Windows 11 Bluetooth Settings: Pair, Manage and Send Files

Wireless headphones, mice, keyboards, game controllers and phones all connect to a PC over Bluetooth, and Windows 11 gathers every related option on one page. This guide walks through Windows 11 Bluetooth settings: turning Bluetooth on, pairing a device, the Swift Pair shortcut, managing and removing devices, sending files, and the settings that matter when something will not connect.

The steps apply to Windows 11 version 24H2, 25H2 and 26H2. Your PC needs a Bluetooth radio, built in or a USB adapter.

Turn Bluetooth on

• Quick Settings: press Windows logo key + A and select the Bluetooth button. Select the arrow next to it to see and connect paired devices.
• Settings: open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices and switch Bluetooth on.

If there is no Bluetooth switch at all, Windows does not see a Bluetooth radio; see the troubleshooting section below.

Pair a device

Microsoft’s pairing page describes these steps:

1. Put the accessory into pairing mode. Each device does this differently; often you hold the power or a pairing button until a light flashes. Check its manual.
2. On the PC, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices.
3. Select Add device, then Bluetooth.
4. Select the device when it appears and follow any instructions, such as confirming a PIN on a phone or typing one on a keyboard.
5. Select Done.

The Add device window also has Wireless display or dock for Miracast screens and Everything else for other devices such as Xbox controllers with a wireless adapter.

Swift Pair

Many recent accessories support Swift Pair. When one is in pairing mode nearby, Windows shows a notification; select Connect and it pairs in one step. The option to show these notifications is under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices and is on by default on most PCs.

Manage paired devices

Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices (or View more devices). For each device you can:

• See whether it is connected, and its battery level if the device reports it.
• Select the three dots to Connect, Disconnect or Remove device.
• Rename some devices in their properties.

Removing and pairing again is the single most effective fix for a device that misbehaves.

Useful options on the Devices page

• Bluetooth devices discovery: Default shows common devices like audio and input when adding a device; Advanced shows all types. Switch to Advanced if your accessory does not appear.
• Download over metered connections: lets Windows fetch device software and info on metered connections.
• Show notifications to connect using Swift Pair.

Send and receive files

Microsoft’s page on Bluetooth file transfer covers the built-in wizard:

1. Pair the other device (a phone or another PC).
2. In Settings > Bluetooth & devices, select Send or receive files via Bluetooth (in the related settings), then Send files or Receive files.
3. Follow the wizard.

For PC-to-PC transfers, Nearby sharing is faster and simpler. For phones, see Phone Link.

Audio devices and the Bluetooth version

Bluetooth headphones appear in the sound output list once connected; see Windows 11 sound settings to choose them and to understand why a headset can appear as two devices. Newer audio features depend on the Bluetooth version of both the PC and the headphones. Microsoft explains how to read it in Device Manager, and our guide to check Bluetooth version in Windows 11 maps the LMP number to a version.

When Bluetooth will not connect

Microsoft’s Fix Bluetooth problems page suggests checking, in order:

1. Bluetooth is on and airplane mode is off.
2. The device is charged, on and in range, and not connected to another device such as your phone.
3. Remove and re-pair the device.
4. Restart the PC.
5. Update or reinstall the Bluetooth driver from Windows Update, optional updates or the PC maker; see update drivers in Windows 11.
6. Run the Bluetooth troubleshooter in Get Help.

Interference also matters. USB 3 devices and cables close to a Bluetooth dongle, and busy 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, can cause drop-outs. Move the dongle to a front port or a short USB extension.

Our full troubleshooting guide is Windows 11 Bluetooth not working. If you share the PC’s internet over Bluetooth, see mobile hotspot.

Pairing tips by device type

Different accessories have their own quirks:

• Headphones and earbuds often need the case open and a button held for several seconds. If they were paired with a phone, turn the phone’s Bluetooth off first, or the earbuds may reconnect to it instead of the PC.
• Mice and keyboards usually have a pairing button underneath. Multi-device models have channel buttons; pick a free channel before pairing. A keyboard may ask you to type a PIN shown on screen and press Enter.
• Game controllers pair like other devices, but some work better with the maker’s own USB receiver; check the controller’s instructions.
• Phones ask you to confirm the same code on both screens. For texts and calls on the PC, use Phone Link rather than plain Bluetooth pairing.
• Speakers and soundbars sometimes appear twice, for audio and for controls. Pair the entry with the audio icon.

If a device pairs but keeps disconnecting, remove it from both sides (the PC’s device list and, for headphones, a reset per the manual), then pair again. Our Windows 11 audio not working guide helps when a paired headset connects but plays nothing.

Privacy and security

• Turn Bluetooth off when you do not need it on a laptop in public places; it also saves a little battery.
• Only accept pairing requests you started.
• Use Dynamic lock to lock the PC when your paired phone moves away; see Dynamic lock in Windows 11.

For the rest of the Bluetooth & devices page, including printers, see set the default printer and the Windows 11 settings guide.