Bluetooth is a convenient alternative to wires. With Bluetooth, you tin can connect supported phones, mice, headsets, printers, keyboards, tablets, and many other devices to your computer, equally long every bit it too supports Bluetooth.

Overall, Bluetooth is pretty simple to use, but it tin can be a fleck disruptive to new users. To connect two Bluetooth devices together, one (or both) of the devices must be "discoverable." And this initial Bluetooth connection process is known as "pairing."

Sound confusing? We'll show you everything you need to set Bluetooth for Windows seven.

Note: It'southward time to upgrade to Windows 10! Read our commodity on how to manage Bluetooth on Windows 10 when y'all upgrade your reckoner!

Turn on Bluetooth on Your Estimator and Device

Starting time, ensure Bluetooth is enabled on your computer. Many laptops come with Bluetooth support, only it may exist disabled past default to salvage battery ability. Often, you lot can notice a push button on your laptop's keyboard that toggles Bluetooth. Y'all might also take an icon in the System Tray at the bottom-right of the screen or an option in your reckoner manufacturer's included software.

If your reckoner doesn't accept Bluetooth support (which is the case for many desktops), you lot can buy a cheap Bluetooth adapter. This is a small-scale USB dongle that provides Bluetooth access on any machine.

Next, ensure Bluetooth is enabled on the device yous want to pair with your computer. Bluetooth is enabled by default on Bluetooth mice and headsets, but it may be disabled on smartphones and tablets.

The verbal location of this pick volition depend on your device.

On Android, swipe downward from the elevation of the screen twice to access Quick Settings, and then brand certain you haveBluetooth enabled. iOS users should open up Control Centre by swiping up from the lesser of the screen (iPhone 8 or earlier) or swiping down from the height-correct corner of the screen (iPhone Ten or subsequently). Then tap theBluetooth icon to enable it, if it's not already.

Brand the PC and Devices Discoverable

While Bluetooth is now enabled on both your figurer and device, they still tin't see each other. For a Bluetooth device to see some other, information technology must exist discoverable. In discoverable mode, your PC or device sends out signals advertising itself. This is disabled by default for security purposes; information technology but needs to exist enabled when you're pairing devices.

You simply need to make one of the devices discoverable. Doing this for either your PC or the device you lot want to connect will work, just it doesn't injure to do information technology for both.

To make your Windows 7 PC discoverable, click the First button and select Devices and Printers on the right side of the Get-go menu. Then correct-click your computer name (or Bluetooth adapter proper name) in the list of devices and select Bluetooth settings.

If you need to do this on newer Windows versions too, we have a guide on how to connect your phone using Bluetooth on Windows 10.

Bluetooth Settings Menu Windows 7

Click the Allow Bluetooth devices to observe this calculator checkbox in the Bluetooth Settings window, and so click OK. Your computer volition at present exist discoverable to other devices.

Windows 7 Bluetooth Options

To brand your phone discoverable, get into its Bluetooth options. If y'all apply Android, you'll find this atSettings > Continued devices. On iOS, head toSettings > Bluetooth. Both volition brandish a bulletin likeNow discoverable as [Name] when the device is ready to pair.

If you're pairing a device like a Bluetooth mouse or headphones, follow the instructions in the manual to put the device into pairing manner. Typically, you'll demand to hold the ability button for several seconds or something similar.

Pair the Device

You can now pair the device with your computer. If you've fabricated your PC discoverable, you can select your PC from the listing of available devices that shows on your phone or tablet to initiate the pairing process.

Alternatively, you can pair a device from your PC, as long as that device is discoverable. Beginning, click the Add a device button in the Devices and Printers panel of Windows 7. (If you want to pair a Bluetooth printer, click Add together a printer instead.)

Windows volition look for discoverable Bluetooth devices and present them in the list. Select one and click Next to add together it.

Windows 7 Add Bluetooth Device

If y'all don't see your Bluetooth device here, ensure that it's discoverable and has Bluetooth enabled. As we mentioned above, this may require a sure button input on Bluetooth accessories like keyboards.

For many devices, you'll see a passcode. Ensure the key on your PC and the device are the same. This helps y'all ensure you lot're connecting the device to the right motorcar, and not some other nearby computer.

You'll have to agree to the pairing asking to initiate the connection. When pairing a telephone, you'll need to confirm the code on both your phone and your computer. A window will pop up request you to confirm the connection. This helps prevent other people from pairing with your device when it's in discoverable mode.

Windows 7 Bluetooth Pairing Code

Once y'all confirm, Windows may install drivers as needed. Then you're all set to kickoff using it.

Y'all tin can double-click the device in the Devices and Printers window to access more features, such as the ability to send files and play music. The exact features available will depend on your device.

Windows 7 Bluetooth Device Functions

Discover, Pair, and Go

At present that your device and computer are paired, they'll continue working together. You won't have to go through the pairing process each time you want to use the device, and they'll connect automatically when they're in range and turned on.

When you're not actually pairing devices, for your security, you should make sure that both the device and your PC aren't discoverable. You may besides desire to disable Bluetooth when you're not using it, which can help save battery ability on both your figurer and your device.

For more on this topic, check out our FAQ guide to Bluetooth.

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Nearly The Author

Ben Stegner (1810 Articles Published)

Ben is the Editor in Chief at MakeUseOf. He left his IT job to write total-time in 2016 and has never looked back. He's been covering tech tutorials, video game recommendations, and more as a professional writer for over eight years.

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