Why is Bluetooth Disabled on My Chromebook: The Reason Is This

Why is Bluetooth Disabled on My Chromebook: The Reason Is This

Yesterday, I was trying to connect the Bluetooth headphones to my Chromebook. 

While the device showed the headphones are connected, I wasn’t able to hear any sound from them. 

I tried signing out of my Google Account and signed back in only to notice that the Bluetooth icon has disappeared from the Quick Settings Panel on the bottom right.  

I opened the device settings to turn on the Bluetooth but it was disabled and the toggle switch was grayed out. 

To find a solution, I visited the Chromebook Help page and a few discussion threads to read about the Bluetooth issues on Chromebooks. 

I learned that a lot of folks have been facing a similar issue and factory resetting the Chromecast helped solve it for a few of them. 

I turned the Bluetooth back on without factory resetting my Chromebook and also found a common reason behind the issue. 

If the Bluetooth is disabled on your Chromebook, you need to restart it. Click on the notification section at the bottom right corner and select the Shut Down icon. Press the Power Button to turn it on again.

Reboot Your Chromebook To Fix Bluetooth Issues 

If the Bluetooth is stuck in a disabled position or grayed out on your Chromebook, try restarting the device to fix the issue. 

There are two ways to restart your Chromebook- Using the Shut Down feature and using the power button 

Using the shut down feature 

This method involves shutting down the Chromebook and then restarting it.

Here’s how to use the Shut Down feature: 

  • Click on the notification section available at the bottom right corner of the Chromebook screen 
  • Select the Shut Down icon located at the top of the notification window 
  • Wait for the Chromebook to turn off completely 
  • Now, press the Power button to turn it on again 

Using the Power button 

  • Locate the power button on your Chromebook 
  • Press and hold the power button for about three seconds 
  • This will automatically log you out of your Google Account and shut down your Chromebook 
  • Once complete, press the power button again to turn it back on 

Perform a Hard Reset to Restart The Chromebook Hardware  

The process of resetting your Chromebook hardware is called a hard reset. 

A hard reset restarts your Chromebook hardware that may get Bluetooth enabled. 

Prefer going for a hard reset only if the other ways to restart your Chromebook have failed to fix the Bluetooth issue. 

Note that a hard reset might delete some files on your Downloads folder and you may also lose any unsaved work. 

I’d recommend logging out of your Google account before performing the hard reset to ensure not losing any unsaved data. 

Follow these instructions to log out of your Google Account: 

  • Go to the notification section on the bottom right corner and click on Sign Out

You can also use a keyboard shortcut to do the same: 

  • Hold the Shift and Ctrl keys together and press Q twice to log out of the Google Account 

Once you’re logged out of the Google Account, here’s how to perform a Hard Reset on the Chromebook: 

  • Turn off your Chromebook using the Power button or Shut Down feature 
  • Hold the Refresh key and tap on the Power button 
  • Once your Chromebook turns on again, release the Refresh key 

Note: 

  • For select Chromebooks, there are some alternative ways to perform the hard reset. 
  • These include pressing a special reset button, unplugging the power cable, or re-inserting the battery. 
  • Refer to the TV manual of your Chromebook to learn more. 

Unplug the Bluetooth-Enabled Device Connected to Chromebook Via USB 

If you’ve got a device like a phone or a tablet connected to the Chromebook via USB, it may lead to signal interference and prevent the Bluetooth from turning on. 

This usually occurs when a Bluetooth-enabled device is connected to the Chromebook.

Some other Bluetooth connectivity issues may also arise if the USB cable is incompatible with your Chromebook. 

Try unplugging all connected devices to the Chromebook and disabling Bluetooth on other nearby devices. 

This should eliminate any signal interference and enable Bluetooth on your Chromebook. 

Contact Your Administrator To Unblock Bluetooth on a Work Or School Chromebook 

Students mostly use Chromebook laptops and tablets borrowed from their educational institutions. 

Additionally, Chromebook devices are also used by employees for remote work in companies. 

These devices are fully controlled by the school administrator or technical team who may have blocked the Bluetooth access completely. 

You need to get in touch with the school’s administrator and request Bluetooth access on the Chromebook. 

