How to Connect Bluetooth Headphones to PC: Problems and Fixes
(Last update: March 10, 2021)
Here's how you can connect your Bluetooth headset to a Windows PC and solutions to common connection issues you might encounter.
Getting your first pair of premium flashy Bluetooth headphones can be really exciting. Our first instinct is always to connect them to our phones to enjoy its optimal wireless portability. But connecting Bluetooth headphones to our cell phones is easy. the same can't really be said for Windows PCs, especially if you're inexperienced.
What else to do if Bluetooth problems occur? It can be extremely frustrating, especially for people who are not tech-savvy. And those who are just lost on how to move forward may think that they might as well
stick to wired versions
.
However, this is not always the best solution. If you want to settle in and enjoy your tunes while working on your PC, don't let these frustrations stop you! Avoid feeling miserable and read this guide instead. With that , you'll learn how to connect a Bluetooth headset to a PC and troubleshoot common Bluetooth connection issues you may encounter.
Woman enjoying wireless headset connected to PC (From: Pexels)
Quick links
Click on the links to jump to the appropriate section.
How to Connect Bluetooth Headphones to PC
Bluetooth headphones do not connect to the PC: what to do
Bluetooth headphones connected but of terrible quality: what to do
Conclusion
How to Connect Bluetooth Headphones to PC
Before anything else, make sure you know by heart the simple steps to connect a Bluetooth headset to a PC.
for games
, for movies or for listening to the occasional music, knowing how it's done correctly can save you tons of headaches. Fortunately, unlike using
Bluetooth headphones for TV
, connecting your headphones to the PC is a fairly simple process.
No more guessing when establishing a Bluetooth connection with your devices!
Here is how to correctly connect a Bluetooth headset to the PC:
Make sure your Bluetooth headphones are in discoverable mode. To be discoverable, you must enter the device into '
Pairing mode
'.
Note that the steps to put the device into pairing mode may differ from device to device. Be sure to read the manufacturer's guide. For example,
opening the Taotronics SoundLiberty 79 charging case
will automatically put it into pairing mode.While for Sony headphones you will usually need to
press and hold the power button
.
Put your headphones in "discoverable mode".
Click on your PC start menu and go to your PC settings. There click on
Devices
.
In Settings, go to Devices
From there, enable your Bluetooth by clicking the toggle and click
Add Bluetooth or other device
.
Enable Bluetooth and click Add Bluetooth Devices
In the pop-up window, click Bluetooth. This should automatically scan all nearby Bluetooth devices.
Scan nearby Bluetooth devices
Once your headphones are displayed, click
Relate
.
Pair the device.
Depending on your headset model, it should either connect immediately or ask for a password. If a password is needed, just check your headset's manual. Or try '0000' (four zeros) as the passcode. usual default access.
These simple steps can help you enjoy your Bluetooth headphones as much as you want. But, all too often, pairing Bluetooth devices with your PC can fail. If your Bluetooth headphones won't connect to the PC, be prepared to Perform the fixes we've listed for you in the following sections of this article.
Bluetooth headphones do not connect to the PC: what to do
Bluetooth may be the standard wireless connection today, compared to
other wireless connectivity options like RF and IF
, but this does not free it from specific faults. And before delving into the more complex causes of Bluetooth failures, it is useful to first make sure where the problem lies.
To do this, simply try connecting your Bluetooth headphones to different devices (like your phones, tablets, etc.). And see if that will work. If not, it's safe to say that the problem lies in your Bluetooth headphones. If so, on the other hand, you should look into your PC.
Either way, we prepared some easy-to-follow steps on what to do when your Bluetooth headphones won't connect to your PC.
For Bluetooth Earphone Problems
There are two common causes of headphone-related connection failure. These are:
The battery level is getting too low.
The Bluetooth configuration needs to be reset.
If that's not the problem, you'll need to contact the manufacturer for warranty or take your headset to a professional. However, it's important to rule these two things out before doing any other repairs.
You can also check if your Bluetooth headphones are still connected to another device. While some headphones support more than 3 multipoint connections, others like
Sony WF-1000XM3
can only connect to a maximum of 2 devices at a time.
Check the battery
For Bluetooth to work properly, your headset's battery must be at optimal levels, otherwise you may experience an issue when trying to connect your device.
