Here we go again: when it comes to technology you need a helping hand! I would like to know what mishap you stumbled upon today. How do you say? Have you recently bought a new accessory for your smartphone or computer and want to know how to connect it? Perfect, then I'm pleased to inform you that I can help you in this circumstance as well.
In fact, in this guide of mine, I will illustrate you how to connect bluetooth on all your devices, according to the various needs you may have. I'll show you the procedures to follow to connect accessories to smartphones and tablets or computers and, also, how to connect the devices to each other to exchange files. If that weren't enough, I'll explain how to connect a smartphone to the car or how to use the data network of the SIM to offer an Internet connection to other devices via Bluetooth.
I know you're eager to get started! What are we waiting for? Dedicate me just a few minutes of your time, to consult all the suggestions that you will find in this tutorial of mine, and try to put them into practice. Are you ready to start? Yes? Very good! All that remains for me is to wish you a good reading and a good job.
Index
- Preliminary operation
- How to connect Bluetooth on smartphones and tablets
- How to connect Bluetooth to PC
- How to connect Bluetooth to the car
- How to connect Bluetooth to Alexa
Preliminary operation
In order to be connected to other devices, external Bluetooth devices (whether they are speakers, mice, keyboards or other categories of devices) must be set in a special mode, called of matching, in pairing o of association, which allows the device itself to be discoverable and, consequently, ready for new connections.
Generally, Bluetooth devices that are turned on for the first time are automatically set to pairing mode; otherwise, to enter the latter, a specific procedure must be performed, which varies from device to device.
For example, in the case of Bluetooth speakers and headsets, it could be necessary long press the power key, until a sound feedback announces entry into pairing mode; the mouse e le tastiere Bluetooth, on the other hand, can almost always be put into pairing mode by long pressing the connect key.
In any case, for more precise indications on what to do in your specific case, consult the user manual supplied with the Bluetooth device or, alternatively, search Google for phrases such as pairing mode [device brand and model] o pairing mode [device brand and model].
How to connect Bluetooth on smartphones and tablets
If you intend to connect an external device (e.g. a Bluetooth speaker or headset, but also a mouse, keyboard or wearable) to an Android device, an iPhone or an iPad, carefully follow the instructions you find in the bars later in this chapter.
Android
Connect a Bluetooth device to one Android smartphone (or to a tablet) is extremely simple! After setting the first of the devices in question in pairing mode, unlock the Android device and open its Settingsby tapping the icon in the shape of rotella d'ingranaggio present on the Home screen or in the app drawer.
After that, select the entries Connections > Bluetooth or similar from the panels that appear next (exact names depend on your Android version), locate the named toggle Bluetooth and move it into position ON.
Now, wait for a while for the name of the device to be paired appears on the screen, tap on it and wait for the pairing to be completed. If necessary, enter any PIN or security codes, following the prompts you receive on the screen.
I point out that, keeping the panel open Settings> Bluetooth with the screen unlocked, the Android device from which you operate will in turn enter pairing mode and can be seen by external devices, both by associating functions and by receiving files. To find out more, take a look at the tutorial in which I explain how to use Bluetooth on Android.
If you own a wearable accessory, such as a smartwatch or a fitness band, I suggest you consult my guide on how to connect a smartwatch, in which I explain the procedure for associating it with your smartphone.
iPhone / iPad
Steps to take to connect a Bluetooth device a iPhone and iPad they are not very different from what we saw a little while ago: first open the Settings of iOS/iPadOS, by pressing on the symbol ofGear located on the Home screen or in the App Library, tap the entry Bluetooth and move up ON the lever of the same name, located at the top of the screen.
Now, wait for a while for the name of the device to pair (which must already be set in pairing mode) appears on the screen and, when this happens, press on it; if necessary, follow the instructions that appear on the screen to enter any required authentication codes. I point out that, by keeping the Settings> Bluetooth on the iPhone/iPad screen when the latter is unlocked and Bluetooth is turned on, the phone or tablet becomes externally discoverable and ready for pairing.
