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How to Turn on Bluetooth on a Mac

Enable Bluetooth via System Preferences or by asking your Mac to turn it on

By Jennifer Allen Jennifer Allen Writer Swansea University, Staffordshire University Jennifer Allen has been writing about technology since 2010. Her work has appeared in Mashable, TechRadar, and many more publications. lifewire's editorial guidelines Published on September 16, 2022 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email

In This Article

Expand Jump to a Section Turn On Bluetooth Use Siri to Turn On Bluetooth Use Control Center o Turn On Bluetooth Pair a New Device Troubleshooting Frequently Asked Questions

What to Know

Apple menu > System Preferences > Bluetooth > Turn Bluetooth On to enable Bluetooth.Alternatively, click Control Center on Menu Bar and click Bluetooth. If you don't have a working mouse, say 'Hey Siri, turn Bluetooth on'. This article explains how to turn on Bluetooth on a Mac. It looks at three ways to do so including how to enable Bluetooth without a mouse or keyboard; it also touches upon how to pair a new device, and what to do if it won't work.

How to Turn On Bluetooth on Your Mac

Most Macs come with Bluetooth enabled these days. However, if your device is the exception or it's been disabled, here's how to turn on Bluetooth on your Mac. On your Mac, click the Apple icon on the menu bar. Click System Preferences. Click Bluetooth. Click Turn Bluetooth On. Bluetooth is now enabled and ready to pair with devices.

How to Turn On Bluetooth on Your Mac Without a Mouse or Keyboard

If Bluetooth has been disabled and you need it to use your mouse or keyboard, you can use a USB mouse or keyboard instead to access your Mac and re-enable Bluetooth. If you don't have one, here's how to enable Bluetooth using your voice.
While your Mac is switched on, say "Hey Siri, turn on Bluetooth." Bluetooth will be enabled, and your mouse and keyboard will reconnect shortly. You'll need to have already enabled Siri on your Mac.

How to Turn On Bluetooth Using Control Center

It's also possible to switch on Bluetooth using the Control Center on the menu bar. Here's what to do. On the menu bar, click Control Center. Click Bluetooth to switch it on. Bluetooth is now enabled.

How to Pair a New Device

Once Bluetooth is enabled, you'll need to pair new devices. Here's how to pair a new device. From the Bluetooth section within System Preferences, wait for the device to appear on the list. The device needs to be switched on and be in pairing mode. You'll need to read the instructions that came with the device you are looking to pair, but typically there's a physical button you'll hold for a moment in order to put the device into pairing mode. Click Connect. Wait for the device to connect. Some devices will need you to enter a PIN that is displayed on your Mac. The device is now paired with your Mac.

What to Do When Bluetooth Won t Work

If Bluetooth won't work on your Mac even after following these steps, it can be for fairly simple reasons. Here's a quick overview of how to troubleshoot the issue.
Check your device is switched on. Your Mac can only see and use a device if it's switched on. Check that your mouse, keyboard, or other device has sufficient battery life and is currently working.Check your device is in pairing mode. If you're trying to pair a new device to your Mac, check it's in pairing mode by following the instructions for the item.Make sure you're close enough. Bluetooth has a distance limit. This varies depending on the age of your device and the version of Bluetooth it uses, but on average, assume it has a range of about 30 feet.Restart your Mac and Bluetooth. Restarting your Mac, the device in question, or repairing the two can often fix many Bluetooth connectivity issues. FAQ Why won't Bluetooth turn off on my Mac? If Bluetooth won't turn off, update to the latest version of macOS. A bug in older versions can cause this issue, but this was fixed in later updates.
Why did Bluetooth suddenly stop working on my Mac? If Bluetooth suddenly stops working on Mac, the cause is likely a corrupt Bluetooth preference list (.plist file). Delete the Bluetooth preference list and restart your Mac. How do I connect AirPods to my Mac? To connect AirPods to your Mac, turn on Bluetooth, press and hold the Setup button on the Airpods case, then select Connect in Bluetooth preferences. To change the audio output, go to the volume menu and choose your AirPods. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Adjust Keyboard Brightness on a MacBook Air How to Fix a Missing AirPlay Icon on iPhone and Mac How to Turn on AirDrop on a Mac How to Turn on Location Services on a Mac How to Turn off Mouse Acceleration on Mac How to Connect AirPods to Zoom How to Connect a Mouse and Keyboard to Steam Deck How to Connect AirPods to an HP Laptop How to Fix It When Windows 11 Bluetooth Is Not Working How to Connect Bluetooth Headphones to a Mac How to Use a PS5 Controller on Your PC or Mac How to Connect a PS3 Controller to a PC How to Use AirPods and AirPods Pro How to Fix It When Windows 10 Bluetooth Is Not Working How to Change a Mac Mouse Battery How to Play iPhone Music Over Bluetooth Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies