How to Configure Your Computer for Bluetooth

Not even Bluetooth? Not a problem.

ESSENTIAL NOTES

Any Windows PC can have Bluetooth added by plugging in a $15 USB dongle. Just a free USB port will do. Additionally, this dongle can update your PC to support Bluetooth versions higher than 3.Even though most laptops and desktop computers these days have Bluetooth installed, some of us still require updates. Don't worry if your PC is rocking without Bluetooth support. We'll demonstrate how to quickly and affordably enable Bluetooth on any Windows computer.

Although you could get by just fine without Bluetooth support on your computer (especially if you're using a desktop), there are tens of thousands of peripherals and accessories that require—or would be made more convenient by—Bluetooth. For instance, you could use an auxiliary audio cable to connect your computer to some of the Bluetooth speakers we reviewed in our guide to Bluetooth speakers, but it would be much more convenient to be able to move your speaker anywhere in your office. Bluetooth is also useful when using wireless headsets, bluetooth trackers, game controllers, mice, keyboards, and other peripherals.

You might still want to read this article even if your laptop or desktop computer already has Bluetooth. Why? Because your machine may only have Bluetooth 4.0 or older, depending on how old it is. The techniques described in this article can be used to update an outdated Bluetooth connection on a computer that has outdated Bluetooth hardware, as well as to add Bluetooth to a computer that does not currently have it. Who knew it would be so simple and affordable to upgrade a Bluetooth 4.2 connection to a Bluetooth 5.0 connection? If only all computer upgrades were that easy to install and so inexpensive.

Check to See If Bluetooth Is Installed on Your Computer

Please make sure your computer is up to date on Bluetooth radios before continuing. You're probably right when you assume that your very old laptop or computer lacks built-in Bluetooth

That being said, Bluetooth is almost a given if your laptop is more recent. Similar to this, desktop PCs did not previously have Bluetooth radios, but in recent years, many have started to ship with them. Here are a few easy ways to check if Bluetooth is already installed on your computer.And keep in mind that updating an older version of Bluetooth is not a problem even if you already have it. It is very easily upgradeable in the following section.

Launch the menu for Bluetooth devices.

To check if Bluetooth is installed and configured on Windows 10 or Windows 11, the quickest method is to open the Bluetooth devices menu. Simply type "Bluetooth" into the Start Menu search box and choose "Bluetooth and other devices settings" to go there.See our instructions for utilizing Bluetooth onWindows 10 and turning on Bluetooth on Windows 11 for more details.You can add a device by going directly to the end of the article if you see something similar to the screenshot above, where Bluetooth is already turned on and the "Add device" button is ready—unless, of course, you're here to upgrade your Bluetooth connection.

Look for Bluetooth under "Network Connections" in Windows

In Windows, looking for Bluetooth evidence is easy. Navigating to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network Connections will allow you to check for Bluetooth.This is an easy way to find out because the Bluetooth connection will show up in the Network Connections menu on Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, or Windows 11.You'll notice an entry for "Bluetooth Network Connection" alongside other network connections like Ethernet and Wi-Fi if the Bluetooth radio is installed and configured correctlyIf "Not connected" appears under the Bluetooth entry, don't worry. That doesn't necessarily mean that there is an issue with the Bluetooth connection; rather, it just means that there aren't any Bluetooth devices connected to your computer at the moment.

Examine the Device Manager in Windows.

As an alternative, try launching Device Manager. This technique is compatible with all Windows versions, just like the previous one.Simply search for "Device Manager" in the Start Menu and then look for a "Bluetooth" entry. Even if your PC's Bluetooth device isn't properly configured, Device Manager will still detect its presenceTo be extra cautious, we also advise verifying the statistics on your computer twice. It's improbable, but the hardware vendor that made your PC might require you to download a specific driver or some other tool in order to activate the Bluetooth connection. If you do some research on Google, you can find out if you actually have the right hardware and whether you require any additional drivers.

How to Set Up Bluetooth on a Computer

You'll need to install Bluetooth if you discover that it isn't already built into your computer. Additionally, you'll need an upgrade if you discover that your PC has Bluetooth but it's outdated enough that you'd like to upgrade for a better experience with Bluetooth accessories and headphones.The good news is that you won't need to spend much money on the project, and it's quite simple to complete. Even better, upgrading an outdated Bluetooth system versus adding Bluetooth to a computer lacking it only requires one extra step.

First, purchase a USB Bluetooth dongle.

You can follow along with this tutorial without a lot of equipment. Once you've established that a Bluetooth radio—and not just a driver update—is unquestionably necessary for your computer, it's time to make sure you have an available USB port. If not, you ought to think about purchasing a good USB hub or a USB expansion card since you'll need all of your available ports and there won't be any room for more.All you need is a USB Bluetooth adapter if you have a free USB port available. When this article first came out, we suggested the well-liked Kinivo BTD-400. Dongles supporting Bluetooth 5.0 were nonexistent at the time.

