How to open Bluetooth on Windows 7. Methods to enable Bluetooth on different versions of Windows

Here you can download bluetooth drivers for desktop computer, laptop and netbook in order to organize a wireless connection to connect the PC with other devices, using the built-in hardware Bluetooth module or a Bluetooth adapter such as a flash drive connected through an available USB port. Positive user ratings in reviews and comments in in social networks, on specialized forums and other resources on the Internet, as well as recommendations on how to correctly download a Bluetooth driver for free for Windows 10, 8.. Permanent link: website/ru/drivers/bt

General concept of Bluetooth technology

If you need to connect a PC with any gadget using the Bluetooth protocol, it makes sense to download Broadcom Bluetooth drivers for free for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10 and install them on your computer, laptop or netbook. This technology allows you to connect to personal computer the entire range of peripheral devices and equipment with the appropriate wireless information transfer protocol and use both one-time and permanently. The most commonly used connected devices are tablets, smartphones, mobile phones, digital photos and video cameras, wireless headphones, speakers, Bluetooth headsets for PC, Bluetooth headsets for phones, speakerphones in cars, mice, joysticks, keyboards, faxes, printers, scanners, GPS receivers, OBD2 ELM327 Bluetooth adapter for car diagnostics and more. Multiple Bluetooth devices operating on a network are called piconet. Both point-to-point and point-to-multipoint combinations are supported as standard. Before pairing, you must enter a PIN code on all active parties. Passive hardware has a built-in PIN code.

Among the advantages of this technology, it is worth highlighting the following advantages:

Quick search and connection of devices,
- low energy consumption,
- resistance to radio interference,
- data transfer in parallel,
- high-quality voice broadcast,
- 128-bit AES encryption for data protection.

Bluetooth is translated into Russian as "blue tooth". The technology has been developed since 1994 by Ericsson Corporation, and since 1998 IBM, Intel, Motorola, Nokia and Toshiba have joined it, forming the Bluetooth SIG. Today, in addition to Bluetooth, such non-wired substitutes for RS-232 cables as infrared IrDA communications and local Wi-Fi radio networks have become widespread.

Bluetooth adapter and network

A BT adapter is usually a USB device that allows one PC to communicate with other PCs and other devices via a local network with the ability to transfer data between them. Such data can be, for example, video recordings and photos from a mobile phone, melodies, documents, e-books and other. Also, a BT connection is suitable for connecting to the Internet, for example, via 3G or GPRS, using the modem capabilities of a mobile phone. Bluetooth networks operate in the radio frequency range from 2.4 to 2.485 GHz, which is unlicensed in most countries, where Wi-Fi, radio phones operate and emit accompanying radiation from microwaves, scientific and medical equipment. In the latest Wireless personal area network, WPAN specifications, the range of Bluetooth networks has been increased to 100 meters, and data is transmitted at a speed of 3 Mbit/s. The most powerful Host XR from AIRcable has a range of 30 km. The scope of application has no restrictions: from the usual smartphones, headsets, GPS navigators to the OBD2 ELM327 Bluetooth diagnostic scanner and sensors used in science, sports, and medicine.

How to turn on bluetooth, download and install software

Before starting installation, you must make sure that the equipment is working: connect a working USB adapter or activate bluetooth module in the laptop BIOS. Once the user has been able to download Bluetooth drivers for free from this page of the website in Russian and has started the installation, there is no need to configure anything. Installation takes some time, sometimes you have to wait depending on the hardware. When Bluetooth starts, it automatically diagnoses the equipment and analyzes the possibility of organizing a wireless connection, and determines the parameters of the peripheral device. Bluetooth equipment on a PC does not always work perfectly, so we recommend searching for a computer in a BT environment using a trusted tablet or smartphone.

How to turn on bluetooth if there are problems

If there is a problem with installing drivers, then there are two options to solve the problem. The first is to check the functionality of the BT device itself, for example, the indicator does not light up, the computer does not detect it and does not show it in the list of equipment. The second is to make sure that the USB port is working properly by connecting any other device to it, for example, a flash drive. If the USB port is working properly, then it is worth testing for this computer a known working BT adapter.

Typically installed once Bluetooth drivers for data transfer work without problems even when changing the adapter. It is enough to download the Broadcom Bluetooth software once onto a computer with an operating system. Microsoft Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP and install correctly. Reinstallation or update universal drivers Bluetooth is usually not required as the technology specification allows for extensive hardware compatibility.

Bluetooth is an extremely useful wireless feature that most users often forget about. Nowadays, the presence of Bluetooth on a computer is often just a nice bonus from developers.

