How to find out if your computer has bluetooth. Using the command line. Turning on Bluetooth: what to check

Do you need to transfer several files from your computer to your phone, tablet or other gadget, but there is no way to connect the devices? Then you probably have a question: does your computer have bluetooth? To find out, you will need to carry out a number of activities.

Bluetooth for a computer is usually not provided as standard. To find out if your computer has Bluetooth, you need to check whether it has a built-in adapter. There is usually a sticker somewhere on the case indicating this.

If there is no sticker, but there is a Bluetooth indicator or a button to turn it on, this does not mean that the device has a function (sometimes the manufacturer produces models in the same cases, but their functionality may differ).

The opposite is similar: the sticker may be missing, but bluetooth may be there. To find out exactly, look at the PC manual or find the specification on the manufacturer's website, where all the characteristics will be indicated.

Another option is also possible: initially there was no Bluetooth function on the device, but then a Bluetooth adapter was connected. To check this, go to Device Manager. There, on the “Network Controllers” tab, all devices that are connected to the PC, including Bluetooth, will be listed. There is a simpler option: if you are sure that there is no built-in bluetooth on your PC, just examine the case of the system unit and check all USB connections.

To begin with, you should purchase a Bluetooth adapter. In appearance it is a USB keychain that resembles a flash drive. There are also versions in a special form factor. They are larger, so if you constantly insert and disconnect the adapter (that is, you plan to use it on the front panel of the computer), it is better to purchase standard USB keys. And for use on the back wall of a PC, in principle, it doesn’t matter what form factor adapter you use.
Find the USB interface on the system unit case and connect the adapter to it.
The PC will automatically detect the new device and configure it. If the computer does not “see” the adapter, go to “Device Manager”, activate the menu by right-clicking and click “Update hardware configuration”. After a few seconds, the name of the USB adapter will appear in the window.
Drivers are configured automatically. The Bluetooth icon will then appear on the toolbar. It is recommended to install drivers from the disk that came with the adapter, rather than searching for them on the Internet. The fact is that the capabilities of devices today are expanding every day, so drivers are constantly updated. Their older version, for example, may not support many devices with which the adapter is compatible. In addition, sometimes a special program is installed from the included disk, which simplifies the use of the Bluetooth adapter.

To correctly install drivers from the disk, you must fulfill one of two requirements:

Insert the disk and configure the drivers before connecting the adapter;
Disable the Internet (if you first insert the adapter and then install drivers from the disk).

This is necessary so that the operating system does not try to find the appropriate drivers on the Internet. Usually this happens automatically and only then, when the necessary drivers are not found on the network, does the system prompt you to specify the path to them, that is, to the disk.

If you don't know where exactly the drivers are located on the disk, you can activate the auto-installer (it's located on the disk itself). To do this, insert the CD into the drive and wait until the installation wizard starts. Then you can simply press the “Next” and “Finish” buttons, usually this is enough to perform a standard driver installation and ensure full operation of the Bluetooth adapter.

During driver installation, the operating system may display a message that this hardware has not been tested with this OS version. There is no need to worry too much here, you can just click “Continue”.

The “Wizard” may also ask you to disconnect the adapter from USB before installing the drivers. Do this, otherwise the drivers will either not be installed at all, or may not be installed correctly.

After the Installation Wizard completes, you will see a Bluetooth icon in the tray. If it is red, it means the function is not activated. To enable the device, right-click on the icon and click "activate adapter" (or something like that).

When purchasing a Bluetooth adapter, consider how often you will use it. If you need it infrequently, then it is quite possible to buy an inexpensive model. If you are purchasing a device for active use, it is better to choose a more expensive adapter that has a longer service life. As for the signal level, in principle it is satisfactory even on the cheapest models. If you need to periodically copy files to your mobile device, then an inexpensive adapter will cope with these functions.

Most modern computers do not have built-in Bluetooth. However, this is not a problem. You can always buy a Bluetooth adapter. Its installation will not take much time, and very soon you will be able to start using it for its intended purpose.

Question from a user

Hello.

Tell me how to turn on bluetooth on an ASUS laptop. The fact is that I don’t have any tray icons next to the clock at all! There is also no function key on the keyboard to turn it on. I climbed and climbed, I understand the absurdity: there is bluetooth, but you can’t turn it on...

Good day.

I think that not everything is so bad, and it is possible to turn on Bluetooth even on your laptop. In this article I will consider step by step all the main things that need to be checked and corrected.

Addition!

Turning on Bluetooth: what to check

1) Checking the driver to see if it is installed

Perhaps the first place to start dealing with the problem of Bluetooth not working is to check whether the drivers are installed. By the way, I highly recommend your current drivers (which came by default with the installation of Windows OS) update to those downloaded from your laptop manufacturer's website!

To see if there is a driver conflict and if they are in the system, open device Manager (either press the Win+Pause combination and you will see a link in the menu on the left, or go to the control panel and open the “Hardware and Sound” section - there will also be a link to launch it) .

Next, open the “Bluetooth” tab - if everything is fine with the driver, you should see a device whose name is something like “Wireless Bluetooth”. If there are no such devices, or yellow exclamation marks are lit next to them, then you need to update the drivers (it’s also a good idea to check the “Other devices” tab - it displays devices for which there are no drivers) .

I have a lot of articles on my blog about how to update drivers on a computer (laptop). I will provide a couple of links below, where you will find all the comprehensive information on this issue.

The best programs to automatically update drivers -

How to install drivers on a computer, laptop -

2) Is the device turned on, is the adapter turned on

Next, after the driver is installed and the device appears in the "Bluetooth" section in the device manager, check that it is turned on! Note: when the device is turned off, the “arrow” is lit (see screenshot below).

A universal way to enter "Network Connections":

press the Win+R buttons simultaneously to display the "Run" window (or go to the task manager and click file/new task) ;
enter the command ncpa.cpl and press Enter.

Network connections should show (in most cases) several adapters: Ethernet, Wireless network (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, etc.

Pay attention to the Bluetooth adapter: click on it and turn it on (it does not always turn on automatically after installing the driver).

3) Check the settings to see if the icon is disabled

Allow Bluetooth devices to discover this PC;
notify me when a new device is connected;
display the icon in the notification area.

4) Try adding a device (including turning on Bluetooth using the keyboard)

Actually, if all of the above has been checked, the drivers are there and working, then it’s time to try connecting some device!

Method 1

In the tray next to the clock you should have a Bluetooth icon - by clicking on it, you can add a new device, receive or send a file, or view current connections.

Bluetooth icon in system tray

Method 2

Pay attention to the keyboard: some laptops have special function keys to turn on the wireless network. For example, below is a laptop that turns on Bluetooth using the Fn+F8 button combination.

By the way, pay attention to the indicators (LEDs) on the laptop body (some models have a separate LED for Bluetooth). If everything is fine with the adapter, it is turned on and working - you should see the LED light up (or blink).

Method 3

Another way to add a Bluetooth device is to go to the Windows control panel, enter “blue” in the search bar and select "Adding a Bluetooth device" (an example is presented below).

Another way to add a Bluetooth device

5) If suddenly it doesn’t work...

If all of the above did not help, and the adapter shows no signs of life, it may simply be broken. This could also happen...

However, now there is no need to worry about this - in Chinese online stores you can buy a micro Bluetooth adapter for literally 50-100 rubles. (when you insert it into the USB port, it simply will not be noticeable on the laptop body).

I'll add!

The cheapest Chinese stores are presented in this article: (by the way, there are also tips for saving even more with cashback).

That's all...

Good luck!

Every person sooner or later faces the problem of transferring information to his computer. There can be a great many reasons for this: lack of necessary connecting cables, inability to open the case and connect a second hard drive, and much more. Every user thinks about ways to transfer information and this is normal for advanced users. Now Bluetooth is not as popular as it used to be, but it will still be useful for some users to learn how to turn on Bluetooth on a computer. After all, this is one of the ways to wirelessly transfer information to a computer or laptop.

I have already published an article about what nuances there are when turning on Bluetooth in a laptop, here it is “”, but if you currently only have a computer, then you need a Bluetooth adapter for Bluetooth to appear on your computer. Also, if you have a laptop and want to use bluetooth on it, be sure to follow the link above. This article is an addition to the previous article, so if you even have bluetooth in your laptop and have already figured out how to use it, then in any case I recommend reading it to the end. But first things first.

In this article I would like to talk about all the stages: installation, connection and configuration of the Bluetooth adapter and what difficulties the user may encounter.

Bluetooth - who is it and what is it for?

To begin with, you should understand what bluetooth is and what it serves. Bluetooth is a technology that allows you to connect devices wirelessly over a limited distance, which must be equipped with Bluetooth adapters. Most gadgets such as laptops, phones and other devices have built-in adapters, but personal computers are not one of them. To be able to connect a personal computer with another device, you need to install a Bluetooth adapter.

A Bluetooth adapter is a device in the form of a small flash drive that is inserted into a USB port. Inserting the device into the computer does not pose any difficulties, but given the need to often use the front ports of the case, I advise you not to be lazy and place the adapter at the back of the system unit. This is done not only because the adapter will get in the way when you connect the flash drive from the front, but also to prevent damage.

Here's an example of what it might look like:

So, we understand that without purchasing a Bluetooth adapter, you will not be able to exchange files via Bluetooth. Now let's get started with the computer.

Connecting and identifying possible Bluetooth problems

You must connect your adapter to your computer, after which Bluetooth will be displayed as an unidentified device. If no notifications are received, then there is a problem. As a rule, the functionality of the device itself is beyond doubt, and the new Bluetooth adapter is accompanied by a warranty card, so all problems are most likely related to the computer settings.

In most cases, the problem is caused by a faulty USB port. Check the USB port into which you insert the adapter by connecting any other device to it: a mouse, keyboard or flash drive. If the device works, then the USB port can be considered working.

Also, in some cases, the Bluetooth adapter is equipped with a special indicator indicating the operation of the device. If the indicator is not lit, it means the device is not working, is malfunctioning, or the computer does not “see” it. If a malfunction is detected in the USB port, then you need to use the services of a service center, since it will be difficult to fix it yourself. If the Bluetooth adapter itself is faulty, you will have to go with the warranty card to the place where you purchased the non-working product. Also try using other ports.

After selecting a working USB port and connecting the device, you can move on and install the software.

Installing drivers

The device comes with installation instructions and a driver CD. Insert the device driver disc into your CD-ROM drive. As a rule, the disk supplied with the device contains an autorun function and the user only needs to agree to the supplier’s terms and conditions and start the installation.

What to do if there is no disk? Nowadays, it is very common to encounter a situation where drivers are not included with devices. In this case, you can search for the required driver on the Internet by entering the Bluetooth adapter model into the search, thereby going to the manufacturer’s website, where you can download the driver you need. Also pay attention to the box; the manufacturer’s website may be written on it, then you will already know for sure that this website has drivers for your device. All that remains is to download them.

Setting up bluetooth

After installing all the necessary drivers, your Bluetooth adapter will appear in the “Control Panel” or “Devices and Printers”, and a shortcut will appear on the desktop with which you can perform actions with Bluetooth. Also, the Bluetooth icon should appear in the tray; to open the menu, right-click on this icon. If you cannot find any signs of bluetooth on your computer after installing the drivers, then try restarting the computer.

If nothing appears anywhere, then the problem lies in drivers that were either installed incorrectly or are incompatible with your operating system. Therefore, you need to check the downloaded drivers for compatibility with your OS. Here's some useful information about drivers: "".

After all the manipulations and settings made, we came directly to the main question of this article: how to turn on Bluetooth on a computer? Double-click the left mouse button on the shortcut on the desktop. After Bluetooth is launched, a corresponding icon will appear in the notification area. This may not need to be done if the icon is already in the tray.

So, now right-click on the Bluetooth icon in the tray and select “Open settings”.

The Bluetooth settings window will open, now you need to make preliminary settings so that you can use Bluetooth on your computer. By default, you should be in the “Options” tab, where you need to set the following settings:

Please note that the first checkbox in the screenshot is unchecked, but if you connect your phone or any other device to the computer, you need to check this box. See the description under the checkbox.

As you can see, installing and configuring Bluetooth does not cause any difficulties. I hope after reading all this, you can do everything yourself without any problems.

If your computer or laptop is running Windows 8:

What version of Bluetooth is installed on your device? Sometimes this is very important for equipment connection, data transfer speed and other capabilities. This is especially true for wireless headphones, speakers and where you need to transmit high-quality sound without wires.

How to check Bluetooth version on Windows

You can find this information using Device Manager in Windows. To open Device Manager in Windows 10, right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.

On Windows 7, press Windows + R, type "devmgmt.msc" and then press Enter. Expand the Bluetooth category by clicking the arrow to the left of the name.

Find the adapter. His name will be different, but it is will not contain the word " Enumerator" Ignore any device with "Enumerator".

Double-click the adapter.

In the adapter properties window, click the Advanced tab. If you don't see the Advanced tab, you haven't selected the correct Bluetooth adapter device. Close the properties window and try double-clicking on another Bluetooth device.

Here you will see the LMP version number, although it will vary slightly between computers. This is the Link Manager protocol version that tells us what version of Bluetooth is on our computer.

Here's how the LMP version converts to the Bluetooth version, according to the official Bluetooth specification:

LMP 0: Bluetooth 1.0b
LMP 1: Bluetooth 1.1
LMP 2: Bluetooth 1.2
LMP 3: Bluetooth 2.0
LMP 4: Bluetooth 2.1
LMP 5: Bluetooth 3.0
LMP 6: Bluetooth 4.0
LMP 7: Bluetooth 4.1
LMP 8: Bluetooth 4.2
LMP 9: Bluetooth 5.0

For example, in the screenshot above, my PC has LMP 3.3164. This is LMP 3, which means my module is quite old, supports 2.0 and lower.

The higher the version, the better, it is more likely that it supports the latest codecs for transmitting good and high-quality sound, and is more economical in terms of battery and external interference.

If you want to look at the general characteristics and find out all the components of the computer, then pay attention to this one.

Bluetooth (bluetooth - “blue tooth”) is a special standard for wireless communication, i.e. using electromagnetic waves. It is used to connect two mobile devices and transfer data between them. This technology was originally developed to enable wireless headsets in mobile phones, allowing hands-free conversations. But the use of this technology in a laptop and other mobile gadgets is not limited to this - it can also be used to transfer files.

Everyone has long known about another wireless communication standard – Wi-Fi. What are the differences between the new standard and Wi-Fi? Their main differences are:

Different frequency ranges.
Bluetooth has a shorter range.
When using Bluetooth, there is no need to configure the hardware configuration.
Using this standard, you cannot set up a local network, that is, connect more than two devices at the same time.
The blue tooth has a significantly higher transmission speed.

As a rule, a modern laptop already has a built-in wireless communication radio module. But if you don’t have one (or one of the subscribers is a desktop PC), then you can buy an external adapter. It resembles a flash drive and connects to a USB port.

You can find out whether a laptop with Windows 7 has a built-in radio module, as well as see its status and enable it using the task manager. To do this, go to the control panel, select “Administration”, open “Computer Management”, then select “Device Manager”. If there is no “Bluetooth radio module” item in the list of installed devices, then the laptop does not have a Bluetooth module. If it is there, but there is a question or exclamation mark next to it, then this means that the adapter drivers require updating or reinstallation, but this is a topic for a separate article. When you purchase an external adapter, it usually comes with a driver CD. After the device driver is installed, Windows 7 will detect it, and the user can verify this by similar actions.

This condition can occur on a Windows 7 laptop for three reasons:

The radio adapter is turned off and needs to be turned on.
The adapter is faulty.
Adapter drivers are not installed or need to be reinstalled.

We are only interested in the first case - when the corresponding adapter is turned off and we need to turn it on. This can be done in several ways.

Standard way to turn on Bluetooth

There is an icon for this radio module in the notification area of the Windows 7 taskbar.

To configure the adapter status, you need to click on it, a menu will appear. Next, click on the “Add device” item.

Using hardware

There are laptop models equipped with hardware buttons to turn the adapter on/off. If there is one, then it must be set to the ON position.

Turn on using the Fn key

Most laptops have an Fn key on their keyboard. It is designed to control the status of various equipment installed in the computer, including bluetooth. The top row of keys are function keys (usually F1 - F12), which, when pressed together with Fn, performs such control. In a laptop, depending on its manufacturer, the “blue tooth” state control key may correspond to various function keys, as a rule, these are F3-F5. Such a key must have a corresponding icon.

Sometimes both wireless adapters are made in the same module, so they are turned on and off simultaneously using such a function key.

Via Device Manager

How to enter the Windows Device Manager has already been said at the beginning of the article. Once you enter it, you can see a picture with a list of all installed devices.

We are interested in the item “Bluetooth radio modules”. Open it, select the appropriate adapter and right-click on it. If this module is enabled, then the menu that appears will contain the “Disable” item, otherwise – the “Enable” item. This is what we need - click on it, the adapter turns on.

Enabling the radio module using third-party utilities

Depending on the manufacturer, there are a number of third-party utilities that can be used to enable the radio adapter. These are utilities such as:

Wireless Console (ASUS laptops).
ReadyComm (Lenovo laptops).
Utility Center (HP laptops).

They are all very easy to use and easy to find on the Internet. After installing them in Windows 7, a Bluetooth logo icon appears in the notification bar. Right-clicking will bring up a menu containing the item “Enable/Disable Bluetooth Adapter.”

Using the command line

This method of turning on the radio communication module is more difficult than all those described above, so you should only resort to it if none of the methods already given helped. To enable this, you will need the DevCon utility - it can be easily found on the Internet and downloaded. If it is downloaded in an archived state, then the archive must be unpacked. The program must be placed in the C:\Windows\system32 directory. In addition to this utility, you will also need the identifier (ID) of the radio module. You can find it using the Windows 7 Device Manager.

In it, open the “Bluetooth radio modules” item, right-click on the desired module and select “Properties” in the menu that appears. A window will open in which you need to go to the “Details” tab, and select “Hardware ID” in the “Property” drop-down list. In the “Value” window, the first line contains the ID of the selected radio communication module.

Next we enter command line mode. To do this, click “Start”, enter cmd in the bottom search line, a window opens with the value “cmd” in the top line. Click on it and a command line window will open. In it we enter a line like devcon enable ID (without quotes). Instead of ID, you must specify the hardware ID obtained from the device manager. Press Enter, the DevCon utility starts, which turns on the disabled radio module.

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