The speakers on laptops and netbooks are, to put it mildly, bad. No bass, no sound, no clarity. But humanity has created an excellent sound output device - speakers. They come in a variety of colors, shapes and price categories. If with wired speakers everything is simple - plug the wire into the desired socket, then with wireless speakers everything is a little more complicated. Now you will learn how to connect a Bluetooth speaker to a laptop. This will take you 5-10 minutes at most. So, let's begin.
For those who prefer instructions in video format, the following video:
What to do first?
To connect wireless speakers via Bluetooth, first check if your keyboard has hotkeys. A hot key is a quick action button that can be pressed to launch a specific function instantly. In our case, we need the F8 button (or any other button with a Bluetooth icon).
Once you find it, click on it once along with the FN button. Among the indicators on the laptop body, the Bluetooth icon should light up. This means that your device is ready to receive a signal. Now turn on your speaker and press the Bluetooth button (it may be called “connect”). When two devices find each other, they will automatically connect and audio will be transmitted via Bluetooth.
This is the best case scenario. Let's just say this is how it should happen under ideal circumstances. Now let's look at the problems that arise during the connection.
AUX-Bluetooth adapter for computer and laptop
This particular model of Bluetooth audio adapter (ordered on AliExpress) can be used not only with a computer running Windows 7, 8 or 10, but also with any other equipment that needs to be equipped with support for this wireless standard. In addition, it has two operating modes:
- Transmitter - when it sends sound from the AUX output of a computer, laptop or other source to speakers or headphones
- Receiver (receiver) - for receiving a wireless signal from another device.
The Bluetooth-AUX adapter came to me simply in a package without any box. Along with it, they also included an audio cable and small connection instructions. The device itself looks like a regular flash drive, but with an AUX connector. However, despite all the cheapness, there is a certain design element on the case in the form of a relief oblique cross on the plastic.
Overall, there's not much to see here, there are no buttons. Only a small hole for light indication of operating modes. It is only worth noting that this adapter does not have a built-in battery, unlike the one that was ordered for the car. Therefore, its main purpose is to connect a stationary device, such as a computer, laptop or media center, to Bluetooth.
Bluetooth module is not turned on
You will learn how to enable Bluetooth on a laptop or computer in the following video:
The speaker does not connect to the laptop? It happens that Bluetooth, as a module, is turned off in the device manager. Usually this function is disabled as unnecessary. Because it sometimes happened that the user accidentally pressed the automatic connection button and the laptop connected to other devices. There's no one to blame here. It happens.
What to do:
- Click on “My Computer” with the right mouse button.
- Click on “Properties”.
- In the window that opens, unknown to you, on the left, find the line “Device Manager”.
- Here is a whole encyclopedia of incomprehensible terms. Find the blue icon among them. It says "Bluetooth Radio". Click on it twice.
- Find the General tab.
- Click on "Enable".
Ready. You have mechanically enabled a disabled module. You can take a short smoke break and read the contents of the first subheading again. Read it and do it? Enjoy the acoustics!
The first method is via Bluetooth
In order to connect a JBL speaker this way, your computer must have a Bluetooth adapter. It can be either built into the motherboard or external.
An example of an external adapter is shown below. You can purchase it at any electronics hypermarket or order it online. The price is around 500 rubles.
So, if your computer has a Bluetooth signal receiver, the connection process is as follows:
- Turn on Bluetooth on your JBL speaker
- Open Windows Settings on your PC
- Go to the "Devices" section
- Move the Bluetooth slider to the On position.
- Now click on “Add Bluetooth or other device” to start searching for available devices to connect
- In the window that appears, select the very first item (mice, keyboards, audio)
- A few seconds will pass and you will see the name of your JBL speaker in the list of devices
- Click on its name to start pairing devices
Ready. The sound should be played from the speaker. If this does not happen, return to the computer settings menu and open the “System” section
In the left menu, go to the “Sound” tab
Select JBL speaker as audio output source
In the same way, you can connect JBL wireless headphones to your PC or laptop.
Yes, everything is included there, that's another matter
This option is also possible. And it is more likely than the first. The module may be enabled, but the function itself is disabled. Quickly go to “Windows Settings”, find “Devices” and click on the line “Bluetooth and other devices” and move the slider from the “OFF” mode to the “ON” mode. Ready.
P.S. This item is suitable for owners of Windows 8 and higher. Happy owners of Windows 7 and Windows XP (if they are not yet retired) are not burdened with such torment.
JBL Cinema SB250 system
This active soundbar comes with a wireless subwoofer and is designed for modern TVs. Small and sleek, the system delivers stunning surround sound.
It supports wireless connection to a powerful and compact subwoofer, which is part of the system, and there is also a connection to a TV using a cable.
Compact and elegant, the audio system with wireless active subwoofer complements your modern ultra-thin screen and delivers big, rich sound that far exceeds the sound of built-in TV speakers.
The system will allow you to get a home theater that works on the “plug and play” principle, and with ARC technology you can connect your TV to the Cinema SB250 with one cable. The device can be easily configured to function as a TV remote control, allowing you to control your entire home theater with one hand.
JBL SoundShift technology allows you to simultaneously play sound from both a wireless source and your TV.
Another variant
When you opened the package, did you notice a short wire with identical heads at the ends?
So, with the help of this wire you don’t have to dig into the settings, update drivers or press strange buttons. In this way, you can connect speakers and connect wireless speakers to your laptop.