Alternatively, if you’re using the Chromebook for work purposes, get in touch with the technical team of your company for assistance regarding the Bluetooth connectivity issue. 

Ensure That Your Chromebook’s Operating System Is Up To Date 

Most user-reported bugs are addressed in the regular updates for the Chromebook OS released by Google. 

A software update is likely to fix the Bluetooth won’t turn on the issue on your Chromebook. 

Follow these steps to check if the updates are available for the Chromebook OS: 

  • Turn on your Chromebook and connect it to your WiFi network 
  • Click on the notification section on the bottom right corner and open Settings 
  • At the bottom left area, click on About ChromeOS 
  • You can check the operating system version used by the Chromebook under the Google ChromeOS option
  • Click on Check for updates
  • If a software update is available, it will start downloading automatically
  • Wait for the update to get installed and try using the Bluetooth again 

Reset Your Chromebook To Factory Settings If Nothing Works  

If none of the above troubleshooting methods helped get the Bluetooth enabled on your Chromebook, opt for a factory reset as the last option. 

Make sure that you’ve tried all the other methods before factory resetting the Chromebook. 

Note that a factory reset deletes all user data on the Chromebook’s hard drive including the files in your downloads folder. 

Moreover, it also erases non-user-related device information while saving some diagnostic and operation related data. 

Before factory resetting your Chromebook, make sure to back up all your files on Google Drive or an external hard drive. 

Once you’ve got all the files backed up, here’s how to factory reset your Chromebook: 

  • Firstly, sign out of your Chromebook.
  • Now, press and hold Ctrl + Alt + Shift + r.
  • Click on Restart 
  • Select Powerwash > Continue in the options dialog box available on the screen. 
  • Follow the on-screen instructions and sign in with your Google Account. Note that the account you sign in with after the reset will be selected as the owner account. 
  • After the reset is complete, set up your Chromebook by following the on-screen instructions 
  • You should be able to turn on the Bluetooth and connect the wireless device to your Chromebook now 

Re-enable Bluetooth on Your Chromebook 

The Bluetooth setting might be disabled if you’re using a guest account on the Chromebook.

Make sure that you’re logged into the owner account of your Chromebook to enable Bluetooth. 

If you’re still facing issues using Bluetooth on your Chromebook, you may need to get in touch with the device manufacturer for further assistance. 

The Chromebook manufacturer support team may provide the best available troubleshooting method to help fix the issue. 

They may also provide an authorized repair service in case of a hardware issue. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Why can’t I find my Bluetooth device on my Chromebook?

If you can’t find your Bluetooth device on your Chromebook, make sure that the device you’re trying to connect is in pairing mode. You can also try restarting the Bluetooth on your Chromebook or resetting the device. Additionally, make sure that the device is within range of the Chromebook and is compatible with it. 

Why does the Chromebook keep disconnecting from my Bluetooth headphones?  

If your Chromebook keeps disconnecting from the Bluetooth device, it may be due to a compatibility issue. Your Chromebook may not support the audio device or vice versa. The best way out is to try using a different pair of headphones or other audio devices to check if it works perfectly. If all Bluetooth devices keep disconnecting, try updating the Chromebook software or get in touch with the device manufacturer for further assistance. 

How can I unpair a Bluetooth device from my Chromebook? 

There are two ways to unpair a connected Bluetooth device on your Chromebook- using main settings or quick settings. To unpair through the main settings, go to Settings and click on Bluetooth. Select the device under the “Currently connected” section and click on Unpair. To unpair the device via quick settings, select battery at the bottom right and click on Bluetooth. Select your device and unpair it. 

How to use the Fast Pair feature to connect Bluetooth devices to my Chromebook? 

When your Fast Pair-enabled Bluetooth device is set in pairing mode, it automatically detects your Chromebook and pairs with it. Additionally, Fast Pair also associates the Bluetooth device with your Google account. To set up your wireless device and use fast pairing, go to the bottom right corner and select the battery. Now go to Settings > Bluetooth > Scan for new devices. 

About the author

Maria Chan, or MC, as we call her, is the genius girl-boss who gave up on her cushy silicon-valley job to grind it out with us. Her undying pursuit of wanting Zeebox to the best makes it very clear that she has no interest in running a generic tech-site.

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