Troubleshooting & Maintaining Your PC All-in-One For Dummies, 3rd Edition
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Much like everything else in your computer, Bluetooth functionality requires both hardware and software. Like a camera without film — one won't work without the other. Unfortunately, not all PCs arrive Bluetooth-ready right out of the box, especially older models.

If your PC didn’t come with Bluetooth hardware installed, you can easily add some by purchasing a Bluetooth USB dongle.

Using Device Manager to find Bluetooth hardware

To determine whether your Windows PC has Bluetooth hardware, check Device Manager. Follow these steps:
  1. Open the Windows Start Menu to search for and open the Control Panel.

  2. Choose Hardware and Sound, and then choose Device Manager.

    In Windows 10, the Device Manager link can also be found beneath the Devices and Printers heading.

  3. Look for a Bluetooth drop-down menu in the list.

    If any items are listed here, your PC has Bluetooth hardware installed, and you can safely assume that the software has been set up as well.

  4. Close the various windows you opened.

Adding a Bluetooth device

Bluetooth software is typically supplied by Windows or whatever installation drive came with the hardware, so you shouldn't have to worry about setting that up too often. To connect to a new Bluetooth device, however, follow these steps:

  • In Windows 10, go to Settings and then Devices.

  • Click on Add Bluetooth or other device.

  • Choose the type of device you want to connect to from the list.

  • Make sure the device is on a "discoverable" mode. Check the device's manual if you don't know how to do so.

  • Once discoverable, the device's name should appear on your screen.

  • Select it and Windows should take care of the rest.

  • You may now close all windows.

Bluetooth devices are paired, which means that they are assigned to work with only one device at a time.

The wireless networking used by Bluetooth isn’t as robust as Wi-Fi. For the most part, Bluetooth is a low-powered system. You can’t move a Bluetooth gadget more than 10 feet or so from its paired device without losing the signal.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

About the book author:

Dan Gookin wrote the very first For Dummies book in 1991. With more than 11 million copies in print, his books have been translated into 32 languages. PCs For Dummies, now in its 12th edition, is the bestselling beginning PC book in the world. Dan offers tips, games, and fun at www.wambooli.com.

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