This article shows you how to determine if a computer has Bluetooth connectivity. While most computers with a Windows operating system and nearly all Macs have a Bluetooth card, some desktop systems and older computer models do not offer this type of connection.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Windows
Step 1. Access the "Start" menu by clicking the icon
It features the Windows logo and is located in the lower left corner of the desktop.
Alternatively, select the "Start" menu icon with the right mouse button to display its context menu
Step 2. Open the "Device Manager" system window
Type in device manager keywords, then select the icon Device management appeared at the top of the "Start" menu. The system window will appear.
If you have opened the context menu of the "Start" button, simply choose the option Device management.
Step 3. Look for the "Bluetooth" section
If this category is present in the upper part of the appeared list (the list is sorted alphabetically), it means that the computer in use is natively equipped with Bluetooth connectivity.
Conversely, if the "Bluetooth" section is not present, it means that the system does not have a Bluetooth connection
Method 2 of 3: Mac
Step 1. Enter the "Apple" menu by clicking the icon
It features the Apple logo and is located in the upper left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 2. Choose the About This Mac item
It is one of the options present in the drop-down menu that appeared. A pop-up will appear.
Step 3. Press the System Report… button
It is located at the bottom of the "About This Mac" window. A dialog box will appear.
If you are using an older version of the Apple operating system, you will need to press the button More information….
Step 4. Expand the "Hardware" section
Click the right-facing triangle icon
located on the left of the item "Hardware". A list of subcategories will be displayed within the "Hardware" section.
If the triangular icon on the left of the "Hardware" item is facing down, it means that the section has already been opened
Step 5. Look for the "Bluetooth" entry
Look at the list that appeared in the "Hardware" section to locate the "Bluetooth" option. It should be visible at the top of the list as it is sorted alphabetically.
If the "Bluetooth" section is not present, it means that the Mac in question does not have a Bluetooth connection
Step 6. Verify that your Mac has a Bluetooth connection
If there is a sub-category "Bluetooth", select it with a single mouse click. Information about the Bluetooth tab will be displayed in the main pane of the window. If not, it means your Mac doesn't have Bluetooth connectivity.
Method 3 of 3: Linux
Step 1. Open the "Terminal" window
Double-click on the "Terminal" application icon: it is characterized by a black square inside which the white characters "> _" are visible.
Alternatively, you can press the key combination Alt + Ctrl + T to open the "Terminal" window using most Linux distributions
Step 2. Enter the command to check the presence of the Bluetooth card
Type the given command and hit the Enter button:
sudo lsusb | grep Bluetooth
Step 3. Enter your Linux login password
When prompted, type the password you use to log into your computer and press the Enter key.
Step 4. Check the results obtained
If the line of text that appears in the "Terminal" window shows the name and manufacturer of a "Bluetooth" card, it means that the computer has this type of connection.
- If nothing appears, no Bluetooth card is installed on the computer.
- Remember that some Linux distributions do not support the use of Bluetooth adapters built into the computer hardware.
