Does Your PC or Mac Have Bluetooth? Here's How to Check

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Where and how to see if your computer is Bluetooth enabled
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Do you want to know if your computer has Bluetooth? Bluetooth has become the standard that most electronic devices use to communicate with other devices. [1] Because of this, most modern computers come with Bluetooth capabilities built in. However, some older computer models may not have Bluetooth. This wikiHow article teaches you how to find out if your computer has Bluetooth and how to add it if it does not.

How to Check Your Computer for Bluetooth

On Windows , open Device Manager and check to see if you have any Bluetooth devices. On Mac , go to General > About > System Report > Hardware in your settings. On Linux , open Terminal and run "systemctl status bluetooth" or "bluetoothctl -v" to check for Bluetooth.

Section 1 of 4:

Using a Windows PC

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  1. It's the button with the Windows logo in the taskbar at the bottom of the screen. Right-clicking the Windows Start menu displays a context menu with some advanced options.
    • Alternatively, you can click the Windows Start menu or click the search bar and type "Device Manager."
  2. It's in the context menu that appears when you right-click the Windows Start menu. [2]
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  3. If you find a Bluetooth heading near the top of the window (e.g., in the "B" section), your computer has built-in Bluetooth capabilities.
  4. If you don't see the Bluetooth heading, you may still have a Bluetooth device listed under Network Adapters. Click the right-facing triangle icon next to Network Adapters to see a list of all network adapters on your computer. Look for a network adapter with "Bluetooth" in the title. If you do not see one, your computer likely does not have a Bluetooth adapter installed.
  5. If your computer has Bluetooth, but your devices aren't connecting, check to make sure you have Bluetooth turned on. This option will only be available if Windows detects a Bluetooth adapter. Use one of the following steps to do so: [3]
    • Windows 10: Click the Windows Start button, followed by Settings . Click Devices , followed by Bluetooth & other devices . Click the toggle switch next to "Bluetooth" to turn Bluetooth on and off.
    • Windows 11: Click the Windows Start button, followed by Settings . Click Bluetooth & devices . Click the toggle switch next to "Bluetooth" to turn Bluetooth on and off.
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Section 2 of 4:

Using a Mac

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  1. 1
    Open the System Report. To do this, click on the Apple menu, then click on General > About > System Report . [4]
    • On older versions of macOS, you'll click About this Mac > System Report in the Apple menu.
    • If your Mac was built in 2006 or later, it has Bluetooth. [5]
  2. Click the right-facing triangle to the left of the "Hardware" heading to do so. You should see a list of indented subcategories appear below the "Hardware" heading.
    • If the triangle next to "Hardware" is facing downward, this list is already expanded.
  3. Beneath the "Hardware" heading, look for a "Bluetooth" sub-heading. It should be near the top of the list of hardware options.
    • If you don't see a "Bluetooth" heading here, your Mac does not have built-in Bluetooth.
  4. If you see the "Bluetooth" sub-heading, click once on the heading to select it. If clicking the heading displays Bluetooth information on the right-hand side of the window, your Mac has Bluetooth capabilities; if not, your Mac doesn't allow Bluetooth use. [6]
  5. If your Mac has Bluetooth, but your devices aren't connecting, make sure you have Bluetooth turned on. Use the following steps to do so: [7]
    • Click the Apple icon in the upper-right corner of your desktop.
    • Click System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions of macOS).
    • Click Bluetooth in the menu to the left, or in the System Preferences menu.
    • Click Turn Bluetooth on .
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Section 3 of 4:

Using a Linux PC

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  1. 1
    Open the Terminal. Click or double-click the Terminal app icon, which resembles a black box with a white ">_" on it.
    • You can also just press Alt+Ctrl+T to open Terminal in most versions of Linux. [8]
  2. 2
    Type systemctl status bluetooth and press ↵ Enter . This will check to see if Bluetooth is installed and running on your computer. If Bluetooth is installed, it will display your Bluetooth information. If it's not, the command will error out. [9]
    • If the above command doesn't work, try bluetoothctl -v .
  3. 3
    Enable Bluetooth by typing sudo systemctl start bluetooth . Press ↵ Enter to run the command. Enter your password if you're prompted for it.
  4. 4
    Install any missing Bluetooth packages, if necessary. First, type sudo apt list --installed and press ↵ Enter to see if all of your Bluetooth packages are installed. If you're missing any, type sudo apt install <package-name> and press ↵ Enter to install them (replace <package-name> with the missing package name).
  5. 5
    Reset the Bluetooth adapter, if necessary. If you have all of your Bluetooth packages installed and Bluetooth is running on your computer, you can try restarting the Bluetooth adapter on your computer. Type sudo hciconfig hci0 reset and press ↵ Enter to reset the adapter.
    • If you still don't have Bluetooth after this, you likely don't have a Bluetooth adapter in your computer. You can add one with a dongle or Bluetooth card.
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Section 4 of 4:

