The laptop does not see Bluetooth devices: causes and solutions to the problem

Despite the widespread use of newer WiFi technology, Bluetooth communication still remains relevant. Very often it is used for a wireless headset, as well as for quickly connecting a computer and a mobile phone. We told you how to do this here. Of course, the data transfer speed via Bluetooth is significantly lower than via WiFi, but in some situations this is quite enough. Moreover, such a connection is much easier to implement. But, a common error occurs when Bluetooth does not find the device on a laptop with Windows 7. What to do in such cases?

Everything is extremely simple. It is important to know some rules, the observance of which will help you establish a connection easily and quickly.

Solution

Let's consider all the points in more detail, although even without this it is clear what should be done in each situation:

• enable the wireless module on the device with which you want to establish a connection;
• activate the detection function;
• Check the headset's battery, because smartphones and tablets have no settings for this wireless module at all.

Let's start in order.

Enabling the adapter

Depending on whether the phone or another computer is not detected, the Bluetooth activation algorithm will be different!

For iPhone, you need to go to settings and tap on the third item “Bluetooth”. In Android, we lower the curtain or also open the settings and activate the module by tapping on the icon with its icon.

On a laptop and computer (when using an external adapter) with Windows 7, you need to call the “Task Manager” (press Win + R and execute the command “devmgmt.msc”) and check whether the hardware is active. If the icon is gray, it means the device is unavailable - disabled. Right-click to open the context menu and select “Engage”.

On a laptop, a combination of the Fn keys and one of a number of functional keys F1 - F12 is intended for this. In Windows 10, you need to open the notification center by clicking on its tray icon and clicking on the icon with the interface icon.

The second method is to launch the file transfer program through “Start” in the “Standard” folder.

Another way is to open “Settings”, go to the “Devices” section and in the first tab click “On”.

Driver

If there is no driver (Bluetooth is not in the list of available equipment), it must be installed, and if there is a yellow icon next to the module icon, it must be updated.

In the first case, we find the required driver on the support site for our device and install it through the installer. In the second, we remove the old software along with the device, update the hardware configuration with the button of the same name on the “Device Manager” toolbar and wait for the driver to be installed automatically.

If you are using an external USB adapter, you need to search for firmware by the full name of the device. After installing the drivers, you need to activate the adapter.

In new motherboards and laptops, the outdated BIOS is replaced by its advanced counterpart called UEFI. In the settings of both BIOS and UEFI there is a function to deactivate wireless modules: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth.

In older versions of the interface, most often, it is located in the “Advanced” section, and in new ones – in “System Configuration”. It all depends on the manufacturer of the motherboard or laptop and the firmware version. There is no universal recipe.

Enable detection

Only relevant for operating systems of the Windows family. If a laptop or computer with Windows 7 does not see the device via Bluetooth , open the adapter settings in the tray.

In the tab of the same name, we activate the only option in the “Discovery” section, and also allow other devices to connect to this computer. It is advisable to display a tray icon and activate an alert when there are connections.

In the "Ten" everything is done in a similar way, unless the "Airplane" mode is turned on.

It would be advisable to check the activity of the service responsible for Bluetooth operation:

1. Press + R and execute “services.msc”.

1. Find the service “Bluetooth Support Service” or “Bluetooth Support Service” and check its status. If it is not running, activate it. If you use the radio module frequently, you should set the service properties to “Autostart”.

Headset

When Bluetooth on a laptop or mobile phone does not see the device for playing sound, the source of the problem must be looked for in wireless headphones. They are turned off, the battery powering the device is dead, or the devices are outside the signal propagation range (in practice this is a maximum of 10 m).

Sometimes you need to hold down the power button for several seconds to activate Bluetooth on your headphones.

Problems with connecting gadgets on iPhone are described here:

Solution 3: Update, remove and reinstall drivers

If a problem occurs with the connection of a specific device, one of the reasons may be outdated or damaged drivers. You need to go to the manager and update the corresponding application.

1. Press Win + X, and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the Bluetooth section.
3. This section displays the drivers of all devices ever connected to the computer.
4. Select the problematic application from the list, right-click on it, and click Update.
5. Next Run automatic search and update.

1. When the process is complete, restart your computer.
2. If this does not help, you will need to reinstall the driver.
3. Go to Device Manager again, right-click on the application, and select Uninstall.
4. After that, visit the official website of the manufacturer of the problematic device and download the current version of the driver.
5. Run the automatic installer and reboot again.

Bluetooth connection

Let's now briefly talk about how to connect devices via Bluetooth using the example of a laptop with Windows 10 and a smartphone:

1. We activate the adapters on both devices: on the mobile at the top, in the curtain, on the laptop through “Settings”, section “Bluetooth and other devices”.

