If your device comes with a Bluetooth module, then you can use it with a wide range of wireless peripherals. It will allow you to pair your laptop or tablet with a bunch of devices like a mobile phone, wireless keyboards, mice, headsets and other tablets and laptops. In order to save your device's battery, you might want to disable Bluetooth communications when you are not using it. Here is how it can be done.
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Bluetooth hardware can be embedded in your device's motherboard or it can be installed as an internal module inside the device. Bluetooth transmitters exist as an external device which can be connected to a USB port. When enabled, having Bluetooth on all the time can affect your battery life. Bluetooth 4.0 or Bluetooth Smart/Low Energy (BLE) greatly lowers power consumption but it is still advisable to turn off Bluetooth when not in use. Having Bluetooth on is not a problem when your Windows device is plugged in, but you might want to disable it when on battery. Here is how.
Windows 10 allows to you to disable Bluetooth natively using the Settings app. The Settings app is getting more and more options previously available only in the classic Control panel. The ability to manage Bluetooth connections has been moved to Settings almost completely in Windows 10 "Creators Update".
To disable Bluetooth in Windows 10, you can do the following.
Open Settings and go to Devices, then open Bluetooth & other devices. Use the "Bluetooth" option to disable or enable Bluetooth.
Alternatively, there is a Quick Action button in the Action Center. You can use it to toggle the Bluetooth function with one click or tap.
Click the action center icon at the end of the taskbar:
Expand the buttons if you have no Bluetooth button visible:
Disable or enable the Bluetooth function.
Tip: See how to customize the Action Center buttons in Windows 10.
It is worth mentioning that Airplane mode settings in Windows 10 can override the state of Bluetooth.
Check if Airplane mode is configured to turn Bluetooth on or off by visiting Settings - Network & Internet - Airplane mode. See the Bluetooth option there.
Lastly, there is another way to disable bluetooth hardware in Windows 10. Open Device Manager and find your Bluetooth adapter under the "Bluetooth" group.
- Press Win + X keys together on the keyboard and click Device Manager.
Tip: you can customize the Win + X menu of Windows 10. - Expand the "Bluetooth" node and find your adapter:
- Right click the adapter in the list and select "Disable" in the context menu.
Later, you can open Device Manager again and re-enable the adapter when needed.
Now you know everything to disable Bluetooth hardware using the options provided by Windows 10. Now see how to add Bluetooth to the context menu in Windows 10.
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