How to connect any Bluetooth device on Windows 11

• To connect a Bluetooth device on Windows 11, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices, click on “Add device,” choose “Bluetooth,” select the device, and continue with the on-screen directions to complete the pairing.
• Alternatively, open “Quick Settings” (Windows key + A), click on “Manage Bluetooth devices,” select the device, and confirm the pairing code.

On Windows 11, you can connect to virtually any Bluetooth device, and in this guide, you will learn how. Bluetooth is a standard radio wireless technology for transferring data over a short distance. On Windows 11, this technology lets you connect and use a long list of devices (such as a mouse, keyboard, headphones, speakers, controllers, pens, and more) through a process known as “pairing,” which you have to do once and doesn’t require extra software or drivers.

You have at least two options if you want to pair devices to your computer using Bluetooth. For example, you can use the “Bluetooth & devices” settings page or connect a device a little quicker from the “Quick Settings” flyout in the Taskbar.

In this guide, I teach you the easy steps to pair Bluetooth devices to Windows 11. (In these instructions, I’ll be pairing my Android phone, but the process will apply to most devices.)

• Connect Bluetooth device to Windows 11 from Settings
• Connect Bluetooth device to Windows 11 from Quick Settings

Connect Bluetooth device to Windows 11 from Settings

To connect a Bluetooth mouse, keyboard, headphones, or speakers to Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Turn on the Bluetooth pair option on the device you wish to connect to make it discoverable on Windows 11.

   Quick note: The process of making a wireless device discoverable differs per manufacturer and peripheral. Usually, you will find a button to press and hold until the connect light starts flashing. You must open Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Bluetooth to control the feature on your Android phone. Or, you can open Settings > Bluetooth on your iPhone. However, you may need to check the manufacturer’s support website for more details.

2. Open Settings on Windows 11.

3. Click on Bluetooth & devices.

4. Turn on the Bluetooth toggle switch to enable the wireless radio (if applicable).

   Quick tip: You can use these steps to fix the Bluetooth option missing on Windows 11 or these instructions to fix most Bluetooth problems on your computer.

5. Click the Add device button.

   

6. Select the Bluetooth option.

   

7. Select the Bluetooth device (mouse, keyboard, headphones, or speakers) from the list.

   

   Quick tip: If you cannot find the device, click the “Show all devices” option to expand the list. You will usually see the device’s name and brand. Also, make sure that the device you’re trying to connect is in pairing mode.

8. Confirm the Bluetooth pairing code on the device and Windows 11 (if applicable).

   Quick note: Some devices like mice, keyboards, speakers, and headphones may not include a screen to review the pairing code, so in some cases, this step may not be required.

9. Click the Connect button on the Windows 11 Bluetooth settings.

   

10. Click the Pair button on the device you’re connecting (if applicable).

    Quick note: You must quickly click the “Connect” and “Pair” buttons, or the pairing will fail.

11. Click the Done button on your computer.

Once you complete the steps, you can start using the peripheral wirelessly. If you have another device, repeat the steps to pair it with Windows 11. This should be a one-time process. After connecting the Bluetooth device, it should reconnect automatically when in range.

It’s important to note that you can also find the same setting to add new Bluetooth devices on Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices.

Connect Bluetooth device to Windows 11 from Quick Settings

To connect a Bluetooth mouse, keyboard, headphones, or speakers to Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Turn on the Bluetooth pair option on the device you wish to connect to make it discoverable on Windows 11.

2. Open the Quick Settings flyout in the Taskbar.

   Quick tip: You can click the “Network, Sound, or Battery” button in the Taskbar System Tray or use the “Windows key + A” keyboard shortcut.

3. Click the “Manage Bluetooth devices” button next to the “Bluetooth” icon. 

   

4. Turn on the Bluetooth toggle switch (if applicable).

5. Choose the device you want to pair with a Bluetooth connection.

   

6. Click the Connect button on Windows 11 to confirm the pairing code.

   

7. Click the Pair button on the device to complete the connection.

After completing the steps, the device will connect to your computer through Bluetooth.

Update August 1, 2024: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.