The term <ital>pairing is used to describe the connection of a phone with another phone, a computer, or other electronic device via Bluetooth. Once paired, the devices can share information — such as photos, videos, or files — between one another with no need for a network connection. In order for this to work, both devices need to have Bluetooth installed. In most laptop computers, there is a dedicated feature that lets you enable or disable Bluetooth, though USB ports also facilitate pairing. This article will walk you through the first alternative.</ital>
Use Bluetooth to Pair Devices
The location of the Bluetooth capability can vary between phones, but in most cases, enabling the feature can be done in your phone's Settings
. Android users can turn on Bluetooth by heading to Settings
> Wireless & networks
and turning the feature ON
. iPhone users can find the Bluetooth feature by going to Settings
and flipping the switch ON
Once Bluetooth is enabled, it will be visible to other devices with Bluetooth capabilities.
Most recent notebook models come with Bluetooth enabled, but users do have the option of disabling the option if they choose. Check your system settings to disable the feature.
Once Bluetooth is enabled on both devices concerned, it is time to establish the connection. Click the Bluetooth
icon (represented by two right-facing arrows with a small tail) to display available devices. Then, select the device with which you'd like to pair your device.
The devices will begin the pairing process. You will know when they have "found" each other when the "host" device is prompted for a password. Create a password (or use the one given), and insert the password into the prompt on the other device.
Once the devices have paired
, you will be able to send files between them.