1. On the PC, select “Add Bluetooth or another device” and click on the first item “Bluetooth”.

1. The search for devices will begin. Find the device you need in the list.
2. A pairing request will appear. Using the specified PIN code, connect.

If everything went well, the message “Your device is ready to use!” will appear. Click "Done" and you are good to go.

Watch video instructions here:

Solution 4: Scan for hardware changes

As a result of installing third-party programs, some system files may have been changed. It is necessary to diagnose and restore them if necessary.

1. Open Device Manager again.
2. Right-click on your computer's name and select "Scan for hardware changes."

Additional Tips

In most cases, these manipulations are enough to solve the problem. But there are a couple more points that will help solve the problem of finding devices for synchronization via Bluetooth:

1. If the wireless module on Apple or Android gadgets does not see available devices, try resetting the settings to standard. If this does not help, most likely the adapter is faulty and you need to contact service.
2. The adapter works and turns on on the smartphone, a connection occurs, but no data is transferred. There may be a problem with outdated firmware. Update the software on your phone, turn on the radio, which will find available devices and exchange files.
3. If a laptop with Bluetooth turned on cannot find a smartphone to sync and transfer data, the issue may be in the discovery settings on the phone. The fact is that smartphones have a time limit for connecting via Bluetooth. Perhaps you simply do not have time to complete the connection.

It turned out to be a voluminous article, although in essence everything is simple here - activate the wireless adapter, update the firmware (if necessary) and make a connection. If you still have problems (Bluetooth does not turn on, does not see available devices, does not transfer files), write in the comments. We will try to resolve the issue together!

Checking Bluetooth devices

However, the problem is not always with the computer itself. Often devices do not connect precisely because they do not work, so it is important to check them.

Make sure your mouse, keyboard, or headphones are turned on. Most often, they have a special switch - by pressing a button or moving the switch, make sure that the power indicator starts blinking. If this does not happen, the device is most likely broken. By the way, sometimes it’s enough just to turn off and turn on the device for it to work normally again.

To check the functionality of the gadget, it is advisable to use another laptop. Try connecting the keyboard to another computer via Bluetooth connection. If everything works fine here, then the problem is really in the first PC.

If you still cannot connect or the device connects but does not work, you should look for the problem in the Bluetooth device - take it for repair or test it yourself.

Bypassing the blocking: what if you really need to gain access

The world is designed in such a way that for every force in one form or another there is another - any action eventually receives a reaction, so bypassing blockages will be more difficult, but not impossible.

Depending on the form in which the bill is ultimately adopted, it will be circumvented in a technically convenient manner. You just need to wait for its adoption, of which there is not the slightest doubt, and the tools will immediately flood the network.

To do this, Tor has a constantly updated list of private servers, which in any case will provide access to information on any necessary sites that will be blocked at the request of Roskomnadzor.

Gaining access to prohibited data will be difficult, but not impossible - Tor and VPN will still help.

At the same time, in a VPN, to bypass restrictions, you can use not regular access, but double access. First, you can connect to the USA through the protocol, and then to Canada. Canada will consider us a US citizen for whom blocking is not relevant.

The double VPN scheme is suitable even if both services used respect the laws of the Russian Federation. There will be no reason to block them, and such manipulation cannot be prohibited for technical reasons.

Advice and recommendations from experts

The tips below sum it all up.

1. Place your modules and devices with Bluetooth in an area of ​​reliable coverage in relation to each other.
2. If you need to “upload” a long file, charge the gadget, or do not remove it from recharging until the file is transferred.
3. Timely free up space on disks and memory cards from unnecessary files if the next file does not fit in the memory of the receiving PC or gadget.
4. Do not use wireless data transmission in extreme weather, for example, if there is a risk of the gadget or laptop battery overcooling and turning it off.
5. Do not disassemble the module during operation, do not disconnect cables (if any). First, end the data session between the devices.

These recommendations will save you from wasted time.

Bluetooth shows no sign of losing ground. Version 5.0 will support content sharing speeds of up to hundreds of megabits. And restoring the operation of your suddenly failed Bluetooth device is actually not difficult.

How to install?

To install Bluetooth, you need a special adapter that plugs into any USB socket on your computer. It's like a flash drive, only smaller. You can purchase such an adapter at almost any hardware store for $3-6$. The literal name is “Bluetooth adapter”.

Before purchasing, be sure to pay attention to the version. You should not buy versions 2.0, 3.0 and below, these are outdated options. It's better to look for something on version 4.1, 4.2 or even 5.0.

After purchasing the adapter and installing it in the connector, Bluetooth will appear on the PC.

Now this thing cannot be removed from the computer; it must always be there for the technology to work correctly. Therefore, it is better to install it in the back of the case, where there are more USB connectors. But before use you still need to install the drivers.

Why do you need Bluetooth on a PC?

