How to Add Bluetooth to Mac Menu Bar Icons

* This article is from our Tip of the Day newsletter. . *

If you like to listen to music or Podcasts via wireless headphones while using your computer (like I do), you may want to add the Bluetooth icon to your Mac menu bar! This will allow you to connect Bluetooth headphones to a Mac or open Bluetooth settings without having to navigate through System Preferences. We'll show you how.

Related: How to Connect Your AirPods to Your Mac, MacBook Pro & MacBook Air

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Here's how to add the Mac Bluetooth icon to your toolbar:

  1. Click the Apple menu and select System Preferences.


     
  2. Click Bluetooth


     
  3. Check the box next to Show Bluetooth in menu bar.


     
  4. The Bluetooth icon will appear in the Mac menu bar near the top-right corner of your screen.
  5. Use this quick Bluetooth menu to pair devices and turn Bluetooth on and off.
  6. You can also click Open Bluetooth Preferences as a shortcut to access your Bluetooth settings.

Now that you know how to add the Bluetooth icon to the taskbar, you can enjoy much easier management of your Mac's Bluetooth devices. Also, for wireless and Bluetooth speakers, you can learn how to select your Mac input and output audio.

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Author Details

Ashleigh Page's picture

Author Details

Ashleigh Page

Ashleigh Page is an Associate Editor for iPhone Life. A longtime Apple enthusiast with a Bachelor's in English and Computer Science and three years of experience writing about tech, Ashleigh has written and tested hundreds of articles about devices and features within Apple's ecosystem. She specializes in iPhone, iPad, AirPods, and Mac content and has authored a 60-page in-depth guide about the Apple Maps app. Based in North Carolina, Ashleigh is often crafting whimsical (and sometimes nonsensical) short stories and hiking when she's not working.