Here in this article, you will learn how to add Bluetooth to any TV, even if it doesn’t have Bluetooth capability!
Ensure that your TV supports Bluetooth functionality if you do wish to connect your devices to it. However, there is a technique to add Bluetooth to TVs that do not have an inbuilt Bluetooth feature.
If you have checked and your TV doesn’t have Bluetooth capability, then you need to look for a 3.5mm AUX, RCA, or optical audio output to serve as an external Bluetooth connector.
With that, you can then pair your Bluetooth devices such as Bluetooth speakers or headphones to your TV that do not have built-in Bluetooth.
How to know if your TV has Bluetooth
With the following, you can determine whether your TV has Bluetooth as an inbuilt function.
- All Smart TVs have Bluetooth built-in. So if your TV came with a smart remote, it almost probably has Bluetooth built-in as well.
- If your TV has unspecified or concealed Bluetooth connectivity, you can find out by checking the manufacturer’s website under the model number.
- If your TV is powered on and equipped with Bluetooth, it should be listed under nearby connectible devices in the Bluetooth settings of any mobile device, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. However, it may not always be shown under its actual model name.
- You can also consult your user manual or do some internet research if you are having trouble navigating to the settings section.
How to Add Bluetooth to any TV
Following the instruction below you will know how to add an external Bluetooth connection to your TV if the TV is not built with an internet Bluetooth feature.
It’s not difficult to add Bluetooth capabilities to your TV. You will most likely be using a 3.5mm AUX, RCA, or optical audio output if your TV does not have built-in Bluetooth. While choosing an audio solution, be sure to check the ports that are available to you so that you may choose one that will work with your TV.
Therefore, following the instruction below you’d have learned how to add Bluetooth to any TV:
Using Bluetooth transmitter for TV
The fundamentals are quite straightforward if you decide to attach a Bluetooth transmitter to your TV to handle wireless audio from your TV to a set of headphones or speakers. Follow the steps below on how to add Bluetooth to any TV via Bluetooth transmitter:
- To begin, get a Bluetooth transmitter compatible with your TV first.
- A flexible option would be something like Avantree’s Audikast, which offers low latency audio, can transmit to two devices simultaneously, and accepts audio inputs from USB, optical, RCA, and 3.5mm AUX outputs on your TV or computer display.
- Other 3.5mm jack-compatible transmitters, such as the Trond Bluetooth Transmitter, are easier and less expensive to find.
- In most situations, unless it has a battery of its own, you will need to connect the transmitter to a power source.
- After that, you must attach it to one of your TV’s audio outputs.
- Put Bluetooth speakers or headphones next to the transmitter and switch each device to pairing mode to pair them.
- To activate pairing mode, follow the precise instructions provided with your transmitter, speaker, or headphones. These instructions will vary depending on the device.
- You are now ready to listen after pairing.
- Depending on your TV and the audio port you use, you might need to unplug the adapter to resume using your TV’s built-in speakers.
Although setting it up is quite easy, using a Bluetooth TV adapter effectively might be challenging. This is how to add Bluetooth to any TV.
Using Bluetooth Transmitter with Aux
Investing in a Bluetooth transmitter or converter with a 3.5mm or RCA analog connector is the most straightforward method to add some Bluetooth capability to your TV.
A Bluetooth transmitter is a tiny device that you may attach to your TV via the audio port or ports, in this case, analog AUX audio in/out which enable the connection of Bluetooth speakers to a TV that doesn’t already have Bluetooth.
These are reasonably affordable (quality transmitters are sold at about $18) and simple to connect.
- After plugging the transmitter into your TV’s AUX port with either a 3.5 stereo cable or a stereo pair of RCA cables, you can pair Bluetooth speakers (or headphones) to the transmitter, which you can then use to connect to your Bluetooth-enabled mobile device.
The primary drawbacks of using this method are that your TV won’t get full Bluetooth capabilities, so you won’t be able to use a mobile app to interact with it or use Bluetooth to connect a soundbar, for instance, and you will suffer somewhat inferior audio quality with a wireless digital to analog link. This is how to add Bluetooth to any TV.
Using Bluetooth Transmitter with Optical Audio
The other primary choice is to purchase a Bluetooth transmitter with an optical audio connector and attach it to the optical/TOSLINK audio on your TV. The main advantage is that optical/digital audio gives superior sound quality than analog/AUX-optical ports and can even transmit compressed surround sound music. This works similarly to the AUX port option mentioned above.
Although, this still falls short of a real Bluetooth-enabled TV’s full capabilities, and optical cables are more expensive and occasionally hard to come by. This is how to add Bluetooth to any TV.
Unfortunately, there is currently no consumer-level method of installing a Bluetooth card into a TV that does not already have one built in. As a result, you are unlikely to be able to control your TV with your iPhone any time soon, though modular options may become more common in the future.
However, a Bluetooth transmitter will enable you to take advantage of several Bluetooth connectivity advantages, enabling you to enjoy the audio on your TV with wireless Bluetooth speakers and even headphones with little effort and price. Also, you can upgrade your TV to a smart TV if you wish. This is how to add Bluetooth to any TV.