Connect, turn off and configure Bluetooth in Windows 10 and Windows 11

Bluetooth technology has become essential for several years now and is an element that is no longer missing in any type of modern Windows computer. Thanks to this technology we can connect two devices wirelessly. In this way it is possible to pair our Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC with wireless headphones, webcam, mouse, mobile phone, etc.

Its functionalities have been improved over the years so that we can obtain a more constant and reliable connectivity, facilitating connectivity in both mobile and desktop environments, facilitating the ability to interact and use other devices, all without cables. Therefore, next, we are going to see how to enable it, pair devices or send files from our Windows 10 and Windows 11 computer.

Connect, turn off and configure Bluetooth in Windows 10

Bluetooth settings in Windows 10

To be able to work with Bluetooth in Windows 10, we have different ways to enable it, as well as turn it off when we are not using it. We can also add or remove linked devices quickly.

Turn on and turn off

Before we can add devices such as printers or headphones to our computer, we must make sure that it is enabled. For this we have several ways.

notification panel

The easiest way to activate or deactivate Bluetooth is through the Action Center that we can access by means of the “Windows + A” key combination or by selecting the icon with the shape of a dialog bubble that we find on the far left of the screen. taskbar. Once opened, we locate its icon, for which it will sometimes be necessary to expand the list. Once located, if when clicking on it, it is highlighted, it means that it is on, otherwise it is that it is off.

Activar Bluetooth desde Panel de notificaciones

Settings Menu

It is also possible to perform this operation from the Settings menu, which we can quickly access using the keyboard shortcut “Windows + I”. Then we click on the “Devices” section. In the new window, in the left column, we make sure that we have the Bluetooth and other devices option checked. On the right side, the Bluetooth button marked in blue means that it is activated, while if it is in white it is deactivated. Click on it to turn it on or off as we see fit.

Agregar Bluetooth desde Configuración en Windows 10

Add and manage devices

If we want to add new wireless devices, we can do so by right-clicking on the Bluetooth icon that is activated on the taskbar and selecting Add a Bluetooth device.

Agregar dispositivo bluetooth desde la barra de tareas en Windows 10

We can also access the Bluetooth and other devices section found in the Settings menu. In both ways we will get a pop-up window to appear with a list of options from where we can add devices, transfer files through nearby devices, etc.

Click on the “Add Bluetooth or other device” button , which will cause a new pop-up window to appear where we select Bluetooth. We turn on the Bluetooth device that we want to connect and put it in pairing mode. We wait for the device to appear in the list of devices and select it to pair it. Sometimes, depending on the device, we may need to confirm it by means of a PIN that is displayed on the screen.

Agregar dispositivo Bluetooth en Windows 10

Once added, it will be displayed in one of the categories below such as “Mouse, keyboard and pen”, “Audio” or “Other devices”. If when the time comes we want to remove it completely, just click on the device and then click on “Remove device” .

Quitar dispositivo Bluetooth en Windows 10

Send or receive files via Bluetooth

With Bluetooth activated, it is possible to share photos, videos or other types of files with other linked devices such as a mobile phone, a tablet or another computer. To do this, once linked, we must click on the “Send or receive files via Bluetooth” option in the Configuration panel.

Enviar o recibir archivos por Bluetooth en Configuración de Windows 10

Likewise, we can make this same operation even faster by right-clicking on the Bluetooth icon in the taskbar and selecting the “Send file” or “Receive file” option.

Enviar archivo desde botón de Bluetooth en Windows 10

Once this is done, the file transfer wizard will open and we only have to select the device to which we want to send the file in case there are several available. We select, for example, the mobile and all that remains is to choose the file and send it, to later accept it on the receiving device.

Transferencias de archivos Bluetooth en Windows 10

Join a personal area network

A Bluetooth personal area network is a technology that allows us to create an Ethernet network with wireless links between mobile computers, cell phones, and laptops. The quickest way to join a network is by right-clicking the Bluetooth icon on the taskbar and selecting the Join Personal Area Network option.

