How to turn on Bluetooth on Windows 11 and connect a device
Windows 11 supports Bluetooth provided you have the hardware chip or a dongle connected to your system. Your Bluetooth drivers may not have updated for Windows 11 yet but you will find that generic drivers work almost as well.
Bluetooth on Windows 11
Bluetooth can be enabled on Windows 11 and used to connect devices like speakers, headphones, keyboards, mouse etc. Bluetooth is also essential if you plan on using Nearby share which remains a feature in the new OS.
1. Turn on Bluetooth – Windows 11
Bluetooth is normally turned on by default on Windows 11 however, it can be turned on/off easily.
From Action Center;
- Tap the Win+A keyboard shortcut to open the Action Center.
- Click the Bluetooth toggle to turn it On (or Off).
You can also turn on Bluetooth from the Settings app.
- Open the Settings app with the Win+I keyboard shortcut.
- Go to Bluetooth and Devices.
- Turn the Bluetooth switch On.
2. Pair Bluetooth device – Windows 11
To pair a Bluetooth device, make sure you’ve turned Bluetooth on.
- Bring the device you want to pair into range of the computer.
- Open the Settings app with the Win+I keyboard shortcut.
- Go to Bluetooth and Devices.
- Click View more devices.
- Click Add Device.
- Select the type of device you want to pair.
- Press and hold the pairing button on the device you want to pair.
- Select the device once it appears in the list of available devices.
- Wait for the device to pair.
3. Connect Bluetooth device – Windows 11
When you pair a device, it connects automatically but you can manually connect a paired Bluetooth device if it doesn’t connect.
- Open the Settings app with the Win+I keyboard shortcut.
- Go to Bluetooth and devices.
- Click the more options button next to a paired device.
- Select Connect.
4. Remove Bluetooth device – Windows 11
A Bluetooth device can only connect to or be paired with one device at a time. If you need to connect a Bluetooth device to a different system, you should remove it from Windows 11.
- Open the Settings app with the Win+I keyboard shortcut.
- Go to Bluetooth and devices.
- Click the more options button next to the device you want to remove.
- Click Remove Device.
Conclusion
Driver updates for Windows 11 have started rolling out. If you’re unable to connect a device or it doesn’t show up in the list of devices that you can connect, turn Bluetooth on Windows 11 off and then on again. Restart the device that you’re trying to pair and connect as well.