How to connect Bluetooth to PC
Now let's see how to connect an external Bluetooth device to the computer. First, I recommend that you check that the latter device has Bluetooth connectivity: this is true for all Macs (including Mac Minis and iMacs) and for all recent generation Windows notebooks and tablets.
If, on the other hand, you have an older Windows desktop or notebook, press the key combination Win + R on the keyboard, type the command devmgmt.msc and give Submit: then examine the list of devices connected to the computer and verify the presence of the Bluetooth/Bluetooth Radio inside.
If this is not the case, it means that the computer is not natively equipped with Bluetooth connectivity, or that the module present is damaged; in this case, you can easily deal with it by purchasing an external Bluetooth dongle, to be connected to one of the computer's USB ports.
If you need further clarification on how to activate Bluetooth on your computer, I invite you to read my specific tutorial on the subject.
After making sure that the Bluetooth module is actually present and activating it on the computer, all you have to do is connect the latter to your external device, following the instructions below.
Windows 11
If you use the operating system Windows 11, click onindicators area placed near the clock (the one that contains the Wi-Fi, volume and battery icons, to be clear), locate the button Bluetooth inside the panel that appears and press on the symbol >, located immediately next to it.
If necessary, move up ON the lever relating to the Bluetooth item and, subsequently, wait for the name of the device to be connected appears on the screen; when this happens, click on it to complete the pairing (by typing, if requested, the security PIN).
Alternatively, you can perform the same procedure directly from the dashboard Settings of Windows 10: open the latter by pressing the key combination Win + I (or by clicking on the symbol ofGear which resides in Start menu), tap on the item Bluetooth and Devices and, if necessary, move up ON the named stick Bluetooth.
Finally, press on the buttons Add device e Bluetooth, wait for the name of the device to be paired to appear in the list of unpaired devices and click on it, to complete the pairing. I point out that, by leaving the Settings> Bluetooth and devices panel open when the computer is unlocked, the latter will automatically go into pairing mode and will be visible from external devices.
Windows 10
To quickly connect a Bluetooth device to a PC equipped with Windows 10, press the key combination Win + A (or click on the symbol of comic located to the right of the clock), to open thenotify area of system. Now, click on the item Expand, locate the button dedicated to Bluetooth and, if it is darkened, press it to "turn it on" and thus activate the aforementioned technology.
Next, click on your button Connect always located in the Windows notification area, wait for the name of the device to be connected appears on the screen and click on it to complete the procedure.
Alternatively, you can achieve the same result from the dashboard Settings windows: open the latter by pressing the key combination Win + X and selecting the voice Settings from the menu that opens next to the Start button, select the voice devices and move the lever corresponding to the wording Bluetooth su ON, in order to activate the technology in question and make, at the same time, the computer detectable from the outside.
At this point, press the button [+] Add Bluetooth or other device, select the voice Bluetooth and complete the association of the device you are interested in, following the same instructions given above. More info here.
Windows 7
To connect a Bluetooth device to a PC Windows 7, locate the icon of Bluetooth (the stylized "B") near the system clock, do click destroy on it and choose the voice Add a Bluetooth devicefrom the menu that appears. If the Bluetooth symbol is not immediately visible, click on angular dart located near the clock and drag the icon in question among those displayed, so as to prevent it from disappearing.
Alternatively, open the Control Panel using the appropriate item located in the Start menu, click on the items Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers and click on the button Add device, placed at the top.
Now, whichever procedure you do, wait for the name of the Bluetooth device to associate, already set in pairing mode, appears on the screen, click on it and press the button NEXT, to conclude. If necessary, type the PIN security required, in the dedicated box. If necessary, you can learn more by reading my guide on how to activate Bluetooth in Windows 7.
MacOS
Finally, if yours is a Mac, do the following: open the System Settings/Preferencesby clicking on the symbol rotella d'ingranaggio which resides on the Dock or on the appropriate item accessible from the menu Apple (l'icona della bitten apple located at the top right) and click on the icon Bluetooth, which resides in the next panel.
Now, move the lever at the top of the screen into position ON (or press the button Enable Bluetooth located on the side, if you use a version of macOS prior to Ventura) and wait for the name of the device to be connected, already set in pairing mode, appears on the screen; when this happens, click on it and wait patiently for the connection to complete. If necessary, enter any PINs or security codes when prompted.
