How to Activate Bluetooth on a Laptop Computer

Bluetooth is a type of short range wireless technology that allows various devices to "pair" with one another to share data and files. Many computers come equipped with Bluetooth technology which allow capable devices to connect without using up a USB port on the computer. This is especially useful when dealing with laptops that may only have 1 or 3 USB ports available. Items ranging from smartphones and headsets to computer mice and external hard drives may have Bluetooth functionality.

Locate the "Bluetooth" icon on your computer screen. For Macs, the icon will be in the top right of the screen. For Windows, the icon will be in the lower right of the screen. Note that you may need to click the "arrow" icon next to the small icons on the right side of the Windows "Start" bar to expose the "Bluetooth icon." View an example of a Bluetooth icon in the second link at the end of this article.

Click on the "Bluetooth" icon and select either "Set to Discoverable" or "Turn on Bluetooth." If you do not see either of these selections, choose "Enable." You may also see something such as "Activate Bluetooth" or "Discoverable" which are both acceptable selections in this case. You may need to right-click the icon to bring up these options if you are using a Windows based computer.

Wait for the icon to change color. For Macs the icon will become darker and for Windows systems the icon will become blue. Once this occurs, other nearby Bluetooth devices ranging from computer mice to smart phones will be able to connect via Bluetooth to the computer.

When prompted to do so, enter a 4 digit "PIN" which will serve as the unique password for the current connection between the computer and a Bluetooth device. Note that this PIN usage is only for devices that can transfer files such as a smart phone or other computer; devices such as a Bluetooth headset only require you to press their power button.

Click on the "Bluetooth" icon and select "Turn off Bluetooth" or "Disable" when not in use to conserve laptop battery life.

If a device is not pairing with the computer ensure that it's Bluetooth is enabled. For devices with a user interface, go into the "Settings" menu and look for "Bluetooth" and change it to "ON" or "Enabled." For simpler devices, hold down the power or Bluetooth button until the pairing is confirmed on your laptop.

Bluetooth: What Is Bluetooth? [http://www.bluetooth.com/English/Technology/Pages/default.aspx]

Icons-Search: Example of a Common Bluetooth Icon [http://icons-search.com/img/vistaicons/quiet_icons_pack.zip/PNG-Hardware-BlueTooth.png-256x256.png]