The main purpose of Bluetooth is communication between a PC and gadgets. Quickly send and receive long files from device to device without using network equipment (routers, Wi-Fi routers) - the Bluetooth topology provides for a direct point-to-point connection, i.e. connecting one gadget or PC to another.

• Turn on Bluetooth on a laptop and computer Windows 7 and Windows 10

The Bluetooth module on a PC can also serve as an element of a local network (direct connection to other PCs via the PAN protocol), or use a 3G/4G smartphone as a modem (modem mode on a gadget) without a microUSB cable.

Among other Bluetooth functions it is worth highlighting:

• use of a wireless headset and stereo headphones;
• connecting the gadget directly to a printer and fax;
• using a wireless keyboard, mouse or separate touchpad on tablets;
• using one SIM card for several smartphones/tablets at the same time, etc.

Why doesn't my laptop see wireless devices?

The first thing to do is figure out what your problem is. Generally speaking, the laptop does not see Bluetooth devices if:

• the problem is on the computer side;
• The problem is with the connected gadget.

The second point should be immediately excluded. Check the gadget: try connecting it to a smartphone, tablet or other computer. Once again, make sure of the obvious things that will help save you a lot of time:

1. The device is turned on.
2. It's loaded.
3. It is located quite close to the second device.
4. The device is entered into discovery and pairing mode. Sometimes you need to press the pairing button for up to 30 seconds to reset the previous settings. If you are checking a smartphone or tablet, make sure that it is in visibility mode, otherwise you may not understand why the laptop does not see the phone via Bluetooth.

If the Bluetooth device is not detected anyway, and the gadget does not connect to other PCs and smartphones, then this is where the problem lies. There are no Bluetooth settings on such devices, so most likely this is a hardware problem. You will have to contact the service center.

If the device is working and other devices can see it, then the problem is on the side of your computer. To understand what to do if Bluetooth does not see the device, you need to go through a checklist of simple and more complex methods. This will almost certainly fix the situation.

How to choose a Bluetooth adapter

There are three most important criteria for choosing a Bluetooth module.

1. Data exchange speed. About 15 years ago, the connection speed was ridiculous - only hundreds of kilobits per second, and was not considered as a serious means for local file sharing. Version Bluetooth 2.x supported Internet access speeds via a 3G mobile phone/smartphone/PDA up to 384 kbit/s (Bluetooth DUN Modem service). Today, the speed of Bluetooth has approached the speed of wired communication via a LAN cable - up to 75 Mbit/s. Internet access speed remains stable at tens of megabits per second.
2. The range ranges from 10 to 400 m. Longer distances are achieved only by using parabolic antennas designed for the Bluetooth range - 2.402–2.48 GHz, some users do just that. Progressive 128-bit AES encryption, improved error correction during data exchange, and compatibility with 4G (LTE) devices thanks to improved data packet negotiation make a significant contribution to the increased distance.
3. Module type. If this is a Bluetooth adapter built into a laptop, tablet or smartphone, there is no need to look for another one. Almost all gadgets are equipped with a Bluetooth adapter - the same iPhone and iPad from Apple. For desktop PCs, either a USB module or a Bluetooth network card with an external antenna is connected to the system unit. The most common USB Bluetooth modules.

Table: features of different versions of Bluetooth

The “cooler” the Bluetooth version, the more expensive the module itself is: if you want, you can find advertisements for the sale of old Bluetooth 2.x and 3.x USB modules for next to nothing. Accordingly, a new smartphone or tablet with Bluetooth 5.0 costs significantly more than a gadget equipped with Bluetooth 3.x or 4.0, because “fresh” technologies are always expensive.

The power of modern Bluetooth adapters does not exceed 2.5 mW - up to hundreds of times lower than the radiation of a GSM/UMTS/LTE cellular terminal.

Video: overview lecture on Bluetooth mini-adapters using Asus as an example

Checking service status

It is quite possible that Bluetooth does not see nearby devices due to the fact that the service associated with it has been stopped or has been loaded with errors. Therefore, first of all, let's check its condition.

Open system services with the command services.msc from the Win + R dialog box. Or press Ctrl + Shift + Esc and on the services tab, click the corresponding button.

Find the Bluetooth support service in the list, right-click on it to display the context menu and select Properties.

If it works, stop by pressing the appropriate button. Make sure the Startup Type is set to Automatic. Otherwise, click on the dropdown and change it to the one shown.

Now click the “Run” button. If you receive error 1079, indicating that the service could not start on your local computer, follow the instructions.

Go to the Login tab, click on the “Browse” button.

In the user selection window, click on Advanced – Search, select the name of the current account and confirm with “OK”. Enter your password and apply the changes. The service should now start without errors. Scan your devices and check if Bluetooth can see them.