Plug one end of the wire into the socket on the speaker itself.
To avoid mistakes, look for a green nest. By eye, its diameter is 3.5 mm. Plug the other end into the audio output socket on the laptop or into the back of the system unit.
It's possible from the front, but the back is better. There won't be any hanging out. I mean, all the main sockets are located on the back of the system unit. There's a green hole there. You should go there. Now you can enjoy the sound of your speaker with peace of mind.
Connecting wireless speakers to a PC
The absence of wires when using modern acoustic accessories has not surprised anyone for a long time. This is convenient - you don’t need to determine which connector a particular cable fits into. In addition, there is no need to constantly untangle the wires. The connection in this case occurs via Bluetooth.
On tablets and laptops, the equipment for this connection is built into the case. Computers, in most cases, are not equipped with such a channel. When pairing wireless speakers with a PC, use special adapters that connect to office equipment via a USB port. To transmit an audio signal wirelessly, perform the following steps:
- turn on the computer or laptop (the adapter is inserted into the PC);
- connect the speakers to the power supply and activate them;
- using the Fn button pressed simultaneously with the Bluetooth key located in the top row of the keyboard (F2, F3, F4 or another button with an antenna image), make the signal active;
- in the Windows operating system, through “Start”, find the speakers in the “Devices and Printers” section and activate them;
- after that, turn on the audio recording and check the functionality of the speakers.
Enabling the Bluetooth channel can be done through the “Device Manager” of any version of Windows. To do this, select the desired section and activate the wireless channel. After the computer detects the speakers, click the “Add equipment” button, after which the laptop will offer to connect to the speakers and you will have to confirm the need for connection.
How to choose the right connection?
What to do if the computer cannot make a choice among the large number of available devices? Here we need to help him. In the lower right corner of the screen you should see a blue icon. We think you can guess what this icon is. Otherwise, we have bad news.
Right-click on Bluetooth and select “Add device”.
A window will open with a list of available devices. Try to find yours. Most likely, it will be called the name of your column. For example, if you have a JBL speaker, then you need to find it in the list and click on “Connect”. Ready. Sound is transmitted via Bluetooth.
How to connect a speaker to a computer via a Bluetooth adapter?
However, when it comes to connecting a Bluetooth speaker to a stationary “large” computer, it is rare to find that it initially has Bluetooth support. It is not available on cheap or old laptops either.
The issue is resolved by purchasing an external wireless Bluetooth adapter, which connects simultaneously via USB and AUX connectors on the computer. I have already shown one of these using an example of use with a radio in a car. We transmitted audio from the phone to the speaker system in the car. Everything happens here in exactly the same way.
No sound
It seems to be done on a subconscious level. Add sound from the speakers. This usually helps. If not, then find the sound settings icon in the lower right corner of the screen. There you can adjust the volume.
The sound can also be turned off in the Bluetooth speaker settings. To do this, find the device through the search (via the “Start” button), click “Open sound options” and manually turn up the volume on the mixer.
By the way! on Windows 10! You can make sure that media sound is output through the speakers, and system sounds through the laptop speakers. You can configure this in the “Device and app volume settings” section.
Wired connection of JBL speakers
The speaker can be connected using wires - a USB or AUX cable.
With a USB connection, one end of the cable is inserted into the charging port on the speaker, and the other end into the USB connector on the computer. Next, Windows will automatically detect the new connected device (the Bluetooth speaker, of course, must be turned on) and perform the preparation. The process will take some time, the system may need to download from the World Wide Web and install the latest version of the driver for JBL.
When connecting to the AUX jack, you will need an audio cable with two 3.5 mm plugs. One plug is for the speaker, the other for a laptop or desktop. This type of connection is usually not accompanied by problems. The “aux” mode is activated immediately after installing the cable into the connectors. If there is no sound, you need to check the cable's serviceability or reset the acoustic settings to factory settings.
Watch this video on YouTube
Parting words
Dear readers! From our short article, you learned how to connect speakers and how to connect a wireless speaker to a laptop in all sophisticated ways. Using the same method, the speaker can be connected to a smartphone.
We want you to remember one rule - only you should hear your music. Make the sound quieter, do not disturb your neighbors. Never play music while walking along the road. This terribly annoys passers-by and spoils their impression of you.
All the best! Subscribe to our updates to read useful and interesting articles.
Possible problems
Sometimes inexperienced users encounter various kinds of problems - the laptop and the speaker do not see each other, do not connect, and no sound is output. Accordingly, the reasons may lie both in the accessory and in the laptop.
Common mistakes when using a speaker are forgetting to turn on Bluetooth search and turn on the sound.
Problems with using the laptop:
- The drivers are not installed (in this case, in principle, nothing can be done until they are installed).
- The speaker is disconnected from the laptop and no longer plays (you should forget the connected speaker in the connected devices menu and perform the pairing procedure again).
- Sometimes no sound is output to the speaker (this means that it was not selected to play sound, it is written above how to do this).
Why doesn't the laptop see the Bluetooth speaker?
What to do if everything is connected, but the device continues to remain invisible? Let's figure it out.
Most likely the issue is outdated drivers. The fix is very easy:
- you need to open the “Device Manager” (at the beginning of the article we talked about how this can be done);
- go to the “Bluetooth” section;
- check if there is a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark next to the name of the installed module - if there is one, then we begin to update;
- From the official support site for your laptop, download the latest version of the required driver and install it.
