to the section for “Updates and security.”

In this section, you will find the troubleshooting option, and there we have to go to “Find and fix other problems” to find a specific Bluetooth access. All we have to do is click on “Run the Troubleshooter” and follow the instructions.

Bluetooth not working or icon missing

We may find that the Bluetooth does not work or that there is no icon, so after following the steps above we can start to solve the problem. In this case we will have to Use the Bluetooth troubleshooter offered by the system. If this does not solve the problem, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling the Bluetooth driver.

To do this, we open the Device administrator In Windows 10, we select Bluetooth and right-click on “Uninstall device«. Then we turn the computer off and on again so that Windows can install it again.

Alternatively, we can open Device Manager again and force a reinstallation using Action > Scan for hardware changes.

Problems pairing or using Bluetooth accessory

If you can enable Bluetooth but are having trouble pairing or using a Bluetooth accessory, it's worth checking out. Check your device manufacturer's website, as there is more information and troubleshooting options.

If the device you want to pair is a keyboard, mouse, or stylus, you can try removing and adding it again to see if it pairs successfully.

Tutorial

For this, we will Settings> Devices> Bluetooth and other devices, we select the Bluetooth device that is paired but not working and select Remove device > Yes. Then we will pair it again to see if the problem is resolved.

If it is an audio device, additional measures must be taken. First, we must make sure that the device is within range of the computer and that the computer's audio output comes through it, which can be done by clicking the speaker icon on the taskbar.

If everything goes well and the device seems to be paired, but we don't hear any sound, we need to make sure that it is connected. To do this, in Settings> Devices> Bluetooth and other devices, under Bluetooth, select the device and click Connect. If you continue to experience problems, you can try disconnecting the device and reconnecting it to see if that resolves the issue.

Audio problems

If the audio device is paired correctly but the sound is weak, you should verify that the audio is playing from the device. To do this, on the Settings page, go to System > Sound > Select output device and select the appropriate audio device.

We need to pause everything that can use Bluetooth and select Stereo mode for the device, which will provide the best sound quality.

For that, Click the volume icon on the taskbar, select the Bluetooth playback device and make sure Stereo is selected.

If it is not available, open Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other Bluetooth devices and add the device again. Now we need to check if the device is selected as Stereo when we click on the volume icon.

A computer without Bluetooth

If you have a computer without Bluetooth because you decided you didn't need it when you built it from parts, or because you have an old laptop that doesn't have this connection, there are solutions.

It's not a common thing, but We can fix it with a Bluetooth dongle, a device USB It looks like a small keychain that plugs into your computer's USB port, establishes a Bluetooth connection with your device, and connects the devices together.

1. TP Link Nano Bluetooth

For less than $10, you can get the TPLink UB400 Nano, a Bluetooth adapter for laptops Compatible with Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Windows XP or Vista. To use it, simply plug it into a USB port. It is very small, compact and affordable.

2. UGREEN Bluetooth USB

For less than 10 euros you can also get the Ugreen USB dongle which has the same functions as the previous one, that is, plug and play. A small USB dongle compatible with mice and keyboards and with all versions of Windows.

Conclusion

As you can see, activating Bluetooth on your Windows 10 computer is extremely simple, and you also have several solutions to choose from.

We hope this article has been useful to you. and we invite you to continue browsing our website to see more articles and tutorials like this one.

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