I'll point out that when the window Settings/System Preferences > Bluetooth is open, Bluetooth is on and the screen is unlocked, the computer can be viewed and selected for pairing from external devices. To quickly connect/disconnect a previously paired Bluetooth device, press on macOS multifunction button (the lever symbol located near the clock) and then on the button Bluetooth, located in the panel that appears next. More info here.
How to connect Bluetooth to the car
Do you want to connect your smartphone to thecars via Bluetooth, so as to be able to use it as a stereo or, again, to be able to control its functions through the infotainment system on board the car? Well, even in this case it is almost always an immediate and simple operation.
To get started, you need to identify the type of Bluetooth system your car has: whether the connectivity in question is built right into the on-board computer, you need to enter the menu of the latter by pressing the appropriate key (physical or touch screen) and access the area dedicated to connectivity.
Once there, open the settings related to the Bluetooth and choose you want to associate a new Bluetooth device: by doing this, you will put the entire trip computer into pairing mode. Once this operation has been completed, take the smartphone to be paired with the car and follow the steps I indicated above to complete the association: in general, communication must be authorized by entering a pin code, which almost always appears on the on-board computer display.
To give you an example, if you mean connect Bluetooth Fiat Panda, proceed as follows: call up the on-board computer menu by pressing the button showing two overlapping rectangleslocated near the steering wheel.
If you want Connect Nissan Bluetooth with the Nissan Connect system, the steps to follow are even simpler: press the symbol handset located near the on-board computer screen (or on the respective touch button), press the button Fellow worker that appears on the screen and then on the voice Pair new device, so that the infotainment is in pairing mode.
Regardless of the car in your possession, you must then take your smartphone, search for Bluetooth devices and press on name of the car's infotainment system; to finish, type the PIN that appears on the on-board display, or check that the codes shown on both screens match, and finish everything by pressing the button Associate, Connect o Match.
I would also like to point out that many modern infotainment systems are compatible with control systems Android Auto e Apple CarPlay, which allow, in addition to controlling audio playback and calls, also to use numerous apps installed on the smartphone, directly from the on-board computer screen or by voice (where possible): to find out more, take a look at the my specific tutorials on the operation of Android Auto and that of Apple CarPlay.
If, on the other hand, your car does not have a built-in Bluetooth system, you can fix it by installing one stereo con Bluetooth, a special one Bluetooth receiver or Hands-free kit, to be connected to the car radio via RF frequencies (ie, in practice, "tuning" it as you would a radio station) or AUX cable.
To find out more about the aforementioned solutions, I invite you to read my guide on how to put music in the car with Bluetooth, where you will find everything explained in great detail.
How to connect Bluetooth to Alexa
If you are not satisfied with the streaming services built into the speaker Echo, you can also easily use them as a Bluetooth speaker, by connecting your smartphone, tablet or computer via Bluetooth to them.
As? It's that easy. First, open the panel of Bluetooth settings on the device to connect to Alexa, make sure that Bluetooth is active and, if you use the computer, make sure that the screen is locked and that the Bluetooth settings window is open (to make the computer discoverable).
Now, if you have an Echo speaker that doesn't have a screen (e.g. the Echo Dot), open the app Amazon Alexa on the smartphone or tablet you used to configure it and tap the button devices, located at the bottom.
After that, press on name of the speaker with which to associate the Bluetooth device, to access the configuration settings; if you don't see it right away, tap the button first Echo and Alexa and then on name of the Echo device, which should now be visible in the next panel.
Now locate the tile Bluetooth connections, tap on the item Connect a device and select il name of the phone, tablet or computer to connect to Alexa; to finish, if necessary, enter the PIN of pairing displayed on the screen and that's it.
If, on the other hand, you have an Echo device equipped with a screen (e.g. the Echo Show), swipe from top to bottom, to open the main menu of the device, tap the button Settings and then on the voice Bluetooth; to finish, wait for the name of the device to pair appears on the display and press on it, in order to finalize the pairing (it may be necessary to authorize the communication, after entering the identification PIN).
