Bluetooth Mouse, Keyboard or Headset Won't Connect? Try This

Bluetooth is the wireless link that lets a mouse, keyboard or headset talk to your computer without a cable. When it works, you forget it is there. When it does not, you are left staring at a dead cursor or a silent headset.

The good news is that most connection problems come down to a handful of causes, and you can check them in order. Start at the top and stop when things work.

Start with the simple checks

These take a couple of minutes and fix more problems than you might expect.

1. Check the battery. A weak battery is the most common cause. Replace the batteries or charge the device fully, even if a light still comes on. A device that is nearly flat can power up but fail to hold a connection.
2. Turn the device off and on again. Use the power switch on the mouse, keyboard or headset, wait about ten seconds, then switch it back on.
3. Move it closer. Bluetooth works best within a few feet of the computer. Metal desks, other electronics and thick walls can weaken the signal.
4. Check that Bluetooth is on in the computer. On Windows, open Settings, choose Bluetooth and devices, and make sure the Bluetooth switch is on. Also check that Airplane mode is off. On a Mac, click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen, or open System Settings and choose Bluetooth, and make sure it is turned on.
5. Restart the computer. It sounds basic, but a restart clears temporary glitches in the Bluetooth software.

If the device still will not connect, move on to the next section.

Remove the device and pair it again

Pairing is the one-time handshake between your computer and the device. Sometimes that handshake gets corrupted, and the cleanest fix is to delete it and start over.

On Windows:

1. Open Settings, then Bluetooth and devices.
2. Find your mouse, keyboard or headset in the list.
3. Click the three dots beside it and choose Remove device.
4. Put the device into pairing mode. This usually means holding the Bluetooth button or the power button until a light starts flashing. The exact button varies, so check the small print on the device or its manual.
5. Back in Settings, choose Add device, then Bluetooth, and pick your device from the list.

On Mac:

1. Open System Settings, then Bluetooth.
2. Find the device in the list and click the small info button beside it, then choose Forget This Device. On older versions of macOS, hover over the device and click the X.
3. Put the device into pairing mode, as above.
4. When it appears in the list, click Connect.

One detail catches many people: a device that was last paired with a different computer or phone may keep trying to reconnect there instead. If your headset is connected to your phone, for example, switch off Bluetooth on the phone first, or the headset may never offer itself to the computer.

Check for software and driver problems

A driver is a small piece of software that tells your computer how to talk to a piece of hardware. If it is out of date or damaged, Bluetooth can misbehave even when everything else is fine.

On Windows:

• Run the built-in troubleshooter. Open Settings, then System, then Troubleshoot, then Other troubleshooters, and run the one named Bluetooth.
• Install pending updates. Open Settings, then Windows Update, and install anything waiting. Bluetooth fixes often arrive this way.
• Restart the Bluetooth service. Press the Windows key, type Services, and open it. Find Bluetooth Support Service, right-click it and choose Restart.

On a Mac:

• Install pending updates. Open System Settings, then General, then Software Update.
• Turn Bluetooth off, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on from the menu bar icon.
• Restart the Mac once more after updating.

If you use a USB Bluetooth adapter, unplug it, wait a moment, and plug it into a different USB port. Ports on the front of a desktop or on a hub are sometimes less reliable than ones on the back of the machine.

Other things that interfere

If the connection works but keeps dropping, look at what is around you. Wi-Fi routers, microwaves, USB 3 hubs and other wireless devices can crowd the same radio space. Moving a USB hub away from the Bluetooth adapter, or moving the computer a little, can make a noticeable difference.

For headsets, check that the computer is actually using them. On Windows, right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar, choose Sound settings, and pick the headset as the output. On a Mac, open System Settings, then Sound, and choose the headset under Output and Input.

When it still will not work

Try the device with a second computer or a phone. If it fails there too, the device itself is likely faulty or worn out, and replacing it may be the simplest answer. If it works elsewhere but not on your computer, the problem is on the computer side, which usually points to drivers, a failing Bluetooth adapter or a deeper system issue.

At that point it is worth being realistic. A warning light or a settings screen can tell you that something is wrong, but someone still has to work out why and fix it. Keeping updates installed, leaving enough free disk space and paying attention to security warnings all help keep a computer behaving, and they are exactly the kind of upkeep that is easy to put off. If you have worked through the steps above and still have no connection, handing the problem to someone who can diagnose and repair it is a perfectly sensible next move.

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