Do Smart TVs Have Bluetooth? And What Can They Do? (Solved!)
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One of the most popular questions that people ask when they are in the market for a new television is “do smart TVs have Bluetooth?” If you’re asking yourself this question, then this article is for you.
Yes, most smart TVs nowadays come with Bluetooth support. Manufacturers like Samsung, LG, Toshiba, and Sony are just some of the companies that produce Bluetooth-enabled smart TVs. However, some brands do not offer Bluetooth connectivity, but there are ways to make them Bluetooth-enabled.
Keep reading as I discuss this topic in detail and give you tips on how to make your smart TV Bluetooth-enabled even if it does not offer Bluetooth connectivity.
Do All New Smart TVs Come with Bluetooth Connectivity?
Many Smart TVs on the market today are Bluetooth-enabled. Most models from Samsung, LG, Sony, Hisense, and Toshiba have Bluetooth connectivity.
Before you buy a smart TV, you can check your TV’s user manual or visit the manufacturer’s website for more information on whether it comes with built-in Bluetooth support.
Note, however, that not all smart TVs on the shelves today have Bluetooth connectivity. Some manufacturers do not include this feature on their smart TVs such as VIZIO and TCL.
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How Do I Know if My Smart TV Has Bluetooth?
There are various ways to tell if your smart TV has Bluetooth connectivity:
- The remote control of the TV or the TV itself may have the Bluetooth logo on it.
- The user manual of the TV will state whether it has Bluetooth or not.
- The manufacturer’s website usually has a list of all their products and will state whether each product has Bluetooth or not.
- In the TV settings, you can also see if it has Bluetooth or not.
- Turn your smartphone Bluetooth on and check if your smart TV is discoverable. If you can see your smart TV in the list of devices, then it has Bluetooth support.
What Can a Bluetooth-enabled Smart TV do?
The Bluetooth technology allows you to do a lot of things on your smart TV. Here are some of the things that a Bluetooth-enabled Smart TV can do:
1. Connect with a wireless headset or earphones
Say it is late at night; you want to watch TV or stream a movie but don’t want to disturb your family members. Connect your Bluetooth headphones to your Bluetooth-enabled Smart TV and you can watch or listen to whatever you want without any sound leakage.
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2. Stream audio from your phone
If you have a large music collection on your smartphone, you can stream it wirelessly to your Bluetooth-enabled Smart TV. This way, you can enjoy all of your favorite songs on a bigger screen.
3. Pair the TV with your soundbar
This is another amazing feature that your Bluetooth-enabled Smart TV can do. You no longer need audio cables to enjoy your favorite TV shows and movies. This is because you can pair the TV with a soundbar to get amazing audio quality without any cabling hassle.
4. Connect to a game console
Do you want to play PS or Xbox on your big screen but don’t have any cables? Connect it via Bluetooth instead! Many game consoles nowadays come with Bluetooth support so you can easily and wirelessly connect to your TV.
5. Pair it with your computer
Have a movie on your computer that you need to watch on a bigger screen? No problem! You can easily pair your computer with your Bluetooth-enabled Smart TV to watch it on the big screen.
6. Connect it to Bluetooth mice and keyboards
Want to use your Smart TV as a computer monitor? Connect it to your Bluetooth-enabled mouse and keyboard first. This way, you can do all of the things that are available on a computer monitor such as surfing the web or using office apps without any hassle.
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7. Use your phone as a remote control
Bluetooth-enabled smart TVs allow you to use your smartphone as a remote control. This is another convenient feature that you can take advantage of.
How do I enable Bluetooth on my Smart TV?
Enabling Bluetooth on your smart TV is easy. Most Bluetooth-enabled TVs have a Bluetooth button on the remote control so you can easily turn it on. For some models, however, you have to go to the setting of the TV and enable it there.
Once you have enabled Bluetooth on your smart TV, it will start scanning for devices that are in close range. Turn on Bluetooth on the device you want your TV to pair with and then select it from the list of devices that will appear on your TV screen.
How Do I Make My Smart TV Bluetooth-Enabled?
