How to Turn On Bluetooth in Windows 7

Going wireless simplifies your work day

by Tricia Goss
Tricia Goss has been a writer and editor for 10+ years. She's written tips and tutorials for Microsoft Office applications and other sites.
Updated November 14, 2019

As long as your computer has Bluetooth, Windows makes it easy to turn it on and get connected. Once you have enabled Bluetooth, you can connect to a wireless network, pair your PC with other wireless devices and more.

Instructions in this article apply to Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7.

How to Turn On Bluetooth in Windows 10 or Windows 8.1

Some computers have a button or keyboard key that allows you to turn on Bluetooth with a single tap. However, if you cannot find one of these, you can enable Bluetooth in your computer’s settings. 

  1. Select the Start button.

  2. Type "Bluetooth" into the search box and select Bluetooth settings from the list.

    Screenshot of Bluetooth Settings in search results

  3. Toggle the Bluetooth switch to On.

    Screenshot of Bluetooth Settings

How to Turn On Bluetooth in Windows 7

The settings to turn on Bluetooth in Windows 7 are slightly different than in newer Windows versions.

  1. Select the Start button. 

  2. Type Bluetooth settings in the Start Search box. 

    Screenshot of Bluetooth Settings in Start menu

  3. Select Change Bluetooth Settings in the search results. The Bluetooth Settings dialog box opens. 

  4. Select the Options tab. 

    Screenshot of Options in Bluetooth Settings

  5. Select the Allow Bluetooth Devices to Find This Computer checkbox under Discovery.

    Screenshot of Allow Bluetooth devices to find this computer checkbox in Bluetooth settings

  6. Select the Allow Bluetooth Devices to Connect with This Computer checkbox and the Alert Me When a New Bluetooth Device Wants to Connect checkbox under Connections.

  7. Select Apply and then select OK.

You should now see the Bluetooth icon on your taskbar or in the Hidden Icons folder to the left of the date and time on your taskbar. 

Once you turn on Bluetooth and made your computer discoverable, you can connect Bluetooth headphones to PC or pair any Bluetooth-enabled device, such as a keyboard, mouse, or speakers, to your computer.

The computer is now paired with the other device. They should automatically connect any time the two devices are within pairing range, provided Bluetooth is enabled on both.

Troubleshooting Bluetooth Issues

If you are unable to enable Bluetooth on your Windows 7 computer, or if you are not able to pair another device with your PC via Bluetooth, troubleshooting can help you find the solution.