Thus, make sure to fully charge your batteries before using them to avoid connectivity issues due to low battery level. Take the time to recharge the batteries or replace them if you have spares. Then, try pairing the devices again.
Reset headphones
Changes you make to your device, such as changing firmware or installing updates, may affect your headset's ability to connect.
Resetting your Bluetooth headset may be all you need to reverse the errors and get it working optimally.
Different headphone brands have different guidelines on how to accurately reset your device. The good news is that this ultimate guide on
how to reset your bluetooth headphones
pretty much covers reset procedures for different brands of headphones. Please check it out!
However, if you made it this far and the above-mentioned procedures did not fix the problem, proceed to check your PC settings.
For PC problems
It's not strange that your PC is the reason why your Bluetooth headphones failed to connect.
Since a PC is a complex device using multiple software and hardware to operate, expect that there are several areas where the problem can arise. Here is a quick guide on how to fix Bluetooth connection issues on PC.
Make sure your PC supports Bluetooth
Disable and enable Bluetooth mode
“Forget” and reconnect the Bluetooth device
Enable Bluetooth Support Service
Update your Bluetooth device driver
Use the troubleshooter
Make sure your PC supports Bluetooth
For Bluetooth technology to work, both
devices must be Bluetooth enabled
The good news is that most modern PCs have Bluetooth capabilities, except for a few lower models and outdated PCs.
To check if your PC has built-in Bluetooth, follow these steps:
Search the
Bluetooth icon
in the taskbar located in the lower right corner of your screen. If you can't see it easily, click the up arrow to show hidden icons and look for the Bluetooth logo.
Look for the Bluetooth icon in the taskbar.
If you still can't find the Bluetooth icon, head to the
Device Manager
.
To reveal Device Manager, locate the
Windows startup key
in the lower left corner of your screen, then right-click on it or press
Windows key + X
absolutely.
Find Device Manager. Press Windows key + X simultaneously.
You can easily find Bluetooth in Windows 10 Device Manager. In Windows 7, it is under Devices and Printers. If Bluetooth is listed as one of the hardware in Device Manager, that means your PC is Bluetooth-enabled.
If Bluetooth is listed in the hardware list, your PC is Bluetooth enabled.
How to Add Bluetooth to Your Windows PC
If you have followed the steps above and you have not seen any sign of Bluetooth, then unfortunately your PC is not Bluetooth enabled. However, you can still enjoy the convenience of this wireless technology. using one of these two external hardware:
Bluetooth dongle
Bluetooth card
Details on how to add Bluetooth to PC are discussed below.
Use a Bluetooth dongle/adapter
A Bluetooth dongle is a device that plugs into a USB port to allow your non-Bluetooth PC to receive and transmit a Bluetooth signal.
To learn how to install Bluetooth specifically on Windows 10, watch this
short explanatory video.
You can also buy the best bluetooth dongle
here
.
Install the Bluetooth card
Another way to integrate Bluetooth into an outdated device is to use a Bluetooth card.
Bluetooth cards are ideal for both PCs and laptops as the former is often used for large volume transfers.
Unlike the dongle that takes up one of your USB ports, the Bluetooth card installs in one of your motherboard's PCI slots. You may be worried that it will take up space on your PCI, but it also frees up space one of your USB ports to make room for other peripherals.
Note, however, that installing a Bluetooth card requires a trained professional as it involves tinkering with the PC's CPU.
look at this
video
for detailed instructions on installing a Bluetooth card.
Disable and enable Bluetooth mode
Another way to fix connection issues is to restart Bluetooth mode. Turning Bluetooth off and on again acts the same as resetting your device; it clears connectivity errors. By doing so, the PC starts rescan nearby devices.
To disable and enable Bluetooth, go to
Start,
and select
Settings
.Choose
Devices
, and select
Bluetooth and other devices
.
To disable and enable Bluetooth, go to Start and select Settings. Choose Devices, then select Bluetooth & other devices.
Turn Bluetooth off and wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.
Turn Bluetooth off and wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.
“Forget” and reconnect the Bluetooth device
If you successfully paired the devices and a connection cannot be established, you have experienced a software problem. To fix this problem, you will need to "forget" and reconnect the device to start a new connection. Here's how:
Make sure the device is not in
airplane mode
.
Make sure the device is not in airplane mode.
Click on the
Windows key and select the Settings icon.
