I’m trying to connect my wireless headphones to my PC but can’t figure out how to turn on Bluetooth in Windows 10. The option doesn’t seem to show up in my settings. Has anyone had this issue or know how to get Bluetooth working? Need help troubleshooting this so I can use my headphones.
Oh man, Bluetooth on Windows 10 can be a wild ride. First off, double-check your PC actually HAS Bluetooth. Not every desktop comes with it (learned that the hard way after 30 minutes yelling at my settings menu). If you do have it, go to Start > Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices. If you don’t see a Bluetooth toggle there… big oof, your drivers might be MIA. Go to Device Manager (just search for it), and see if “Bluetooth” shows up in the list. If not, you gotta check for “Unknown device” or maybe it’s hidden. Right-click and “Scan for hardware changes” or “Show hidden devices” sometimes helps. Still nothing? You might need to install the latest drivers from your computer or motherboard maker. And if your PC doesn’t have Bluetooth at all, not kidding, just grab a USB Bluetooth dongle off Amazon for like ten bucks—it’s way less painful. Connecting headphones = right-click the Bluetooth icon in the system tray, choose “Add Bluetooth device,” and pair away. If you ask me, Microsoft makes this way more complicated than it needs to be.
Not gonna lie, trying to wrangle Bluetooth on Windows 10 sometimes feels like trying to herd cats—good luck if you’ve already made the rounds in “Bluetooth & other devices” like @sterrenkijker suggested and nada’s showing up. I’m not sure if I’d jump straight to the “maybe your PC just doesn’t have it” assumption, though. Sometimes, Windows likes to randomly hide settings or just flips a switch and acts like Bluetooth never existed.
Here’s what I’d try (besides what’s already mentioned):
- Go to Device Manager (search for it in Start menu), but also, check under “Network adapters.” There can be some sneaky Bluetooth hardware listed there under a weird name (“Wireless AC Thing BlahBlah”).
- If you DO see Bluetooth hardware but can’t toggle it on, sometimes Fn+F(whatever) will turn it on (laptops esp). Look for a little Bluetooth icon on your F-keys.
- If your PC has airplane mode, it can block Bluetooth HARD. Make sure that’s turned off. Sounds obvious, but Windows can keep you on airplane mode even turned on by accident.
- Don’t ignore Windows Update! I know, groan, but seriously, run the update and check Optional Updates for driver patches. I had it not show up until some weird “cumulative update” actually included the right radio driver.
- For desktop users: open up your system’s BIOS/UEFI settings (smash Del/F2 at boot) and look for wireless/Bluetooth settings in there—sometimes it’s just DISABLED at a super basic level.
Lastly, yeah, USB Bluetooth dongle is a band-aid but honestly works most the time, tho I’d rather get my built-in hardware working if it’s there. Windows’ magical “troubleshooters” rarely fix anything but you could give that a shot too (Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Bluetooth).
Microsoft, meanwhile: “Why is this so hard? Pls just work.” The eternal struggle. Anyone else find a trick that’s not mentioned?
I’m just going to say it—Windows Bluetooth is chaos incarnate, but there’s still a couple things not hit yet by the previous posters. First, you really want to verify that it isn’t any software that’s blocking your Bluetooth stack. If you’ve ever installed “power-saving” utilities, VPN clients, or even certain antivirus junk, those can mess up your device’s ability to show the wireless radios in Windows. Safe Mode with networking can sometimes reveal a hidden Bluetooth device in Device Manager that just refuses to show up when your main profile is loaded. Worth a shot if you’re desperate.
PRO TIP: If you dual-boot with Linux (yes, some folks do!), confirm if Bluetooth works there. Sometimes it’s not your hardware—it’s Windows just borking its management, which can push you to fix drivers in a streamlined environment.
On the “USB Bluetooth dongle” front—yes, they’re a lifesaver. But, heads up: not all are built equal. Some have crummy range, weird drops, or just don’t support standards like aptX for better audio quality with headphones. If you get one, look for something compatible with Bluetooth 5.0+, ideally plug-and-play on Windows 10 and solid Amazon reviews (not just the $5 ones). The fact that a dongle works basically as soon as you pop it in makes it a pro for sure, but compatibility and Windows auto-install “generic” drivers (which might lack extra features) can be a con against keeping your built-in gear working.
I don’t really fully agree with the “check the BIOS” train unless you know your PC actually has a Bluetooth card that’s separate from WiFi (some only let you toggle WiFi). In my experience, 90% of desktop motherboards don’t have Bluetooth out of the box, so USB dongle’s honestly not a band-aid, it’s the real “fix.”
As for competitors, the earlier answers from @chasseurdetoiles and @sterrenkijker pretty much covered the official troubleshooting stuff and some hidden settings, but missed some of the weird third-party software conflicts. Also, if all else fails, try creating a new local Windows user profile and see if Bluetooth options show up there. Obscure, but I’ve seen user profile corruption hide hardware toggles before. That’s a rare Hail Mary, but when everything else is broken, you gotta try it all.
In terms of products, the USB Bluetooth dongle (like TP-Link or Asus) is the go-to for most, but—pro: Quick, easy, and almost always works. Con: Another USB port gone, and may need to uninstall bad drivers first for it to install right.
Basically: Don’t trust Windows to tell you the full story. Sometimes, you just gotta outsmart it.