• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Technipages

Smart phone, gadget and computer tutorials

  • Topics
    • Android
    • Gaming
    • Hardware
    • Internet
    • iOS
    • MacOS
    • Office
    • Software
    • Windows
    • Definitions
  • Product Reviews
  • Downloads
  • About
Linux Mint: How to Manage Bluetooth Connections

Linux Mint: How to Manage Bluetooth Connections

Posted on December 14, 2020 by Mel Hawthorne 1 Comment

To connect devices to your computer you can use traditional cables like USB and 3.5mm jacks, but these can cause a mess of cables and limit how far you can move from your computer while still using it. Bluetooth offers a reliable wireless connection platform that doesn’t use too much power and works over a respectable range.

Linux Mint includes a Bluetooth control panel by default, although you’ll need to have a Bluetooth adaptor either built-in or plugged-in to your system for it to be of any use. To be able to open the Bluetooth control panel and manage your Bluetooth connections, press the Super key, then type “Bluetooth” and hit enter.

Tip: The “Super” key is the name that many Linux distributions use to refer to the Windows key or the Apple “Command” key, while avoiding any risk of trademark issues.

Press the Super key, then type “Bluetooth” and hit enter.

If the Bluetooth window says “No Bluetooth adaptors found” then your computer can’t find a local Bluetooth radio with which to connect to other devices. If this is the case, you will need to check that your Bluetooth device is correctly installed. If your Bluetooth adaptor is working, then you should see the statement ‘Visible as “<your device name>” and available for Bluetooth transfers’. To change your device name, click the burger menu icon in the top-right, then click in the “Name” field.

In the same burger menu, you can also configure if files can be sent to your device with “Receive files from remote devices”, and if a Bluetooth icon is shown in the system tray with “Show a tray icon”. You can also choose to disable the Bluetooth radio entirely by clicking the slider in the top-left of the main window to the “Off” position.

You can change the Bluetooth device name via the burger menu.

Under “Devices” you can see a list of Bluetooth devices that you can connect to. Click on a device in the list to start the connection process, then follow the connection instructions shown. Once you’re connected click on the device again to open the device control window. Here you can disconnect with the “Connection” slider, transfer files by clicking “Send Files” or forget the device by clicking “Remove Device”.

Tip: You don’t have to be connected to a device to forget the connection.

Click on a device, and follow the instructions to connect, click on a paired device to manage the connection.

You Might Also Like

  • Linux Mint: How to View and Manage System Partitions
    Linux Mint: How to View and Manage System Partitions
  • Linux Mint: How to Add New Applets
    Linux Mint: How to Add New Applets
  • Linux Mint: How to Add New Extensions
    Linux Mint: How to Add New Extensions
  • Linux Mint: How to Use “Hot Corners”
    Linux Mint: How to Use “Hot Corners”
  • Linux Mint: How to Add New Desklets
    Linux Mint: How to Add New Desklets
  • Linux Mint: How to Add a New User
    Linux Mint: How to Add a New User
  • Linux Mint: How to Change Your Password
    Linux Mint: How to Change Your Password
  • Linux Mint: How to Enable Key Debouncing
    Linux Mint: How to Enable Key Debouncing
  • Linux Mint: How to Customize Your Theme
    Linux Mint: How to Customize Your Theme

Filed Under: Linux

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Seamus Padraig says

    December 21, 2020 at 7:25 am

    Hi! I just installed Mint 20 and can’t get Bluetooth to work. My Bluetooth control panel shows that I am visible and that everything is activated and turned on, but under Devices, it just says ‘Searching for devices …’ and hangs there forever. How can I make it detect my devices? (I used to have Windows installed on this computer and Bluetooth devices worked fine then. They also work fine with my other Windows computer.)

Did this help? Let us know! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • How to Increase the Size of Text on Any Website on iPad
  • Chrome: How to Fix Can’t Scroll Using Scrollbars
  • Samsung Galaxy S 21 Plus: How to Check How Much Memory Is Left
  • Google Photos: How to Export Your Albums
  • Bitwarden: How to Deauthorize All Sessions
  • Bitwarden: How to Clone an Entry
  • Bitwarden: How to View Your API Key
  • How to Fix Microsoft Teams Error 0xcaa80000

Who’s Behind Technipages?

Baby and Daddy My name is Mitch Bartlett. I've been working in technology for over 20 years in a wide range of tech jobs from Tech Support to Software Testing. I started this site as a technical guide for myself and it has grown into what I hope is a useful reference for all.

Follow me on Twitter, or visit my personal blog.

You May Also Like

  • Bluetooth
  • Best Bluetooth Transmitters for TVs
  • 10 Best Bluetooth Motorcycle Helmet Speakers
  • Linux

© Copyright 2021 Technipages · All Rights Reserved · Privacy