Despite the fact that your new smart TV doesn’t come with built-in Bluetooth support, there are a few ways that you can make your smart TV Bluetooth-enabled. Below are some ways I have used before:
Use a Bluetooth Transmitter
A Bluetooth transmitter is a device that allows you to connect Bluetooth-enabled devices wirelessly with your smart TV. You can use this device to turn any non-Bluetooth-enabled TVs into Bluetooth-enabled Smart TV in no time.
Ensure that the transmitter has an RCA or AUX output option since most smart TVs come without built-in Bluetooth support. This way, you can connect your smart TV to the transmitter and use it wirelessly.
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Use a Wireless Bluetooth Dongle
Another way that you can make your non-Bluetooth-enabled TV Bluetooth-enabled is by using a wireless dongle. Plug the dongle into your Smart TV’s USB port and use your TV’s remote control to turn it on.
Once the dongle has been enabled, you can pair other Bluetooth-enabled devices with it wirelessly without any hassle. This is another convenient way that will allow you to make any non-Bluetooth-enabled TVs into a smart TV in no time.
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Smartphone App
Most smart TVs without Bluetooth connectivity allow you to wirelessly connect your smartphone to the TV via an application. If you have a smartphone, download the application and use it to connect your device to your TV.
You, however, need to know which application to use as different TV brands/models use different apps. Once you have downloaded the app, open it and follow the on-screen instructions to connect your phone to your TV.
Access the Smart TV’s Secret Service Menu
If you have the confidence and knowledge to open and access the service menu of your smart TV, you can easily enable Bluetooth on it. Note that you have to play around with some codes to see if you can enable Bluetooth on your smart TV in this way.
I, however, don’t recommend this option because of two major reasons. First, if you don’t know how to change the codes, you can mess up your Smart TV so bad it becomes a brick. Second, accessing your smart TV’s secret service menu will void your warranty, so if anything goes wrong, you’re on your own.
FAQ
Can I Transmit Video, not Just Audio via Bluetooth on My Smart TV?
Yes, if you are using a computer as the source of your video, you can transmit the video signal to a Bluetooth-enabled smart TV and play it on the big screen. The same applies to smartphones and other devices that can transmit audio and video signals via Bluetooth.
Can a Bluetooth-enabled Smart TV Pair with Two Devices Simultaneously?
Yes, most smart TVs with Bluetooth connectivity allow you to pair at least two devices simultaneously. This is especially the case when using Bluetooth headphones or speakers.
Can I Pair My Smart TV With an External Bluetooth Speaker?
Yes, you can pair a smart TV with any external Bluetooth speaker of your choice. However, as discussed above, your TV must be Bluetooth- enabled to do so.
How Do I Pair My TV Bluetooth-Enabled Headphones With the TV?
You can pair your smart TV with any Bluetooth headphone of your choice. Just ensure that both devices are turned on and within close range to establish a connection successfully.
Once they have established a successful connection, you will be able to enjoy high-quality sound without any interruptions.
Can I Use Bluetooth to Cast My Smartphone or Tablet Screen Onto the TV?
Yes, you can use your smartphone or tablet’s screen to cast content onto a Bluetooth-enabled smart TV.
This process is also called mirroring. Just connect the TV to your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth and open your device’s settings to enable the screen mirroring option.
Can I Use Bluetooth to Control My Smart TV?
Yes. As I mentioned earlier, Bluetooth allows you to use your smartphone as a remote control for your smart TV.
This means that you will be able to use a smartphone or tablet’s screen as a remote control for the movies, songs, and other content on offer from your Smart TV.
Final Thoughts
While not all smart TVs have Bluetooth, most brands today manufacture TVs with Bluetooth connectivity. Even for those brands that do not offer this feature, it is easy to make the smart TV Bluetooth-enabled.
I hope this article has been helpful and thanks for reading.
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Espen
Espen is the Director of ProPairing and has written extensively about Bluetooth devices for years. He is a consumer product expert and has personally tested Bluetooth devices for the last decade.