However, the wireless capabilities of this technology are underestimated. All kinds of headsets, communication between phone and computer - all this is better done through this convenient and secure network.

To help you enjoy this convenient environment on your laptop, we'll show you how to find and enable Bluetooth on your device. We will also consider the problems of installing modules and their solutions.

First of all, take a closer look at your keyboard. Laptop manufacturers often place a wireless activation key, either as a separate key or as an element for combinations like “Fn + any button on the keyboard.”

If your manufacturer does not provide easy access to this feature, follow the tips below.

  1. Open the Start menu and select Control Panel.

  2. Don't forget to switch to the Large Icons view option. Among the menu for selecting a group of control panel settings, click on the “Device Manager” category.

  3. This category contains all types of devices installed on your device that the system was able to recognize. Among other categories, find the “Bluetooth Radio Modules” submenu and select the installed module.

    Important! Please note that you should choose the name of your module rather than "Microsoft Bluetooth Enumenator", since the latter is just a virtual interface and not a real element.

  4. Click on the device name with the right mouse button. A context menu for interaction with the Bluetooth module will open. Select Engage. This way you will start the interface on your computer.

  5. Now bluetooth icon will appear on your toolbar next to other minimized programs and you can use it at any convenient time, like Skype or other background applications.

  6. To connect via Bluetooth to a headset, phone or another computer, right-click on the icon that appears to open the context menu. From the options, select “Add device”. This will start searching for active devices.

    Important! Don't forget to first turn on Bluetooth on the other device and make it visible to others.

  7. Windows will search and give you a choice from all currently active Bluetooth gadgets. Select required connection, and click Next. The paired device will appear among the available folders, or, if it is a headset or headphones, an additional synchronization interface for the device itself will open.

If you are unable to find and activate bluetooth in the manner described above, nevertheless, the manufacturer stated this function in the specifications, then further instructions are for you.

Video - How to turn on Bluetooth on a laptop

What to do if the system does not see the Bluetooth module?

If b, which is nevertheless present in the assembly, then the problem is in the drivers for this device. These drivers are often not installed automatically with the OS, since most desktop PCs do not have the corresponding function.

In this case, you need to install drivers for Bluetooth.


Attention! You need to download drivers strictly from the manufacturer’s official website to protect your system. Driver installers come in the “.exe” extension, and a third-party installer may integrate malicious elements into such a file.

If the above methods do not work, contact a certified service center or to the manufacturer.

That's all! Have a pleasant and comfortable use!

Video - Installing drivers for bluetooth

Bluetooth (bluetooth - “blue tooth”) is a special standard wireless communication, i.e. using electromagnetic vibrations. It is used to connect two mobile devices and transferring data between them. This technology was originally developed to enable wireless headsets to work in mobile phones, which allowed for 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.
  • This standard cannot be configured local network, i.e. 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 there is one, but next to it a question or Exclamation point, this means that the adapter drivers require updating or reinstalling, 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 the mode command line. 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.

In contact with

Currently, Bluetooth is used quite actively as a wireless connection between a computer, laptop and peripheral devices. Available for sale wireless mice and keyboards that use this technology. In addition, via Bluetooth it is convenient to transfer media files to a computer from mobile devices, digital cameras, etc. However, certain settings will be needed for Windows 7, as well as for other versions of the OS, so that you can install this type communications.

Connecting your device to your computer via Bluetooth

First, make sure that your computer has a Bluetooth adapter. Many laptop models come with a built-in device that will allow you to use this technology. If there is no built-in adapter, you can connect an external one. You can activate Bluetooth by pressing the combination Fn + F5 or the corresponding switch, which may be different on different models.

The device you plan to connect to your computer using this technology should be made discoverable. After that, click on the Bluetooth icon that appears on the computer in the toolbar. In the list that appears, select Open settings. Go to the Settings section. Here you will need to note some settings. So, check the boxes next to the messages that indicate that you need to allow devices to detect and connect to the computer. In addition, you should set a setting that will ensure that when devices connect via Bluetooth, the user will be notified about it.

There are other tabs in Settings. In the COM ports section, certain settings are set, if necessary. Typically, these steps may be required when connecting a GPS antenna or some headphone models. IN Public access you can view the path that leads to the exchange folder. It will contain all files sent via Bluetooth. However, the photo can be found in the My Drawings section.

In some cases, to set up a wireless connection in Windows 7, you will need to install additional drivers. But usually special problems does not occur and Bluetooth communication between the computer and another device is established quickly and easily. This is what makes this technology quite popular, because in this way you can set up a wireless keyboard or headphones, instantly receive information from your phone to your computer and vice versa.

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