To turn on Bluetooth in Windows 10, go to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices and switch Bluetooth to On. You can also open Action Center (Windows + A) and click the Bluetooth tile. If there’s no Bluetooth switch at all, your PC may not have Bluetooth, the adapter may be turned off in Device Manager, or it needs a driver. The fixes are below.
Turn on Bluetooth in Settings
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Click Devices.
- Click Bluetooth & other devices on the left.
- Turn on the Bluetooth switch.
Turn on Bluetooth from Action Center
- Click the notification icon at the right end of the taskbar, or press Windows + A.
- Click Expand if you only see a few tiles.
- Click Bluetooth so it turns blue.
Pair a Bluetooth device
- Put the device in pairing mode. For headphones, this usually means holding the power or Bluetooth button until a light flashes.
- In Bluetooth & other devices, click Add Bluetooth or other device > Bluetooth.
- Select your device from the list. Enter a PIN if asked (often 0000), then click Done.
No Bluetooth switch? Try these fixes
- Turn off Airplane mode in Action Center or Settings > Network & Internet > Airplane mode.
- Check for a hardware switch or function key (like Fn + F5) on laptops that turns wireless on and off.
- Enable the adapter: Right-click Start > Device Manager, expand Bluetooth, right-click your adapter, and choose Enable device.
- Update or reinstall the driver: In Device Manager, right-click the adapter and choose Update driver. Or choose Uninstall device and restart.
- Start the Bluetooth service: Press Windows + R, type services.msc, find Bluetooth Support Service, set Startup type to Automatic, and click Start.
- Run the troubleshooter: Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Bluetooth.
Does my PC have Bluetooth?
Open Device Manager. If there’s no Bluetooth category (check Network adapters too), your PC probably doesn’t have it. Many desktop PCs don’t. A small, inexpensive USB Bluetooth adapter adds it in minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a shortcut to turn on Bluetooth?
There’s no default keyboard shortcut, but Windows + A opens Action Center, where you can click the Bluetooth tile.
Why does Bluetooth turn off by itself?
Power saving may be turning off the adapter. In Device Manager, open the adapter’s Properties > Power Management and uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
Why won’t my device show up when pairing?
Make sure it’s in pairing mode, close to your PC, charged, and not connected to another device like your phone.
How do I turn on Bluetooth in Windows 11?
Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices and turn on Bluetooth, or use Quick Settings (Windows + A).
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.