Almost every modern laptop is equipped with such a type of wireless connection as Bluetooth. But, as with any personal computer accessory, Bluetooth may not work. This may be due to a wide range of reasons. However, in most cases, you can solve this problem yourself without calling the wizard. So, why doesn't Bluetooth work on a laptop?
The main reasons why the connection may not work
If you have been using this wireless type of connection for some time (maybe even just once), and then suddenly it stops working and no longer sees the device, then you have one of the following problems:
- Perhaps you just did not turn on Bluetooth with a special switch;
- The technology was disabled by some kind of failure and is not involved in the device manager;
- After resetting the laptop, reinstalling the system, or any other operation that returns the device to factory settings;
- Accidental deletion of drivers or under the influence of a virus attack;
- Software or mechanical failures.
If you roughly understand which of the above reasons is right for you, then you can immediately go to the corresponding item in troubleshooting. However, we strongly recommend starting from the very first one, because you can hardly know for sure (unless, of course, you are a good specialist. Then why do you need the help of this article?). This will also help avoid other breakdowns in the system. Why? Let's consider a small example.
Let's assume that you have been working perfectly with Bluetooth on a laptop for quite some time. But all of a sudden you had to reinstall the operating system on your computer. After a successful operation, you notice that your favorite wireless technology has stopped working. And you will run for the help of the third item in the problem solving category. You reinstalled the drivers, but Bluetooth did not work again. And as it turned out later, Windows itself found the driver after reinstallation and you just had to enable it through the device manager. So you got a new headache that you absolutely do not need.
So, if we have entered the topic of everything that is happening, let's try to fix Bluetooth. First of all, make sure your device has an internet connection. You will need it if you have to reinstall the drivers.
Ways to solve problems with Bluetooth
After each step, immediately check the operation. If the problem persists, then go to the next troubleshooting option when Bluetooth is gone.
- First, check if the switch on the laptop itself is turned on. On some models there is a special button, on others the technology is turned on by a key combination. Also check to see if the indicator light is working, indicating that the wireless module is working. Most often, red means that it does not work, and blue, respectively, that it works. But it depends on the specific laptop model.
- If the switches do not work, then there is a problem with the additional software for the key combinations to work. Their installation will be described below. If you can do it later, and now you urgently need Bluetooth, then we do the following. Go to "Device Manager". To do this, click "Start" and enter these words in the search field. Having opened the necessary menu, we are looking for "Bluetooth radio modules". There you will find the name of your module. Click on it with the right mouse button and select "Enable".
- To reinstall the drivers, you will need the same sequence of work as in the previous paragraph. Except for the last step. By clicking the right mouse button, select "Update Drivers". Following the prompts on the monitor will download new drivers from Windows Update. If this does not help, then you will need to install the driver package yourself. How to do this read below.
- If you have viruses on your computer, be sure to clean it up. Then restart your PC and scan it again with an antivirus system. Only then proceed to download the drivers. So, there are two options for manually installing a package: downloading from the Internet and installing using a disk. It happens that a disk with drivers comes with the device. All you have to do is insert it into the drive and follow the instructions on the display. If there is none, then refer to the official website of the laptop manufacturer. In the Drivers section, select your computer model and OS version. Then he will find the whole package with a driver for your device. You will need to download specifically for Bluetooth and install them.
- It happens that all switches are on and the PC shows that the wireless module is working properly. However, you still cannot connect and Bluetooth does not see the device. First, check that the connected device (printer, smartphone, tablet) is in discoverable mode. Second, you can try restarting your laptop. Sometimes this is enough.
Now you know what to do if Bluetooth does not work on a laptop or it does not see the device. And even if after all the above operations you could not set up the module, then contact a specialist for help. But in no case do not disassemble the laptop yourself. Have fun, friends!
Wireless devices with Bluetooth radio must be "paired" with each other before they can communicate. This includes the ability to detect them and potentially enter a PIN if needed.
Operating Systems
- Windows 7, 8 and 10
A. Put your accessory or device into discoverable mode
The first thing to do to make the device discoverable by another device
The method of detecting this device depends on the type of accessories
Read the user manual for your mouse, keyboard, headset, etc. on how to set up your device to be discovered
If you are using a smartphone, tablet or computer, you can make it viewable. Follow these steps
Attention that you do not need to open the device if you will connect to it. You only need to open the device if you are connecting to it. For example, let's say you wanted to connect a headset to your Android phone - you just need to make the headset available, not your Android phone.
But let's say you wanted to connect your Android phone to your computer - you'll need to make your Android phone viewable.
Windows 7
Windows 8 & 10
B. Device pairing and PIN entry
Now you can connect your device to your computer. If you have made your computer viewable, you can select your computer from the list of available devices on your other smartphone or tablet to initiate the pairing process. In the following steps, you will see how to connect to a device such as a phone, speaker, mouse, etc. from your computer
Bluetooth wireless technology has long occupied its niche and has been popular all over the world for many years. At the same time, every modern smartphone, tablet, laptop, and so on, is equipped with such a module, with the configuration of which the heading “Bluetooth Settings” will help you. But, a very common error occurs when Bluetooth does not find a device to connect.