Fortunately, a great Bluetooth 5.0 dongle such as this TP-Link USB Bluetooth 5.0 Adapter is now available. All the features of Bluetooth 5.0 (as well as backward compatibility with all earlier Bluetooth versions) are available for the same price as a Bluetooth 4.0 dongle.While there are other approaches to the problem, most of them are not as practical as simply inserting a USB adapter into an available USB port.One option would be to install a laptop Bluetooth/Wi-Fi module in your laptop's mini PCI slot, but that would require a lot of work. If you really don't want to give up a laptop's USB port and don't want to sacrifice performance, you might want to consider the mini PCI option.

Since many Wi-Fi PCI cards have Bluetooth built in, the only reason we can think of not utilizing the USB-based solution for desktop computers is if you're specifically looking to buy a Wi-Fi PCI card. If you choose to proceed with either option, read our guide on replacing or upgrading your laptop's or PC's Wi-Fi card. And if you do, remember to use an antenna extender to improve your PC card's Wi-Fi reception.

Step 2: Put the Bluetooth dongle in place

It's very easy to install the USB dongle on Windows 8.1, Windows 10, or Windows 11—just plug it in. When Windows detects a new device, it will install the basic Broadcom Bluetooth drivers that the dongle requires automatically.You'll need to install the Bluetooth drivers if you're installing it on a previous version of Windows or if your USB dongle isn't recognized by default. When you plug in the dongle and see something like this in the Device Manager pane, you know your computer needs the drivers..

The "missing" Bluetooth dongle or card will show up in the "Other Devices" section of the Device Manager as a generic entry or as a Bluetooth radio with the label "Generic Bluetooth Radio" depending on the version of Windows you are using. This is because Windows recognizes the type of hardware the device is but is unable to initialize it.You have to download the necessary drivers from the manufacturer's website in either scenario. Visit the Kinivo driver page or the TP-Link driver page to download the drivers for the two USB dongles we mentioned earlier. After downloading the appropriate version for your operating system (you can check if Windows is 32- or 64-bit by following this link), launch the installer, and you're ready to go.

Step 3: Turn Off the Old Bluetooth Device If You're Upgrading

You can skip this step if you're adding Bluetooth to a computer that doesn't already have it or if the previous Bluetooth was a detachable device (for example, you're switching out a USB dongle for another).However, you must disable any built-in Bluetooth radio if you are adding a Bluetooth 5.0 dongle or upgraded card to a computer that already has oneIn the Windows Device Manager, find the Bluetooth radio you want to turn off, right-click on it, and choose "Disable device."Instead of choosing "Uninstall Device," make sure to choose "Disable device" because you don't want Windows to take its sweet time finding the device and trying to reinstall it. You would like Windows to recognize the

Leaving it installed will also help ensure that it is ready to use in the unlikely event that you need it. For example, suppose you discover halfway through a flight that your laptop isn't using the most recent version of the Bluetooth dongle. You can activate the outdated Bluetooth radio by opening the Device Manager and making sure everything is installed. Since, well, outdated Bluetooth is still preferable to none at all, even though Bluetooth 4.0 may not be the newest technology available.

Step Four: Connect Your Devices Together

You are now prepared to pair a device with the dongle that you have installed. This is an excellent moment to switch on the device and make sure pairing mode is enabled. (We won't claim that not realizing a device wasn't in pairing mode caused every Bluetooth annoyance we've ever encountered, but it's certainly on the list of causes.)As shown in the screenshot below, a Bluetooth icon should show up in the system tray after the dongle has been inserted and the necessary drivers have been installed. From the context menu, select "Add a Bluetooth Device" after performing a right-click on the icon. (You can also access the Bluetooth menu by typing "Bluetooth" into the Windows Start Menu search bar.)

Depending on the Windows version you're running, the exact steps you see next may differ, but overall, it's fairly simple, and the language hasn't changed much over time.See our instructions for utilizing Bluetooth on Windows 11 or adding Bluetooth to Windows 10 for a more in-depth look at the specifics of adding Bluetooth devices under various Windows versions.

The connection should happen immediately after you've chosen the device to add to your Windows PC, though older computers running older versions of Windows may experience the little icon bouncing back and forth for up to 30 seconds while it works.

As we just demonstrated, you can view and manage your Bluetooth devices by going to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > View Devices and Printers, or you can use the Bluetooth menu that is accessible from the system tray. In any case, you ought to be able to see and communicate with any connected Bluetooth devices as well as your Bluetooth dongleIt's as simple as that! With just $15, a single USB port, and an almost painless installation process, your computer can now connect to Bluetooth. At last, you can connect your preferred Bluetooth headphones to your computer.