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Does Bluetooth Use Data?
How does Bluetooth work, anyway?
By Simon Chandler Simon Chandler Writer University of Reading King's College London Simon Chandler is a former Lifewire writer who covered cryptocurrency, social media, AI and other topics. His work has appeared in Wired, TechCrunch, and The Verge. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on June 22, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email In This Article
Expand Jump to a Section How Does Bluetooth Work Does Bluetooth Use Data or Wi-Fi Do I Need to Connect to the Internet to Use Bluetooth Bluetooth doesn't use any of the data from your data plan. However, when you stream to a Bluetooth device, you use some of the data in your data plan. How Does Bluetooth Work
Bluetooth enables devices (such as smartphones) to transmit radio waves. This capability is built within devices, so there's no need for any other data transmission source (such as a mobile or Wi-Fi network) to be used. You can use Bluetooth keyboards, mice, and speakers. You can see this for yourself by disconnecting your device from any Wi-Fi or mobile data network and then playing, for example, the music you saved onto your device through a Bluetooth-connected speaker. Even without an internet connection, the audio plays as normal. Does Bluetooth Use Data or Wi-Fi
Anyone concerned that they might be racing through their monthly data allowance can rest assured that Bluetooth doesn't use anything extra beyond what you're using to connect to the internet and stream media. This last point is worth stressing. Bluetooth itself doesn't use extra mobile data, but if you use a mobile or Wi-Fi network to connect to the internet and stream, say, a TV program, you'll use up your data allowance (if you have one). Using Bluetooth to transmit what you're streaming to another device doesn't consume additional data, but it's important to keep in mind that it doesn't prevent that initial data consumption. ML Harris / Getty Images Do I Need to Connect to the Internet to Use Bluetooth
Another way of putting things here is to state that Bluetooth doesn't use an internet connection to transmit data. Each Bluetooth device talks to one another regardless of an internet connection being present. When you use a Bluetooth keyboard, the keystrokes aren't transmitted to the internet and then back to your computer. The transmission goes from the keyboard to the computer directly. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Does a Mobile Hotspot Use Data? 5G: Everything You Need to Know How to Fix It When Mobile Data Is Not Working The 7 Best Prepaid Cell Phone Plans of 2022 How to Set up USB Tethering on Windows 10 How to Get Internet With a Bluetooth-Enabled Cell Phone How to Save Mobile Data When Tethering Android Tablet or Phone How to Connect Chromecast to Hotel Wi-Fi How to Connect Your PC to Your Mobile Hotspot What is FaceTime? What Is Bluetooth? The Ultimate Guide Does Bluetooth Wireless Audio Reduce Sound Quality? How to Fix It When a Tablet Won’t Connect to a Mobile Hotspot How to Play iPhone Music Over Bluetooth Does FaceTime Use Data? How Far Does the Apple Watch Reach? Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies