Where is the bluetooth on the laptop? Using Bluetooth: how to enable, configure and transfer files

If this is your first time encountering wirelessly connection, then you probably have a question about how to enable and configure Bluetooth on your laptop. This can be done in different ways. It's also important to note that these will change depending on the operating system installed on your laptop. That is, methods for including this type wireless communication on Windows 8.1 will be different, say, from Windows 7. So, let's find out how to connect Bluetooth on a laptop.

Although Bluetooth is becoming a thing of the past, many users still use this feature

The first step is to make sure that bluetooth adapter installed correctly. It can be built-in or external. If the devices are connected to the computer, then you can proceed to installing drivers (of course, if they are not already installed). More about this below. This stage is important, since the operation of the wireless module completely depends on the drivers. bluetooth connection.

If you have become the happy owner of an external adapter " blue tooth"(this is how Bluetooth is translated from English), let's figure out how to connect it and configure it correctly. First of all, read the instructions, which will help you install the adapter correctly in required connector. Such equipment usually comes with a disk that will install the appropriate drivers for correct operation apparatus. There should not be any difficulties here, since prompts are displayed on the monitor screen that will help you carry out the steps correctly until the installation is completed.

With built-in Bluetooth, things are a little different. Required utilities and drivers are preinstalled on the laptop in the Windows system by the manufacturer. Therefore, the computer does not need to install anything additional out of the box. However, if you have subjected your PC to any tests during which your drivers were removed, then you need to install them immediately. It happens that the laptop comes with a driver disk. All you have to do is insert it into the drive and follow the instructions on the display. If there is none, then refer to the official website of the PC manufacturer. In the Drivers section, select your computer model and OS version. Then he will find the entire driver package for your device. You will need to find and download specifically for Bluetooth and install them.

Now you can proceed to actually enabling the module of this wireless type communications. Let's divide this process into different versions Windows operating system. This will make it easier for you to find the necessary instructions and the sequence of actions. Please note that the inclusion of an external adapter will not be considered, since it is not fundamentally different from the built-in one. Therefore, let's talk about universal ways its inclusion and settings.

Windows 7

There are no problems with connecting the device and turning on the Blue Tooth module in the seven. The actions that the user must take are quite simple:

1. If your laptop has a physical switch, then simply slide it towards ON. Or use the Fn key combination and the button with the Bluetooth icon.

1. If in the notification area (bottom right, where the clock is) there is bluetooth icon, click on it right click mouse to open its settings menu. There you can fully control its functions, connect other devices, and so on.

Windows 8 and 8.1

1. In Windows 8, launch the right pane and click on Settings. In the tab with changes to computer settings there is a menu item “ Wireless network" All you have to do is switch the slider to ON mode. To establish a connection with other devices, launch “Devices” in the same tab. There you can add any device for further connection to the laptop.

1. In Windows 8.1 setting wireless connection a little different. In the same right panel launch the tab as in the previous paragraph. But now you will need the “Computer and Devices” menu item and then Bluetooth. There will be no sliders or switches here, since everything happens automatically.

Windows 10

Perhaps Windows 10 is not as popular today as other versions of the operating system from Microsoft, but we will also consider enabling the module for it. We can say that the actions here will be somewhat simpler, although the principle is the same. Let's do the following. In the “Search” field that appears on the bottom panel, write “Bluetooth Settings” and click on the icon of the corresponding application. Slide the switch slider to desired position and save the settings. That's it.

We almost forgot about this type of connection, Bluetooth, with the advent of various online services like Dropbox. However, in times when the Internet was not so accessible, data was sent only in this way. It was especially convenient to do this from a mobile device to a computer and vice versa, thus not connecting gadgets using a cord.

But if you are buying a new PC or using it for the first time after reinstalling the operating system, a logical question may arise: “How to find bluetooth on a laptop?” This is especially true for users who have never encountered this before.

How does this work?

So, for those who have never dealt with Bluetooth wireless technology, let us explain the principle of its operation. Everything is very simple: in order to transmit or receive files, you need to have an appropriate, either internal or external portable transmitter (the latter are used, for example, on

Data transmission is carried out over a distance. Depending on the power of the adapter, it can be up to 5-7 meters. Accordingly, if you want to synchronize the operation of two devices using a Bluetooth connection, an important condition is their location close to each other.

To transfer data, the devices must be paired. This is done by requesting permission to receive data on a computer or phone - depending on which party is sending and which is receiving the file. This prevents unauthorized transfer of information.

To communicate, the gadgets participating in the transmission look for each other. If the laptop does not find Bluetooth devices, this indicates some kind of error that needs to be resolved.

What is needed to receive and transmit data?

So, in addition to the fact that one device finds another and asks for permission to transmit, Bluetooth connection also requires adapters (on the phone and on the computer).

In turn, if on mobile bluetooth receiver internal, and there is no need to install any additional software on it, then in the case of a laptop or computer, drivers are required that will allow you to work with the transmitter. Therefore, if you see that the laptop’s Bluetooth does not find the phone, the first thing you need to do is check that the drivers for the adapter are up to date. We will talk about this in more detail below. Now let’s talk again about the basic questions and points that are important for getting started.

Where can I find bluetooth on my laptop?

So, it happens that we buy a laptop and don’t know for sure whether it has the ability to transfer files via Bluetooth or not. In fact, a similar situation may arise if you have been using a computer for several years, after which there is a need to transfer a particular file. We tell you how to establish the presence of an adapter, and also talk about where to find bluetooth in a laptop.

To begin with, you need to navigate external design computer, whether it has a wireless transmitter. Look at the stickers on back cover gadget. As a rule, manufacturers leave labels with the Bluetooth technology symbol depicted. If your computer has one, consider that you can use this communication route.

If according to appearance It is impossible to understand whether a laptop has Bluetooth, you need to turn to the software to find out. At availability of Windows 7th or 8th generation you can do this from the Start menu. There is an icon linking to the Bluetooth control menu.

If Windows XP is installed, or you cannot find such a button, then you need to go to the “Control Panel”, and then to the “Device Manager” menu. If you don’t know how to find it, you need to study this section. In it you will see exactly whether the adapter is connected, whether it is ready to use or not.

Setting up reception and transmission

In case you find a device associated with Bluetooth technology, follow the link to it and find out if the drivers need updating. It may be that the adapter simply does not have the appropriate drivers, or they are outdated, or even not suitable at all.

To solve the problem, just go to the official website of your laptop manufacturer and look for the “Downloads” section. There you can find current driver for your Bluetooth and download it. This is done for free and very simply. If all the manipulations are done correctly, the problem that the phone does not find bluetooth on the laptop will be solved.

Turning on the device

Another issue is activating the adapter for reception and detecting it on the network of another device. First you need to turn on Bluetooth. There are several ways to do this.

The first - the simplest - is to use special program, which comes with some laptops. It is standard because it was developed by the manufacturer itself, and with it you can easily manage the reception and transmission of files. If you have one, consider yourself lucky.

The second way to find bluetooth on a laptop (more precisely, turn it on) is to use hot keys. True, you need to be sure in advance that you have installed fresh driver for their use. This is done simply: you need to hold down the Fn key and the F button, which indicates turning on Bluetooth (on Asus this is, for example, F2). In the same way, by the way, you can turn it off. Quite convenient, you'll agree.

The third method is to install third-party software to control the Bluetooth adapter. There are many of them, the most common are BlueSoleil and Widcomm. Whether you use them or not is up to you. The first, for example, is offered for $30, the second is free.

About the transmitted data

Users often ask the question of how to find Bluetooth on a laptop. This is explained by the fact that the activation of this connection, in the vast majority of cases, is combined with Wi-Fi. In other words, you turn on two of these modules at the same time. Moreover, Bluetooth is usually hidden, and in order to connect the device you need to follow certain steps.

But, you must understand that before you start searching and further work with the adapter you need to install the appropriate software. It is this that allows the equipment to work normally, and provides users with handy tool for management.

Driver installation

As a rule, each laptop comes with a disk containing everything necessary programs. If for some reason there is no such disk, then you can always go to the official website of your laptop manufacturer and download the necessary drivers, indicating exact model your laptop.

In addition to the driver for the Bluetooth adapter, you need to install software for the keyboard. This is important because additional features laptop keyboards, such as enabling and disabling wireless adapters and so on, will only work after installing the appropriate software. After installing the drivers, you can move on to the question of how to find Bluetooth on a laptop.

How to install or reinstall drivers for Bluetooth: Video

Where and how to find Bluetooth on PC

Everything here is extremely simple. First of all, it is worth noting that after installing the software, a Bluetooth icon will appear in the system tray (in the lower right corner of the desktop). This indicates that everything is installed and ready to use.

Right-click on this icon. You will see several options in the menu that appears. Select the one you need based on what exactly you want to do:

• Add a device - the system will start searching available connections and will give you a list. This item is needed in order to create connections with the computer.
• Show Bluetooth devices- the system will show you all available connections. That is, the equipment that has ever been connected to your PC.
• Join personal network PAN - this will allow you to create personal network, which can connect all your devices that have Bluetooth.
• Open parameters - this item allows you to enter the adapter settings and change the configuration.
• Disconnect - disables communication. If it is already disabled, then you can enable it in the same way.
• Remove icon.

The second way to find the Bluetooth module in a laptop is to launch the device manager. You can do this in several ways:

• Go to the Start menu and search bar write the name of the service you want to open.
• Press the Windows key combination + R. In the window that appears, write devmgmt.msc and press “Enter”.
• Right-click on the “My Computer” shortcut and select “Properties”. In the window that appears, select “Device Manager”.

In the equipment manager, you just need to find Bluetooth, which may be hidden in the “ Network adapters" If you right-click on it, you can turn the module off or on.

How to determine if there is a Bluetooth adapter on your laptop: Video

How to open the Bluetooth menu

In order to open one or another adapter menu, for example, to change the configuration or connect new equipment, you just need to go to the Start menu and write Bluetooth. From the search results, simply select the option you need. This is the answer to the question of how to open the Bluetooth menu on a laptop.

As you can see, everything is extremely simple. If you are using the Windows 8 operating system, then you need to move your mouse cursor to the right top corner and open settings. Next, open “Change computer settings.” Now go to Computer and Devices and select Bluetooth.

Despite the fact that everyone modern smartphone, tablet, laptop and so on equipped WiFi adapter, communicating via Bluetooth is still easier. And if we need to transfer some small file or connect wireless headset, then Bluetooth is a more convenient solution. How to enable bluetooth on Windows 7?

It is worth noting that before moving on to the answer to main question How to turn on the Bluetooth adapter on a laptop with Windows 7, you should prepare the radio module for operation.

• Installing drivers.
• Installation of additional utilities.

The fact is that without availability suitable drivers Bluetooth won't work in the operating room Windows system 7. Where can I get them? Each laptop comes with a software disc. If there is no such disk, then necessary software can be found on the official website of the laptop manufacturer.

If you are using external adapter Bluetooth, then to find suitable software you need to know its full name, which is indicated on the package.

After installing the driver, your Windows 7 computer will detect new hardware, which you can see in Device Manager. You can open the service as follows. Press the Start+R keys simultaneously. In the dialog box that opens, write mmc devmgmt.msc and press Enter. Here we are interested in two branches:

• Network equipment.
• Radio bluetooth module.

We open them and see the full name of the adapter that is installed on the computer.

Additional utilities are required to work with the adapter. They allow you to connect to devices wirelessly. So, the preparation is complete, and you can move on to the question of how to enable Bluetooth on a computer running Windows 7.

How to easily enable Bluetooth in Windows 7: Video

Where to find bluetooth on Windows 7

How to find bluetooth on a computer running Windows 7? It's very simple. As mentioned above, it shows up in Device Manager. You can also turn it off there. This is one of the ways to activate the module.

Another way to turn on wireless is to press special key on a laptop.

On different models This key can be located in different places. As a rule, it is combined with the inclusion WiFi module. The button has a corresponding designation. If it is combined with a key, for example, F2, F5, F10 or some other, then before pressing it you should press and hold the “Fn” button.

It is worth noting that after installing the drivers, the icon wireless adapter will appear in the system tray (the area in the lower right corner of the desktop). If you right-click on it, a control menu will appear in which you can disable or enable radio communication.

Now you know how to enable Bluetooth on Windows 7. But how to connect devices to it?

How to set up Bluetooth on Windows 7: Video

How to connect a device via bluetooth

How to connect a Windows 7 computer to other devices via Bluetooth? To do this, right-click on the corresponding icon in the system tray. In the menu that appears, select “Add devices”.

There are several pairing methods mobile devices with laptop/PC for file sharing. The simplest and most obvious is. However, it happens that the cable is not at hand or, in in rare cases, with a wired connection. This is where good old Bluetooth technology may come in handy, which is still supported by most modern laptop PCs. Moreover, there are even special utilities, developed by laptop manufacturers to control the wireless module. However, we will not consider them, but rather get acquainted with regular means provided by the operating system. So, how to enable Bluetooth on a laptop with installed Windows 7/10?

Is there a bluetooth module on the laptop?

You can find out whether there is a Bluetooth adapter specifically on your laptop model by the presence of the corresponding logo on the device case.

If the sticker is present, then the module is guaranteed to be installed. Another way to make sure that laptop equipped with Bluetooth technology – look at the characteristics of the laptop on the manufacturer’s website or any online store that sells this model. It is easy to determine the presence of an adapter in the most Windows environment 7/10, for example, through Device Manager. We will tell you how to do this below.

Activating Bluetooth using a button on the keyboard

On some types of laptops, turning Bluetooth on/off is reserved separate button(usually from the range F1-F12) on the keyboard. It is marked with a characteristic logo and is activated when pressed simultaneously with function key Fn.

Even more often, the Bluetooth activation button is combined with the Wi-Fi activation button.

The fact that the Bluetooth module is activated will be indicated by a special light indicator located on the laptop body. True, this is not present on all portable devices.

On a number of models, turning on Bluetooth is not controlled by a button, but by an additional two-position switch. But such a solution is quite rare nowadays.

Enabling Bluetooth in Windows 7

If necessary drivers Bluetooth module is installed and the device works correctly, then after Windows boot you'll likely see an icon in your notification area.

By right-clicking on it, you can call context menu, allowing you to manage wireless connection– send/receive files, set settings.

But sometimes bluetooth icon is missing from the tray, which does not mean that the module is faulty or inactive. It’s just that the option responsible for displaying the icon is turned off in the settings. How to change the adapter state?

There are several ways to enable Bluetooth in Windows 7, we will look at the simplest one. Let's go to the Network Control Center and shared access. You can do this by right-clicking on the network icon in the lower right corner of the screen and selecting desired item(an alternative way is through the Control Panel).

In the list of connections that opens we find “ Network connection Bluetooth" (it may have a different name, but the Bluetooth icon will prevent it from being confused with other types of connections).

If the device is in the “Disabled” state, simply double-click on it with the left mouse button. That's it, the module is now active.

To set its settings, right-click on the icon and go to “Properties”.

Then open the “Bluetooth” tab and click on “Bluetooth Settings”.

In the window that appears, you can change the wireless connection settings, for example, allow the computer to be detected by other devices or enable the display of the icon in the notification area.

To deactivate Bluetooth, right-click on the icon and select “Disable”.

How to proceed in Windows 10

In the “ten” the above method works fine for Windows 7, but there are also additional features manipulations with Bluetooth. The functionality required for this is included in the standard Settings utility. Let's launch it through the Start menu, and then go to Devices - Bluetooth.

It’s easy to find a slider here to turn the adapter on/off, plus there’s the ability to control connected devices. Chapter " Related options» allows you to go to additional settings or start sending/receiving files.

Managing Bluetooth via Device Manager

The Bluetooth wireless module, like all other components of the laptop, appears in Device Manager. This applies to both Windows 7 and Windows 10. Let's go into it through the Control Panel and try to find the device we are looking for in the general list. A module can have its own branch or be in the Network Adapters list. The main thing is that the designation must contain the word Bluetooth (the item is often called “Bluetooth radio modules”). Some options for naming the adapter in Device Manager are shown below.

Having found required device, look at the icon next to it. If there is a circle with a downward arrow on it, then the component is not active. Right-click on it and select “Engage” from the menu.

If you need to turn off Bluetooth, click “Disable”.

Staff Dispatcher Windows devices 7/10 is good because it allows you not only to change the state of the Bluetooth module, but also to diagnose various problems with it. For example, having an icon next to the device in the form exclamation mark will indicate that there are problems with the drivers. They are probably simply not installed or installed incorrectly. Here, by going to Properties, you can update the software or roll back to one of previous versions drivers.

Conclusion

We hope that the following instructions will help you easily enable Bluetooth on your laptop or any other mobile computer. We will devote a separate article to the most common malfunctions that occur with the module. We’ll also talk separately about how to connect gadgets and transfer files via Bluetooth from your phone to your computer/laptop and back. If you have any comments about our current article, please use the comment form below.