Although most laptops—and even desktops—now include Bluetooth capability, some of us still require Bluetooth upgrades. Don’t worry if your PC doesn’t support Bluetooth. We will teach you how to effortlessly and affordably add Bluetooth functionality to any Windows 10 machine.

How to Set Up Bluetooth on Your Computer

If your computer lacks Bluetooth built in, then you will need to install it. If you discover that your computer has Bluetooth but is old enough that you wish to update it for greater functionality with Bluetooth headsets and accessories, you will require an upgrade.

The good news is that it is simple to complete and will not require a large investment of time or money. Even better, there’s only one more step between upgrading the current Bluetooth and adding it to a machine that doesn’t have it.

Step 1: Purchase a Bluetooth USB Dongle

This tutorial doesn’t require a lot of knowledge to follow. Once you’ve confirmed that your computer requires a Bluetooth radio (rather than merely a driver update), search for a free USB port. If you don’t have enough space and need all of your present ports, you may consider purchasing a high-quality USB hub or a USB extension card.

Now that you have a free USB port, all you require is a decent USB Bluetooth adapter. Additionally, do not forget to add a BT Dongle 10 Driver for Windows 10. It works as a bridge between your device and the dongle. In the next step, we will discuss this in detail.

Step 2: Installing the Bluetooth Dongle

It’s quite easy to install the USB dongle on Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 11—just plug it in. When Windows detects a new device, it will immediately install the basic Bluetooth drivers that the dongle requires.

Installing the Bluetooth drivers is necessary if you’re using an older version of Windows or if your USB dongle isn’t detected automatically. If you lack the driver, the Device Manager pane will indicate when you put in the dongle.

Whichever Windows version you’re using will determine whether the absent Bluetooth dongle or card shows up as a generic entry in the Device Manager’s “Other Devices” section or as a Bluetooth radio with the label “Generic Bluetooth Radio” because Windows can recognize the type of hardware but is unable to initialize it.

In any instance, you must go to the manufacturer’s website and download the required drivers.

Step 3: If Upgrading, Deactivate the Old Bluetooth Device.

If you’re installing Bluetooth to a PC that doesn’t already have it, or if the previous Bluetooth was a removable device (for example, switching out a USB dongle for another), you may skip this step.

However, if you are installing a Bluetooth dongle or an upgraded card to a PC that already has an installed Bluetooth radio that you cannot remove, you must disable it.

In the Windows Device Manager, find the Bluetooth radio you want to turn off, then right-click on it and choose “Disable device.”

It’s crucial to choose “Disable device” rather than “Uninstall Device,” since you do not want Windows to bother with identifying the device and trying to reinstall it. Windows should recognize the device and overlook it.

Step 4: Connect the Devices

Now that you’ve installed the dongle, you can pair a device. Now is the right time to power on the device and confirm that it is in pairing mode. (We’re not saying that every Bluetooth issue we’ve ever experienced was caused by failing to realize a device was not in pairing mode, however, it’s on the list of possibilities.)

After adding the dongle (and installing the required drivers), a Bluetooth icon should show up in the system tray. Right-click the icon and select “Add Bluetooth Device” from the pop-up menu. (You may also get the Bluetooth menu by typing “Bluetooth” into the search bar.)

The particular steps you see next will differ depending on the version of Windows you have installed, but they’re all fairly simple, and the overall wording hasn’t altered much over the years.

Once you’ve chosen the device you want to add to your PC, the link should be immediate.

You may control your Bluetooth devices by selecting the Bluetooth menu from the system tray (like we did earlier) or by going to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > View Devices and Printers. In either case, you should be able to view (and interact with) your Bluetooth dongle as well as any Bluetooth devices that are attached.

Conclusion

Adding Bluetooth to your Windows 10 PC is quick and affordable. Just plug in a Bluetooth USB dongle, install the necessary drivers, and start pairing your devices. Whether you’re upgrading or adding Bluetooth for the first time, the process is simple and user-friendly.