How to Connect Bluetooth Headphones to Laptop
Are you wondering how to connect your Bluetooth Headphones to a Windows 10 laptop of desktop computer? If yes, then this article is for you. After reading this, you should have a pretty good idea how to pair computers and Bluetooth headphones. The process is easy, so you should be able to do it even if you are not tech savvy. Bluetooth headphones are all the rage at the moment. You can read our article on the best Bluetooth headphones if you are still undecided on which to buy. But, the fact that you are here probably means you have already purchased yours. Now that they have arrived, you are looking to pair them with your laptop of desktop computer. So, how do you do it? How do you link Bluetooth headphones to a laptop or desktop computer in Windows 7, 8 or 10?
How to Pair Bluetooth Headphones to Laptop
If you are wondering; can you connect Bluetooth headphones to a laptop, the answer is YES! Bluetooth headphones are designed to be connected to computers! The following is what you need to do to link your Bluetooth headphones to your computer. The steps apply whether it’s a laptop or desktop. The steps also apply whether your computer is running on Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 10. Anyway, to pair your headphones with a computer, you need to do the following;
Make sure your PC has Bluetooth
This is the very first step if you wish to connect a laptop computer to Bluetooth headphones. You will be surprised at the number of people who neglect to think about this step right at the onset. Thing is, if you are running an old desktop computer, chances are high that it does not come with Bluetooth. The same applies for old laptops. Meanwhile, Bluetooth headphones work via Bluetooth. So, you are not going to be able to use them when connecting to a device that does not have Bluetooth. So, how then can you connect Bluetooth headphones to PC?
Buy a Bluetooth Adapter from Amazon
Fortunately, all is not lost. You can still get Bluetooth on a desktop or laptop computer that does not come with Bluetooth build in. But how do you do it? Truth is, getting Bluetooth on such a computer is a simple matter of buying a Bluetooth dongle or adapter. You can see an example of one in the above products list. Bluetooth adapters are the ones that look like mini USB/Flash drives. Bluetooth adapters are quite cheap. And once you have purchased yours, it’s a simple matter of plugging it into the USB port of your computer, and you should be good to go.
Put your Bluetooth Headphones into Pairing Mode
This is the next step on the way to connecting Bluetooth Headphones to a laptop or desktop computer. This is actually one of the steps that undo people the most when it comes to pairing Bluetooth headphones to PCs. People tend to struggle to put their Bluetooth headphones into pairing mode. Most of the time, this is done via the power button or switch. It’s going to be a little different depending on the type of headphones that you have gone for, of course. But it shouldn’t be that difficult.
On some Bluetooth headphones, you put them into pairing mode by long pressing on the power switch. You keep holding the button till your headphones have entered pairing mode. You should, in any case, read the manual that comes with your headphones to find out how exactly to do it. If you don’t have the manual, look up the information on the internet or on YouTube. You are bound to find it somewhere.
How do I know when my headphones are now in pairing mode
If your headphones have voice prompts, you will receive voice notification that they are now in Bluetooth pairing mode. On some models, indication that Bluetooth headphones are now in pairing mode comes in the form of a continuously blinking light.
If your computer has a physical Bluetooth/connectivity switch, turn it on
Some laptops have a physical Bluetooth/WiFi switch. An HP G62, as an example, has a key that you can press to switch Bluetooth on or off. It also used to switch WiFi on and off, but that no longer works in Windows 10. Anyway, you need to make sure that this switch is on, otherwise you will not have Bluetooth on your computer. This button usually has a light that turns from red to blue, indicating that Bluetooth is now on.
Turn on Bluetooth on your Laptop of Desktop
Next, you need to switch on Bluetooth on your computer in Settings. Chances are this option will already be on if you have previously used Bluetooth. Anyway, to turn on Bluetooth, you need to do the following;
- Click on notification icon bottom right and choose “All Settings.”
- Click on “Devices”
- In Settings ensure that Bluetooth is on.
- Note that you can also simply search for Bluetooth using the Windows 10 Search Bar. Click on “Bluetooth and other devices settings.”
Add a Bluetooth Device (Your Bluetooth headphones)
Now that we have made sure that Bluetooth is switched on on your computer, the next step involves pairing your headphones to your laptop or desktop. In Settings, you need to do the following;
- Click on “Add Bluetooth or other device”
- Click on the first option “Bluetooth.”
- Your headphones should appear among list of devices.
- Click on them and the pairing process will start.
- When connected, click on the “Done,” button.
- Now your Bluetooth headphones should be connected to your Windows 10 laptop or desktop computer.
- Go to your computer and test that music is coming through your headphones.
Connect Bluetooth Headphones to Windows 7 Laptop of Desktop
The process of pairing Bluetooth headphones to a Windows 7 laptop of desktop is more or less the same as outlined above. You just need to make sure that your headphones are in pairing mode. Next, make sure that Bluetooth is on on your computer. From there, you need to add your headphones to your computer.
Can’t connect laptop to Bluetooth headphones: Troubleshooting
You may encounter problems while trying to connect your laptop to Bluetooth headphones. Issues may also arise when trying to connect Bluetooth headphones to Windows 10 desktops. The following tips should help you connect headphones to laptop Bluetooth;
- Make sure your computer has Bluetooth. If not, buy a Bluetooth Adapter.
- Make sure that Bluetooth is turned on on your laptop or desktop computer.
- Ensure that your Bluetooth headphones are properly in pairing mode.
- If you have previously already paired your headphones to your computer, you need to first remove the Bluetooth headphones before connecting them one more time to your laptop.
That’s it! Hope this article has shown you how to connect Bluetooth headphones to computer. And if Bluetooth headphones won’t connect to PC, simply follow the steps given above. Looking for the best Bluetooth headphones for gym? Check out the article in the provided link to make the right choice. You can also read our article on how to choose headphones.