How to Check if Your Computer Has Bluetooth
These days, Bluetooth is a feature that many of us can’t live without. It is used by almost all wireless headphones, as well as many keyboards, mice and other computer accessories.
Your laptop almost certainly has Bluetooth, whether it’s running Windows, macOS, or Chrome OS. All Macs also have the technology built in, but the situation is a little less clear on Windows desktops.
Not all Windows 10 and 11 PCs offer this functionality, but there are alternatives if your device doesn’t have it. Here’s how to find out.
How to Check if Your Computer Has Bluetooth
We are using Windows 11 for the purposes of this guide, but the method is identical for Windows 10.
Open device manager
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Click the search bar next to the start menu, type “device” and click the appropriate option to open it. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Windows + X and then just M.
Check the “Bluetooth” category
Eniron Koopman / Foundry
The device categories are sorted alphabetically, so you should be able to quickly discover Bluetooth if it’s available. In the example below, it is between the batteries and the camera. If you see it, your device is Bluetooth enabled.
Check under “Network Adapters”.
Eniron Koopman / Foundry
Even if you don’t see the Bluetooth category there, sometimes it can show up under Network adapters. But if there is no mention of Bluetooth anywhere, your device does not have it.
How to add Bluetooth to your computer
Even if your device doesn’t natively support Bluetooth, there is a simple workaround. Just buy a cheap Bluetooth dongle (US/Great Britain) and connect it to a free USB port.
The way to connect to a Bluetooth device is slightly different between Windows 10 and Windows 11. Just make sure whatever device you want to connect to is in pairing mode – the way to do this will vary, so check out the instructions that came with it, or look on the Internet. .
On Windows 10, go to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices, then click Add Bluetooth or other device. Your computer will scan and find all available Bluetooth devices that are discoverable – just click on any of them.
Sean Bradley / Foundry
On Windows 11, go to Settings > Bluetooth & Devices and click the big plus sign that says Add a device.
Eniron Koopman / Foundry
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