Article ID : 00246475 / Last Modified : 07/16/2024Print

How to pair (connect) your Bluetooth speaker or headphones to a computer

    If your computer supports Bluetooth®, you can easily connect your Bluetooth headphones and speakers. Most computers today support Bluetooth, but you can always use a USB Bluetooth adapter if yours doesn't. If you're not sure whether your computer supports Bluetooth, just contact the manufacturer for more information.

    Tip! If you came to this page with Bluetooth headphones, we recommend you try the steps in the article on How to pair (connect) my Bluetooth wireless headphones with another device instead because it provides model-specific details and also links to an interactive guide.

    IMPORTANT: The steps we've outlined in this article are pretty general, so keep in mind that the pairing process might vary depending on your Bluetooth device and the computer operating system. We recommend that you have your product manuals available and if you need detailed instructions for your computer please reach out to your computer manufacturer.

    Before you start

    • Make sure your computer supports the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) Bluetooth® profile.
    • The drivers needed to connect your device to a computer are already included in the operating system.
      Note: If your computer asks for a Bluetooth driver, contact your computer manufacturer.
    • Make sure to turn up the volume level on the computer.

    Watch this video

    Watch the video for pairing steps or skip to the steps for more detailed instructions.


    Step 1: Put the headphones or speaker into pairing mode

    This makes the device discoverable by the computer.

    Your Bluetooth headphones and speakers may immediately go into pairing mode when used for the first time or after initializing (reset). However, the second time you pair it, you will need to manually enable the pairing mode. For devices with a Power button, you can usually do this by pressing and holding the Power button for 5-7 seconds.

    Notes:

    • If your headphones or speaker doesn't immediately go into pairing mode, press and hold the Power button continuously for 5-7 seconds or until the Bluetooth indicator flashes rapidly (depending on the device).
    • If you don't see a Power button, you will need to refer to the instruction manual or help guide for your model for details on how to put it in pairing mode.

    Step 2: Pair the devices and set the sound output on the computer

    The images and descriptions used in these steps are only an example. What you see may be slightly different depending on your devices.

    You are all set to start listening to music or streaming content from your computer through your headphones! 

    Troubleshooting tips