What is this error and why does it appear? In order to answer this question, you must first understand how the technology works and how to correctly search for available connections. It is worth noting that such errors are usually found on laptops, since operating systems have a very flexible configuration of radio modules, which is why users often simply make certain mistakes.
How the technology works
In fact, this is the most common radio communication that operates at a frequency of 2.4 GHz. Each adapter works both for receiving and emitting a radio signal. However, to improve security, device discovery is disabled. In other words, even if you have turned on the Bluetooth adapter, for example, on a smartphone, the computer will not be able to find it. See how to find and enable Bluetooth on Android devices.
After turning on the adapter, you still need to activate "Discovery" of the device. Only in this case you will be able to find the right equipment and connect to it. This is done to conserve electricity. After all, when the adapter is on and the discovery function is active, the Bluetooth radio consumes more power.
In addition, if we are talking about a computer, then the reason why Bluetooth does not find the device is that the drivers do not work properly. How to connect Bluetooth on a computer, we painted in a previous article. The fact is that for the correct operation of the radio module, special software is required. It is the appropriate software that allows you to manage the operation of such equipment. Usually, the drivers are available on the disk that came with the laptop upon purchase. However, if there is no such disk, then the necessary programs can be downloaded from the official website of the laptop manufacturer.
Why Bluetooth can't find devices: Video
Why is Bluetooth not finding devices?
There are a lot of reasons why Bluetooth does not find devices. The most common mistakes include the following:
- Disabled discovery on the target device.
- The connected device is out of range of the adapter.
- The software does not work correctly.
- Strong interference.
First of all, when connecting any equipment via a Bluetooth wireless network, you should check if detection is enabled.
As mentioned above, even with Bluetooth turned on, you can only find it by turning on discovery. If this does not help and Bluetooth equipment is still not found, then it is quite possible that the device is outside the range of the radio module.
The fact is that the adapter has certain limitations. Of course, the line-of-sight range can range from 10 to 50 meters, depending on the model. But it is worth remembering that under normal conditions, in apartments and houses, these figures are significantly lower. In addition, do not forget about the interference that household appliances, such as cordless phones, microwave ovens, and so on, can create.
Often problems with finding available Bluetooth connections are caused by incorrect drivers. In this case, it is recommended to visit the official website of the laptop manufacturer and download the latest software version. If the software is installed correctly and everything works, then your radio module will be displayed in the Windows Device Manager. Moreover, you will be able to see its exact name.
You may be experiencing one of the following issues.
- The phone cannot be paired with another Bluetooth device.
- The Bluetooth function is not available when paired with a Bluetooth device.
- The Bluetooth function of the phone is disabled.
Connecting to another Bluetooth device may resolve some connection issues.
- Swipe down from the status bar with two fingers to open the " Quick Settings».
- Click the Settings icon .
- Tap the Bluetooth On/Off switch to turn the Bluetooth connection on or off.
- Put the Bluetooth device you want to connect to into pairing mode. For information on how to do this, see the user manual provided by the manufacturer.
- Search for devices to connect. Click Bluetooth > Find devices.
- Click on the name of the device you want to pair with.
- Click Connect for confirmation. Some Bluetooth devices will also require confirmation.
- Enter your passkey when prompted and click OK . The default passkeys are 0000 and 1234. If necessary, refer to the user manual provided by the manufacturer to confirm the pairing process.
- If your device is paired with multiple Bluetooth devices and won't be able to pair with another one, try deleting the existing pairings and repeat the setup process.
- If your device fails to pair with a device, try pairing with another Bluetooth device if possible.
Check the Bluetooth profile of the paired device. Do the following.
- Check with the device manufacturer for compatibility and find out which profiles are used on your phone.
- Go to menu Settings > Bluetooth.
- Check if the desired function is in the list.
Note: If the desired parameter is not present, the feature may not be available for the fixture, or there may be a compatibility conflict. Check with the Bluetooth device manufacturer for compatibility with your phone.
Removing incompatible paired Bluetooth devices can resolve some Bluetooth network connection problems. Do the following.
- Go to menu Settings > Bluetooth.
- Click the Settings icon next to the name of the paired Bluetooth device .
- Click Detach.
A factory reset can fix some software issues.
Note: Restore default protection may be enabled. Before following these steps, make sure you have the login information for the primary Google account that you're signed in to on your phone, otherwise you won't be able to use your phone.
- Go to the "Settings" menu and press Recovery and reset.
- Click Reset to factory settings or Reset your phone.
- Click Reset phone settings or OK .
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 panel, 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 "Support", "Downloads", etc. section, download the driver for the Bluetooth module. Install it, restart your laptop and after that everything should work.
