Bluetooth - Turn On or Off in Windows 8

How to Turn On or Off Bluetooth in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

There are many different types of Bluetooth enabled devices you can add to your PC, such as mobile phones, wireless headsets, and wireless mouse devices and keyboards.

You must have Bluetooth wireless technology installed on your computer to have Bluetooth available.

For more information about Bluetooth in Windows, see: General Bluetooth Support in Windows

This tutorial will show you how to only turn on or off Bluetooth connectivity for the PC in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

This has no affect on Wi-Fi or cellular mobile broadband wireless devices like Airplane mode would.

   Note

If you turn on Bluetooth, then Airplane mode will also be automatically turned off.

OPTION ONE

Turn On or Off Bluetooth in Wireless PC settings in Windows 8

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1. Open PC settings, and click/tap on Wireless in the left pane. (see screenshot below)​

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2. In the right pane under Wireless devices, move the Bluetooth slider to turn on (right) or off (left) for what you want.​

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3. When finished, you can close PC settings if you like.​

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OPTION TWO

Turn On or Off Bluetooth in PC and devices PC settings in Windows 8.1

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1. Open PC settings, and click/tap on PC and devices in the left pane. (see screenshot below)​

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2. Click/tap on Bluetooth in the left pane of PC and devices. (see screenshots below)​

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3. In the right pane under Manage Bluetooth devices, move the Bluetooth slider to turn on (right) or off (left) for what you want.​

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4. When finished, you can close PC settings if you like.​

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OPTION THREE

Turn On or Off Bluetooth in Network PC settings in Windows 8.1

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1. Open PC settings, and click/tap on Network in the left pane. (see screenshot below)​

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2. Click/tap on Airplane mode in the left pane of Network. (see screenshot below)​

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3. In the right pane under Wireless devices, move the Bluetooth slider to turn on (right) or off (left) for what you want.​

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4. When finished, you can close PC settings if you like.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Turn Airplane Mode On or Off in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Turn On or Off Wi-Fi in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Turn On or Off Cellular Data Connection in Windows Phone 8
• How to Pair Your Windows Phone 8 with a Bluetooth Windows 8.1 PC
• How to Create a "Bluetooth Devices" Shortcut in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Create a "Bluetooth Settings" Shortcut in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Create a "Bluetooth File Transfer" Shortcut in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Turn On or Off Bluetooth Notification Area Icon in Windows

 

[OZJ]

Hi,

Apologies if this is being posted in the wrong section, but when I go to PC and Devices > Bluetooth, there is no switch for turning Bluetooth on and off.

I am using Windows 8.1; the latest version.

 

[adamf]

Hi,

Apologies if this is being posted in the wrong section, but when I go to PC and Devices > Bluetooth, there is no switch for turning Bluetooth on and off.

I am using Windows 8.1; the latest version.

Check bluetooth is enabled in device manager. If it is not you'll not see the options above.

 

[OZJ]

Bluetooth is enabled, but I don't have the option of 'switching' it on and off like the screenshot above.

http://www.eightforums.com/attachme...urn-off-windows-8-turn_on-off_bluetooth-2.jpg

That bluetooth switch is no where to be found.

 

[Brink]

Hello OZJ, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Do you have what's in OPTION THREE available instead?

If not, double check to make sure that you have the drivers installed for your Bluetooth device.

 

[mikolajek]

There are three Bluetooth related services running in Win 8.1.

Is it safe to disable them (or at least switch to manual start) after turning off Bluetooth?

 

[Brink]

Hello Mikolajek,

If you don't have anything that uses Bluetooth, then it'll be safe to disable or set to manual.

 

[mikolajek]

Thank you! I've set them to "Manual" and it doesn't seem to cause any problems. And of course yes - I'm not using any BT devices with my laptop and don't really need this feature.

 

[bubbah]

is there a way to create a shortcut to toggle bluetooth radio ONLY on & off so I don't need to go through menus to do it each time ?

 

[popeye]

is there a way to create a shortcut to toggle bluetooth radio ONLY on & off so I don't need to go through menus to do it each time ?

Here ya go: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/36102-bluetooth-devices-shortcut-create-windows-8-a.html

Wait, not what you want. If using desktop all you have to do is click on the tray icon and the side bar will appear. Not sure about tile interface.

EDIT: This is a good question. Turning Airplane mode on disables wifi to. Has to be some quick way to only turn off bluetooth.

 

[bicycle]

This has me baffled. I don't have any options to turn off bluetooth in 8.1. bluetooth shows devices but no other menu to disable them. Only option I have is when I click on the bluetooth device I can remove it. What am I missing? Running 8.1.

 

[Brink]

Hello Bicycle,

Is this at both locations in Option 2 and Option 3?

What Bluetooth adapter do you have, and do you have the latest drivers installed for it?

 

[bicycle]

Correct both options 2 and three do not have any type of bluetooth switch. I have a Broad com 4 adapter and a search for drivers shows the drivers are current. I recall when I had version 8 of Windows, I had the bluetooth switch. The only way I can find to turn off bluetooth for the two devices I have paired is to got to device manager and disable them. Also, I do not have a airplane mode on the network setting page.

 

[Brink]

Is this for a desktop or laptop?

If desktop, then that could be why since it's not considered a mobile device.

 

[bicycle]

Yes, it is a desktop. I don't see why the switch would not be there for a desktop. I don't want it to pair with the desktop and I want to use bluetooth on another device.

 

[Brink]

Does the Bluetooth adapter have software that it could be turned on/off from instead?

You might also check to see if you may have a Bluetooth option in the Windows Mobility Center.

Windows Mobility Center - Enable on Desktop Computer - Windows 7 Help Forums

Windows Mobility Center - Open and Use - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[bicycle]

mobility center is only available on mobile devices. I'm sure I had a bluetooth on/off option on Win 8. Changed in 8.1. I guess I'll just have to disable the bluetooth adapter using device manager. The more I use win 8, the more unimpressed I am with it. I'm slowly drifting over to Apple products and I'm amazed at how things simply "just work".

 

[Brink]

The first tutorial I posted above will show you how to enable the Windows Mobility Center on a desktop.

 

[bicycle]

mobility center installed but no options for bluetooth or wireless.

 

[Brink]

It's going to be because it's a desktop I'm afraid. I don't know any way around that.