{"id":1428,"date":"2015-03-13T13:45:31","date_gmt":"2015-03-13T13:45:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.hovatek.com\/?p=1428"},"modified":"2022-08-15T22:19:03","modified_gmt":"2022-08-15T22:19:03","slug":"how-to-fix-a-pc-whose-bluetooth-wont-detect-connect-to-other-devices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hovatek.com\/blog\/how-to-fix-a-pc-whose-bluetooth-wont-detect-connect-to-other-devices\/","title":{"rendered":"How to fix a PC whose Bluetooth wont detect \/ connect to other devices"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1429\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hovatek.com\/blog\/bpyeki\/uploads\/2015\/03\/windows_PC_bluetooth.png\" alt=\"How to fix a PC whose Bluetooth wont detect \/ connect to other devices\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In our previous guide on Windows PC radio issues &amp; fixes, we discussed\u00a0How to fix Wi-Fi disabled by Windows Mobility Center (see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hovatek.com\/blog\/how-to-fix-wi-fi-disabled-by-windows-mobility-center\/\">https:\/\/www.hovatek.com\/blog\/how-to-fix-wi-fi-disabled-by-windows-mobility-center\/<\/a> ) . In this guide, we&#8217;ll be looking at a common Bluetooth headache; which is problems detecting or connecting to other Bluetooth devices. We&#8217;ll be discussing common causes and working fixes to apply when experiencing such.<\/p>\n<h3>What could cause a Windows PC&#8217;s Bluetooth not to detect or connect to other Bluetooth devices?<\/h3>\n<p>When faced with Bluetooth detection or connection problems, possible causes are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bluetooth is not on: Its possible the PC&#8217;s Bluetooth is off<\/li>\n<li>Too many paired devices: The PC or other Bluetooth device might have too many devices on its paired list<\/li>\n<li>Bluetooth is set to hidden: \u00a0The PC&#8217;s Bluetooth might have been set to hidden \/ stealth mode<\/li>\n<li>Devices aren&#8217;t paired: The devices need to be paired for a transfer to occur<\/li>\n<li>Bluetooth Connection notification is off: You might not get a Bluetooth connection request if connection alert is disabled<\/li>\n<li>PC doesn&#8217;t support Bluetooth: Check the PC&#8217;s specifications to be sure it supports Bluetooth<\/li>\n<li>Bluetooth driver problems: The PC&#8217;s Bluetooth drivers might be missing, corrupted or outdated<\/li>\n<li>Damaged Bluetooth radio: The Bluetooth radio might have encountered a hardware problem<\/li>\n<li>Out of range: Proximity is very important in Bluetooth communication. Ensure the devices are within detection range<\/li>\n<li>Wrong Bluetooth connection mode: Its possible the Bluetooth isn&#8217;t set to Send or Receive mode as appropriate<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>How do I\u00a0fix a PC whose Bluetooth wont detect \/ connect to other devices?<\/h3>\n<p>Some fixes to consider include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bluetooth capability: Check to be sure the PC supports the appropriate Bluetooth Technology<\/li>\n<li>Delete unused paired devices: Locate the paired devices both on the PC (Start menu &gt; Control Panel &gt; Hardware and Sound &gt; Bluetooth devices) and the other Bluetooth device then delete unused paired devices<\/li>\n<li>Ensure Bluetooth is set to ON: Using the Start menu, Search for Bluetooth &gt; Under Wireless communication, ensure Bluetooth is set to ON<\/li>\n<li>Proximity: Ensure the devices are near enough to each other<\/li>\n<li>Run the <a href=\"https:\/\/hovatek.com\/redirect.php?link=http:\/\/go.microsoft.com\/?linkid=9740816\">Bluetooth hardware and devices troubleshooter tool<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Ensure the devices are paired:\u00a0Click on Start menu &gt; Control Panel &gt; Hardware and Sound &gt; Bluetooth devices &gt;\u00a0Add a device &gt; Select the target device once listed\u00a0&gt; Follow the wizard and type the Passcode if prompted<\/li>\n<li>Delete then re-pair the Bluetooth device: Click on Start menu &gt; Control Panel &gt; Hardware and Sound &gt; Bluetooth devices &gt; Select the device with is not working &gt; Remove &gt; Re-pair<\/li>\n<li>Set Bluetooth to discoverable: Start menu &gt; Control Panel &gt; Hardware and Sound &gt; Bluetooth devices &gt; Select Options &gt; Tick the box in front of Allow Bluetooth devices to find this computer<\/li>\n<li>Set Connection alert to active:\u00a0Go to the system tray (bottom right corner) &gt; Start menu &gt; Control Panel &gt; Hardware and Sound &gt; Bluetooth devices &gt; Select Options &gt; Tick the box in front of Alert me when a new Bluetooth device wants to connect<\/li>\n<li>Restart the PC: The PC might have encountered a minor error. consider restarting to clear such errors (see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hovatek.com\/blog\/how-to-fix-a-slow-hanging-or-crashing-pc\/\">https:\/\/www.hovatek.com\/blog\/how-to-fix-a-slow-hanging-or-crashing-pc\/<\/a>\u00a0)<\/li>\n<li>Enable the appropriate file transfer mode: Set Bluetooth to Send file if you wish to send and Receive file if you wish to receive. To do this, go to the system tray (bottom right corner) &gt; Right-click the Bluetooth icon<\/li>\n<li>Install Bluetooth drivers: Download the Bluetooth driver for the exact PC model then install (if you encounter problems after installing drivers then read <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hovatek.com\/blog\/how-to-do-a-system-restore-on-a-pc\/\">https:\/\/www.hovatek.com\/blog\/how-to-do-a-system-restore-on-a-pc\/<\/a>\u00a0).<\/li>\n<li>Uninstall then re-install Bluetooth drivers: Go to Device Manager &gt; Click View at the top &gt; Show hidden devices &gt; Expand Bluetooth radios &gt; Right-click each Bluetooth radio and select Uninstall &gt; Click Ok &gt; Click Action at the top &gt; Scan for hardware changes<\/li>\n<li>If all these fail then it might be a hardware issue; consider re-installing the OS to confirm this (see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hovatek.com\/blog\/how-to-install-windows-7-with-and-without-the-operating-system-cd-dvd\/\">https:\/\/www.hovatek.com\/blog\/how-to-install-windows-7-with-and-without-the-operating-system-cd-dvd\/<\/a>\u00a0)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Hovatek&#8230;.just a button away!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In our previous guide on Windows PC radio issues &amp; fixes, we discussed\u00a0How to fix Wi-Fi disabled by Windows Mobility Center (see https:\/\/www.hovatek.com\/blog\/how-to-fix-wi-fi-disabled-by-windows-mobility-center\/ ) . In this guide, we&#8217;ll be looking at a common Bluetooth headache; which is problems detecting or connecting to other Bluetooth devices. We&#8217;ll be discussing common causes and working fixes to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1429,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[818],"tags":[80,126],"class_list":["post-1428","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tutorials","tag-laptop-desktop","tag-tutorials"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hovatek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1428","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hovatek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hovatek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hovatek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hovatek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1428"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.hovatek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1428\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hovatek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1428"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hovatek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1428"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hovatek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1428"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}