Nowadays, Bluetooth is a feature that many of us cannot live without. Almost all wireless headsets use it, along with many keyboards, mice, and other computer accessories.
Your laptop almost certainly has Bluetooth, whether it’s running Windows, macOS, or Chrome OS. All Mac PCs also have the technology built in, but the picture is a little less clear on Windows desktops.
Not all Windows 10 and 11 machines offer the feature, but there are alternatives if it’s missing on your device. Here’s how to find out.
How to check if your PC has Bluetooth
We are using Windows 11 for the purposes of this tutorial, but the method is identical on Windows 10.
Open Device Manager
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Click on the search bar next to the Start menu, type “device” and click on the appropriate option to open it. You can also use the shortcut Windows key + X, followed only by M.
Check the “Bluetooth” category
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Device categories are sorted alphabetically, so you should quickly spot Bluetooth if it’s there. In the example below, it is between the batteries and the camera. If you see it, your device supports Bluetooth.
Check under ‘Network adapters’
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Even if you don’t see a Bluetooth category there, it can sometimes appear under “Network adapters”. But if there’s no reference to Bluetooth in either location, your device doesn’t have it.
How to add Bluetooth to your PC
Even if your device does not natively support Bluetooth, there is an easy workaround. Just buy a cheap Bluetooth dongle (US/UK) and plug it into a free USB port.
The method of connecting to a Bluetooth device varies slightly between Windows 10 and Windows 11. Just make sure the device you want to connect to is in pairing mode. .
In Windows 10, go to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices, then click “Add Bluetooth or other device”. Your PC will scan and find all available Bluetooth devices that are discoverable – just click on the ones that appear.
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In Windows 11, go to Settings > Bluetooth and devices and click on the large plus icon labeled “Add device”.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
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