Click on the device you are trying to connect to.
To select
'Remove device
'.
Remove the device
Confirm with a '
Yes
'.
Confirmation of deletion.
To reconnect the device, see
how to connect bluetooth headset to pc
.
Enable Bluetooth Support Service
Bluetooth Support Service is a Windows service that helps discover and pair remote BT devices. Stopping this service causes installed Bluetooth devices to fail to work properly.
When the Bluetooth support service is disabled, the PC can no longer discover new devices to pair and prevents previously paired devices from connecting.
Therefore, make sure that this setting is enabled on your PC.
To check its status, follow these steps:
Press the Windows key and head to '
Windows administrative tools
'.
Press the Windows key and head to “Windows Administrative Tools”.
Click to display a drop-down menu. Click the '
Services
' menu.
You will be prompted by a list of services.
A list of services appears.
To select
Bluetooth support service
.
Select Bluetooth support service
At the top right of the services window, you will see the Bluetooth support service status. Hit '
Start
' if disabled.
Update your Bluetooth device driver
A Bluetooth driver is a device-specific software program that enables communication between your operating system and the Bluetooth device.
This makes it necessary to update your Bluetooth device drivers. To do so, follow these steps:
To research '
Device Manager
' in your search field.
Search for “Device Manager” in your search field.
Select '
Bluetooth
' under the 'Device Manager'.
Select "Bluetooth" in the "Device Manager".
Click on the name of the Bluetooth device.
Click on the name of the Bluetooth device.
Press and hold the device name, then choose
'Update driver'
.
Press and hold the device name, then choose “Update Driver”.
Head toward
'automatically search for updated driver software'
.
Head to “automatically search for updated driver software”.
Follow the stipulated steps and close the menu.
Follow the stipulated steps and close the menu.
Restart your PC
and check if the connection issues have been resolved.
Restart your PC and check if the connection issues have been resolved.
Use the troubleshooter
If you still haven't found a solution after running the mentioned fixes, then it's time to use the hardware and device troubleshooter. This will help you find the problem and provide accurate fixes to your computer issues.
Here's how to use
Troubleshooting Hardware and Peripherals
.
In the search box, type
'troubleshoot'
and press Enter.
In the search box, type “troubleshoot” and hit enter.
When prompted by the Troubleshoot window, navigate to
"Find and solve other problems"
.
When prompted by the Troubleshoot window, navigate to “Find and fix other problems”.
To select
"Materials and Devices"
.
Choose “Hardware and Devices”.
Click on
"Run the troubleshooter"
to start running the troubleshooter.
Run the troubleshooter
Execute the on-screen commands to complete the task.
Follow the on-screen commands to complete the task.
Bluetooth headphones connected but of terrible quality: what to do
When you've finally gotten Bluetooth working but you've had other issues with the audio quality of your headphones, we've got help.
If your headset volume is too low: See this article on “
Why are my headphones so quiet?
”.
When experiencing sound delays: Go to "
How to Fix Sound Delays on Bluetooth Headphones
”.
If no sound comes out of your headphones: find help in "
Bluetooth headset connected but no sound: PC and mobile fixes
”.
If your audio continues to stutter, read our guide: "
Bluetooth Headphones Keep Cutting Out: Problems and Fixes
”.
Other audio problems can be caused by software and hardware incompatibility, such as when the Bluetooth headphones and the audio source do not have the same
an audio codec
, Where
Bluetooth Versions
.
Conclusion
Bluetooth technology aims to make life more convenient and comfortable by making what would otherwise be a cumbersome way to get around gadgets simple and flexible. Therefore, Bluetooth should be able to connect in a snap.
With a trouble-free connection between your
wireless headphones
and PC, you can enjoy quality audio in an instant, whether you're using it for your remote work, chatting with a loved one or listening to music and so on.
I hope this guide has helped you get the most out of your Bluetooth headphones with your PC! Just make sure you don't abuse your headphones to protect yourself from anything
permanent hearing damage
.
However, if you want to connect your headset to other devices, feel free to check out our other guides as well:
How to Connect Bluetooth Headphones to Mac
How to Connect Bluetooth Headset to Switch
How to Connect a Bluetooth Headset to Xbox
How to Connect Bluetooth Headphones to a TV
Did we miss anything? Let us know and we'll add it in our next write-up.