How-To

How to Connect and Manage Bluetooth Devices in Windows 11

By Brian Burgess

Published November 16, 2021

If you want to enable and control Bluetooth on Windows 11, you can use the Settings menu, the Action Center, or the classic Control Panel. Here’s how.

Windows 11 supports Bluetooth technology, using short-range radio signals to communicate directly with devices.

Sick of wired devices? You can connect a mouse, keyboard, speakers, headphones, and a number of other devices to a Windows 11 PC with Bluetooth connectivity.

Thankfully, connecting Bluetooth devices to a Windows 11 PC is a straightforward process. Here’s how to do it.

How to Enable Bluetooth in Windows 11

Whether Bluetooth is enabled or not will depend on your PC and how Windows 11 was installed. It can easily be turned on or off from the Action Center or the Settings menu, however.

Using the Action Center

To check, open Action Center using the keyboard shortcut Windows key + A (or select it in the bottom-left). Next, click the Bluetooth button to enable it.

Using the Settings Menu

You can also enable or disable Bluetooth via the Settings menu on Windows 11.

To do this, click Start and select Settings. In the Settings menu, select Bluetooth & Devices from the left column. On the right, scroll down and toggle the Bluetooth switch on or off.

Pair Windows 11 with a Bluetooth Device

If your PC’s Bluetooth radio is on, you can now pair (connect) with a Bluetooth device.

To do this, bring the Bluetooth device you want to connect within the pairing range of your Windows 11 PC. Also, make sure it’s powered on and in “pairing mode” so it’s discoverable. The steps to do this will vary, depending on your device.

On your PC, open the Settings menu via Start. Select Bluetooth & Devices on the right, then click the Add Device button. You can press this at the top or bottom of the menu—both will work.

In the Add a device menu, click the Bluetooth option at the top.

Windows will then start scanning for nearby Bluetooth devices. When the one you want to connect appears, click on it. In this example, Windows 11 is connecting to a pair of Logitech MX Sound Bluetooth speakers.

When the connection is established, you’ll receive a message letting you know the device has successfully paired with your PC. You can start using your Bluetooth device with Windows 11 immediately.

Remove or Disconnect a Bluetooth Device from Windows 11

If you want to remove a Bluetooth device, go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & Devices. Find the Bluetooth device you want to remove and click the three dots icon in the upper-right corner.

Next, click Disconnect if you want to unpair the device. That keeps it listed in your Bluetooth section, and you’ll be able to connect to it again when needed.

To reconnect, click the Connect button.

If you want to remove the device altogether, click Remove Device from the menu.

To confirm, click Yes to the verification dialog.

Use the Bluetooth Device Wizard

You can still use classic Windows features to add Bluetooth devices to Windows 11. While these features are supported at launch, they may not work in the future.

Make sure your device is in pairing mode, switched on, and discoverable. Next, press Start and type devicepairingwizard—select it from the Best match result at the top.

This will open the classic pairing wizard and search for Bluetooth devices. Select the device you want to add, then click Next.

You’ll see a progress bar while Windows 11 is connecting to the device.

Once connected, the device will appear in the “Device and Printers” section of the classic Control Panel. It should also appear in the Bluetooth devices section in the Settings menu.

If you want to disconnect and remove the device in the classic Control Panel, right-click on the device in the Devices and Printers menu. Next, click Remove Device from the menu that appears.

Click Yes on the verification message that pops up to confirm the device removal.

Troubleshoot Bluetooth in Windows 11

If you’re having problems getting a Bluetooth device to connect, there are a few things you can try to fix it. These include:

• Check the device is powered on. It may seem obvious, but make sure the Bluetooth device is powered on, in pairing mode, so it’s discoverable, and ensure it’s in range.
• Disconnect other devices. If you have multiple devices connected, try disconnecting them, as they may interfere with each other.
• Update your PC. Manually run Windows Update to ensure your system and drivers are up to date.
• Update your Bluetooth device drivers. Make sure Bluetooth drivers are updated—you can do this via the Device Manager or by downloading a device driver from the manufacturer and installing it manually.
  • To do this, right-click the Start button and click Device Manager from the menu that appears.
  • Expand the Bluetooth option, right-click the driver to update, and click Update Driver from the menu.
  • Note that you can also right-click the driver, click Uninstall, then restart your PC.

Using Bluetooth on Windows 11

The steps above should help you to connect and manage Bluetooth devices on Windows 11. You can easily connect to Bluetooth devices in Settings, but you can still use the classic Control Panel to connect to devices. Switching Bluetooth on or off is easy, thanks to the Action Center (as well as quick-access keyboard shortcuts).

If you haven’t upgraded to Windows 11, you can pair Bluetooth devices with Windows 10, but the steps may vary. For more on Windows 11, check out how to create a mobile hotspot or learn how you can customize quick actions in the Action Center.