Adding Bluetooth to a Computer

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  1. If your computer doesn't have Bluetooth, you can easily add Bluetooth as long as your computer has a free USB port. All you need to do is purchase a Bluetooth dongle and plug it into a free USB port.
    • Linux won't always recognize Bluetooth adapters or dongles, especially if your computer is an older model.
    • Even if your computer has Bluetooth, you may be able to use a Bluetooth dongle to upgrade to a newer version of Bluetooth, such as Bluetooth 5.0.
    • If you are using an older version of Windows that doesn't have Bluetooth drivers, or you are using a Bluetooth dongle to upgrade your Bluetooth, you may need to install the Bluetooth drivers for your Bluetooth dongle. You can download the drivers from the manufacturer's website of your Bluetooth dongle, or you can install them using the disk that came with the Bluetooth dongle.
  2. If you don't have any free USB ports on your computer (or you don't want to use one up), but you have a free PCI slot in your computer case, you can purchase a Bluetooth card and install it.
    • If you have a free PCI slot in your computer, you will need to open your computer case and install the Bluetooth card in a free PCI slot inside your computer tower.
    • If you are using a laptop, you will need to check to make sure your laptop has expandable slots for new hardware. If it does, you will need to take the bottom panel off of your laptop and install the mini-PCI card in the communications port of your laptop.
    • If you have an older computer that doesn't have Bluetooth drivers, you may need to install them. You can download the Bluetooth drivers from the manufacturer's website of your Bluetooth card, or you can use the disk that came with your Bluetooth card.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Does the dongle remain on the USB port every time the Bluetooth function is in use?
    Community Answer
    The "dongle" is a hardware device that plugs into a USB port. In order to use your Bluetooth, the dongle must be plugged into the USB port, however if you need the USB port for another function, and don't need the Bluetooth function, the dongle may be removed from the port; disabling the Bluetooth function. When you need the Bluetooth again, plug it back into an empty USB and it should reactivate.
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    Not Helpful 5 Helpful 14
  • Question
    Does a laptop with Windows 10 have Bluetooth?
    Community Answer
    This depends on your laptop hardware and whether it came with built-in Bluetooth. If you have the hardware capabilities, Windows 10 includes the software to allow you to use Bluetooth, which you can find in Control Panel. If your notebook did not come with Bluetooth, you can purchase a USB adapter, which will allow you to use its capabilities.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    How can I figure out whether my laptop has Bluetooth if I have Windows 8?
    Community Answer
    Press Ctrl + X and select Device Manager. Follow the rest of the steps for Windows 7.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.bluetooth.com/learn-about-bluetooth/tech-overview/
      2. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/open-device-manager-a7f2db46-faaf-24f0-8b7b-9e4a6032fc8c
      3. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/turn-bluetooth-on-or-off-in-windows-9e92fddd-4e12-e32b-9132-5e36bdb2f75a
      4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-eg/guide/mac-help/syspr35536/mac
      5. ↑ https://everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac_g5_1.8_17_als.html
      6. ↑ https://support.soundbrenner.com/hc/en-us/articles/219111007-How-to-check-if-your-Mac-is-Bluetooth-4-0-compatible
      7. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-eg/guide/mac-help/blth1008/mac
      8. ↑ https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/command-line-for-beginners#3-opening-a-terminal
      9. ↑ https://community.spiceworks.com/t/how-to-verify-bluetooth-using-linux-command/961891

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open the Windows search bar.
      2. Type "device manager" and press Enter .
      3. If you see a "Bluetooth" menu, your PC has Bluetooth.

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