Another way to do it is to access it from the Control Panel. To do this we write control panel in the search box of the Start menu and select it. Later we access the Hardware and devices section, we click on Devices and printers, and finally on “Bluetooth Personal Area Network Devices” .

Unirse a una red de área personal en Windows 10

One way or another, a window will appear where we can select the device with which we want to make the connection. We click on it with the right button, select connect using and click on direct connection or access point.

Manage from Windows 11

As would not be expected otherwise, the new Microsoft operating system has full compatibility with Bluetooth technology, so that we can connect and pair any compatible device such as mobile phones, headphones, microphones, etc.

Turn on and turn off

In order to connect our Bluetooth device with the computer, the first thing we must do is turn it on on the PC, since by default, it is deactivated. For this we have several ways.

quick setup

The quickest way to enable or disable Bluetooth is through Quick Settings. To do this, we must click on the network icon that we find in the taskbar. This will open the Quick Settings where the Wi-Fi, Airplane and Bluetooth buttons are displayed, which is the one that we must click on both to activate and deactivate. Once enabled, the button will turn blue and just below it will say Connected.

Activar Bluetooth en Windows 11 desde Configuración rápida

Settings Menu

Another option that we have available is by accessing the Settings menu , which we can access using the keyboard shortcut “Windows + I”. Later, in the left panel of Settings, we click on the “Bluetooth and other devices” section. Finally, on the right panel, we find the “Bluetooth” button. If it is blank, the Deactivated message appears next to it, so if we click on it, it will change to blue and show Activated.

Activar Bluetooth desde Configuración en Windows 11

Add and remove devices

Once we have Bluetooth enabled in Windows 11 we can configure it so that we can link them with other devices. This is something that we can do by right-clicking on the Bluetooth icon that is activated in the taskbar and selecting “Add a Bluetooth device” .

Agregar dispositivo Bluetooth en Windows 11 desde la Barra de tareas

Another option is to access the “Bluetooth and other devices” section found in the Settings menu. In both ways we will get a pop-up window to appear with a list of options and at the top we find a large square with a plus symbol (+) in which it says “Add device “. Click on it and in the new window that appears click on Bluetooth and select the device that we want to pair. Once this is done, a box appears with the linked device right next to the Add device button.

Agregar un dispositivo Bluetooth en Windows 11

If at any time we want to remove it from the list of linked items, just click on the three vertical dots that we find at the top of the device box and then select “Remove device” .

Quitar dispositivo vinculado en Windows 11

Send or receive files

One of the most common actions to use Bluetooth is to send and receive files. To do this, being activated and linked to the device with which we are going to make the transfer, simply right-click on the Bluetooth icon on the task bar and select “Send file” or “Receive file” .

Enviar archivo desde botón de Bluetooth en Windows 11

We can also access it from the Settings menu, in the Bluetooth and other devices section, click on Show more devices. We go down to the bottom and click on “Send and receive files via Bluetooth” .

Enviar o recibir archivos a través de Bluetooth en Windows 11

Subsequently, the file transfer wizard will open, where we will select if we want to send or receive. If we want to send, we only have to select the device to which we want to send the file in case there are several available. In this case, we choose the mobile, we choose the desired file and we send it. All that remains is for the receiver to accept it from the mobile for the transfer to be completed.

Enviar archivos por Bluetooth al móvil en Windows 11

Join a personal area network via Bluetooth

If we want to join a personal area network, the simplest option is to click again on the Bluetooth icon located on the taskbar. In the context menu we select “Join a personal area network”.

Another option is to access the Control Panel, which we can access by pressing the keyboard shortcut “Windows + R”, type Control Panel and press Enter. Later we access “Hardware and device” and “Devices and printers”. Finally, we click on “Bluetooth personal area network devices”.

Unirse a una red de área personal por Bluetooth en Windows 11

Either one way or another we access the screen that interests us where the devices with which to establish the connection will appear. It only remains to right-click on the desired one, select connect via and choose between “Direct connection” or “Access point”.