Bluetooth technology offers a convenient way to connect your devices wirelessly, and this extends to printers. If you’re looking to set up a Bluetooth Computer Printer with your Windows device, the first crucial step is ensuring Bluetooth is enabled. This guide will walk you through the simple steps to turn on Bluetooth in Windows, paving the way for seamless wireless printing.
Enabling Bluetooth for Your Printer in Windows Settings
The Settings menu in Windows provides a straightforward method to activate Bluetooth for your bluetooth computer printer. Here’s how to do it:
- Begin by clicking the Start menu, usually located at the bottom left corner of your screen. Then, navigate to and select Settings. Alternatively, you can use the shortcut Windows key + I to directly open the Settings app.
- In the Settings window, find and click on Devices. This section manages various hardware connections to your computer, including Bluetooth. Or use this shortcut: Open Bluetooth & other devices
- Within the Devices settings, you will see Bluetooth & other devices on the left-hand menu. Ensure you are in this section. On the right side, locate the Bluetooth toggle switch. If it’s set to “Off,” click the switch to turn it On.
Turning on Bluetooth for Your Printer Using Action Center
Action Center provides a quick and easy way to manage common settings, including Bluetooth, which is especially handy when you need to quickly connect your bluetooth computer printer.
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Locate the Action Center icon on your taskbar, typically found in the bottom right corner, next to the time and date. It may appear as a speech bubble icon ( or ). Click on this icon to open the Action Center.
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In the Action Center panel, look for the Bluetooth tile. If you don’t see it immediately, click on Expand to reveal all quick action tiles.
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Click the Bluetooth tile to toggle Bluetooth on or off.
- When Bluetooth is off, the tile will be greyed out or not highlighted and may indicate “Off”.
- When Bluetooth is active, the tile will be highlighted and might show statuses like “Connected,” “Not connected,” or even the name of a connected device, such as your bluetooth computer printer.
Adding Bluetooth to Action Center if Missing
If the Bluetooth tile is not visible in the Action Center, even after expanding the quick actions, you may need to add it manually. This is a simple process:
- Right-click on the Start menu and select Settings > System > Notifications & actions. Or use this shortcut: Open Notifications & actions
- In the Notifications & actions settings, under the Quick actions section, click on Edit your quick actions.
- Click Add. A list of available quick actions will appear. Select Bluetooth from this list.
- Once added, the Bluetooth tile should now be visible in your Action Center. You can also rearrange the tiles to your preferred order by dragging them within the Edit your quick actions pane.
By following these steps, you can easily enable Bluetooth on your Windows device, ensuring it’s ready to connect with your bluetooth computer printer for all your wireless printing needs. With Bluetooth activated, you can proceed to pair your printer and enjoy the convenience of cable-free printing.
