How to Turn On Bluetooth in Windows 7

Going wireless simplifies your work day

By
Tricia Goss
Tricia Goss
Tricia Goss
Writer
  • Pima College
Tricia Goss has been a writer and editor for 10+ years. She's written tips and tutorials for Microsoft Office applications and other sites.
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Updated on December 4, 2020

What To Know

  • Windows 10 and 8.1: Press Start > Bluetooth, and toggle it on.
  • Windows 7: Press Start > search for Bluetooth > Change Bluetooth Settings > check Allow...Find This Computer > Ok.

This article explains how to enable Bluetooth on a Windows PC running Windows 10, 8.1, or 7.

How to Turn On Bluetooth in Windows 10 or Windows 8.1

Some computers offer a button or keyboard key that allows you to turn on Bluetooth with a single tap. However, if you cannot find one of these, 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.

    open bluetooth settings

  3. Toggle the Bluetooth switch to On.

    turn on bluetooth

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.

As of January 2020, Microsoft is no longer supports Windows 7. We recommend upgrading to Windows 10 to continue receiving security updates and technical support.

  1. Select the Start button. 

  2. Type Bluetooth in the Start Search box. 

    search for bluetooth

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

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

    bluetooth discovery

  5. Optionally, on the same screen, 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. These two options streamline the connection process without additional manual steps to connect a specific device.

  6. Select Apply and then select OK.

The Bluetooth icon appears on your taskbar or in the Hidden Icons folder to the left of the date and time on your taskbar. 

After you activate Bluetooth and made your computer discoverable, connect Bluetooth headphones to your computer 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 computer through Bluetooth, troubleshooting can help you find the solution.

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