How to Turn on Bluetooth on Windows 10

Connect to other devices by Bluetooth with a few quick clicks

By
Jerri Ledford
Jerri Ledford
Jerri Ledford
Senior News Editor, Fact Checker
  • Western Kentucky University
  • Gulf Coast Community College
Jerri L. Ledford has been writing, editing, and fact-checking tech stories since 1994. Her work has appeared in Computerworld, PC Magazine, Information Today, and many others.
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Updated on April 6, 2021
Reviewed by
Jon Fisher
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Reviewed by Jon Fisher
  • Wichita Technical Institute
Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek.
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What to Know

  • Settings: Go to Start > Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices and toggle on Bluetooth.
  • Action Center: Click the Action Center icon and click the Bluetooth card, which will turn from gray to dark blue.
  • Once Bluetooth is enabled, you can connect headphones and other devices or send and receive files via Bluetooth.

This article covers how to turn on Bluetooth on a Windows 10 laptop or desktop computer, including where to find the Bluetooth controls in settings and the Action Center.

Where Is the Bluetooth Setting in Windows 10?

If you want to turn Bluetooth on for a Windows 10 desktop or laptop computer, the first thing you'll need to know is where the Bluetooth Settings are. Then, toggling them on and off will be easy.

  1. Click the Start (Windows) button in the lower right corner of your screen.

    The Start Button on Windows 10.

  2. Select Settings.

    The Settings option in Windows 10.

    Alternatively, you can press the Windows Key + X on your keyboard to open the Windows Power User menu and select Settings from there, or you can search for Settings in the Windows Search Bar and select the Settings App from the results.

  3. Select Devices.

    The Devices option in Settings in Windows 10.

  4. If it's not already selected, select Bluetooth & other devices.

    The Bluetooth & other devices in Windows 10.

  5. On the Bluetooth & other devices screen, toggle Bluetooth On.

    The Bluetooth toggle in Windows 10.

Turn Bluetooth on in Windows 10 From the Action Center

Another way to access Bluetooth on your Windows 10 computer is from the Windows Action Center. The Action Center lists items on your computer that require actions, such as connection notifications, email and messaging notifications, and even security scan results. However, there's also a quick access toolbar in the Action Center that makes getting to some setting fast and easy. From this menu, you can quickly turn Bluetooth on and off.

  1. From your Windows desktop, click the Action Center icon in the lower right corner.

    The Windows Action Center icon.

  2. The Action Center will slide open, with the quick access menu displayed at the bottom of the screen. Click the Bluetooth card to turn Bluetooth on or off quickly. It will be gray when Off and dark blue when turned On.

    The Bluetooth option in the Windows Action Center.

  3. If you want to access your Bluetooth Settings, right-click the Bluetooth card and then choose Go to Settings from the menu.

    The Settings option on the Bluetooth card in the Windows Action Center.

Using Bluetooth on Your Windows 10 Computer

Once you know where the Bluetooth settings are in Windows 10 and how to turn them on, then you can connect your desktop or laptop to other Bluetooth devices, like earbuds, headphones, and Bluetooth peripherals. You can also use Bluetooth with Nearby Sharing in Windows 10 to share files with other devices.

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