Most computer speakers have a 3. 5mm (1/8") audio input connector, which is the small plug that will fit into a typical headphone jack. These speakers will also need to be plugged into a power source. USB speakers are powered by your computer so they won’t need to be plugged into the wall. If you have available USB ports, these might be more convenient.
If you’re using a 3. 5mm (1/8") connector, look on the sides of your laptop for a small jack that has a drawing of headphones or a speaker. Don’t plug it into the jack with the drawing of a microphone. If you’re using USB, plugging in your speakers may trigger the system to start installing drivers. If you are asked to insert a disk, insert the one that came with your speakers and follow any instructions that came in the packaging.
Find a comfortable listening volume. Slowly turn the volume knob on your computer speakers to the right until you reach your desired volume. If you don’t hear anything, make sure the speakers are connected and plugged in if necessary. If you’re using Windows and can hear sound but it’s coming through your laptop speakers, you may need to manually change your audio settings. Press ⊞ Win+S and type control. When “Control Panel” appears, select it, then click “Sound. ” Under “Playback,” you should see two devices listed—your laptop audio card and your new speakers. Double-click the new speakers to change your default sound device. Click “OK” to hear audio through your new speakers.
If you’re using a Mac, open the Apple menu and click “About this Mac. ” Click “More Info,” then “Bluetooth” in the list on the left side of the screen. If the right side of the Hardware screen shows any sort of device information (such as “Apple Bluetooth Software Version 4”), you have Bluetooth. In Windows, press ⊞ Win+X and select “Device Manager. ” Click “Laptop. ” If you see a category under Laptop called “Bluetooth Radios,” click it to expand a list of Bluetooth devices. If anything appears in this list, you have Bluetooth.
The speakers will need to be plugged into a power source. Having a wall between the laptop and the speaker shouldn’t affect the connection too much, but it can potentially decrease sound quality. If you want to be able to turn the speakers on and off easily, you may not want to mount them in a difficult-to-reach location. Check your speaker manual to find out how close your laptop must be to your speakers. [3] X Research source Typically these speakers can be up to 30 feet away, but some devices may have lower ranges.
If you’re using Windows 8 or 10, open the Action Center by clicking on the notification icon in the taskbar (near the clock). Select “Bluetooth,” then “Connect” to begin the search for devices. When the speakers appear, select them to connect. Windows 7 users should open the Start menu, then click “Devices and Printers. ” Click “Add a device” to start a search for Bluetooth devices. When the speakers show up, select them and click “Next” to pair the devices. Mac users, select “System Preferences” from the Apple menu and click “Bluetooth. ” Make sure Bluetooth is set to On, then wait for the speakers to appear in the list. Select them, then click “Pair. ”
Windows users, press ⊞ Win+S and type control. When you see “Control Panel,” click it, then select “Sound. ” On the Playback tab, select the Bluetooth speaker and click “Set Default. ” Click OK. Mac users, open the Apple menu and click “System Preferences. ” Click “Sound” and select the Output tab. Under “Choose a device for sound output,” select the Bluetooth speaker.
