Connecting my headphones to my laptop without having obnoxious cords tying me down is a luxury I take for granted.

This is especially true in an office setting, where AirPods and Bluetooth devices are seen on all of your colleagues. If your Windows 10 device is giving you trouble connecting, there are easy solutions: the first being the Bluetooth capabilities might not be turned on.

If that doesn't work, there are other solutions you can try. 

How to turn on Bluetooth on Windows 10 

It's incredibly frustrating when something so simple becomes so difficult. Trust me, I know. You bought that laptop knowing it had Bluetooth capabilities, yet it just isn't working. Here are the steps, with pictures, of how to make sure Bluetooth is turned on on your Windows 10 device. 

1. Go to 'Settings.'

You can find Settings by going to your Start menu (the Windows symbol in the bottom left corner of the screen). Settings is a gear icon located on the left. 

2. Select 'Devices.'

Devices is the second option in 'Settings.' 

3. Toggle the Bluetooth button to 'On.'

Hopefully that worked for you! If not, please keep reading for further troubleshooting. 

If you'd like to take a second to leave a Windows 10 review or check out what hundreds of other users are saying, you can do so here. 

How to find missing Bluetooth button

When you followed the above steps, was your Bluetooth toggle button missing? No need to panic. There are several ways you can troubleshoot this. 

First and foremost, make sure your device supports Bluetooth. Here is how to check:

1. Go to 'Device Manager.'

You can find it by going to the Start menu and searching for 'device manager.' When it appears, click on it. 

2. Look for Bluetooth in Device Manager. 

Bluetooth may appear toward the top of the Device Manager, or you may have to click on 'Network adapters.' In the Network adapters drop-down menu, you may found Bluetooth located there. 

If you do not see Bluetooth, then your device does not support it. If you still want Bluetooth, you can purchase a Bluetooth receiver. 

Now that you know for a fact that you should have access to Bluetooth, try the following solutions to enable it. 

Solution 1: Manually update the Bluetooth driver

You can manually update your Bluetooth driver by going to your manufacturer's website and downloading it there. Make sure you have the correct one for your version of Windows (32-bit or 64-bit). 

Solution 2: Re-enable the Bluetooth driver software

This solution involves diving back in to the Device Manager. Here's how to do it:

1. Navigate to Device Manager. 

You can do so by going to the Start menu and searching for 'Device Manager.'

2. Disable Bluetooth device.

Right-click on where you see 'Bluetooth device' and select 'Disable device.' A pop-up might appear asking you to confirm. Click Yes. 

3. Re-enable Bluetooth device.

Right-click on the same 'Bluetooth device' you clicked on before and select 'Enable device.'

Restart your device. Then go to 'Settings' and 'Devices' again. You should see the Bluetooth toggle turned On now.

Solution 3: Start Bluetooth Support Service

 If solution 2 did not work, your Bluetooth Support Service may not be running. You can check by following these steps. 

1. Use the 'Run' command.

You can quickly bring up the 'Run' box by using this keyboard shortcut: the Windows key + R. When it appears, type in the following. You can copy and paste it directly from this article if that's easiest for you!

services.mcs

Hit Enter. 

2. Start Bluetooth Support Service. 

Scroll until you see 'Bluetooth Support Service' and right-click on it. Select 'Start.' If 'Start' is greyed out for you (like it is for me in the below screenshot), select 'Restart' a little further down. A pop-up may appear to confirm your choice.

3. Go to 'Properties.'

Right-click on 'Bluetooth Support Service' again and select 'Properties' this time.

In the pop-up window, go to the Startup Type drop-down menu. Make sure it is set to 'Automatic.' 

Click 'Apply' first and then 'Ok.'

4. Restart your computer. 

After the restart, go to 'Settings' and 'Devices' again to see your Bluetooth toggle is turned On. 

Now you're free to use headphones at work without getting tangled in cords! Just make sure your bluetooth headphones (or whatever device you want to connect) are on, then click 'Add Bluetooth or other device' in the 'Devices' menu under 'Settings.'

Want more Windows 10 hacks? Check out these tips and tricks:

• How to find your MAC address on Windows 10
• How to take a screenshot on Windows