How to Send Files Via Bluetooth

Add Bluetooth functionality with a USB Bluetooth adapter.

Bluetooth's wireless technology provides a simple method for transferring files between computers when no network service is available. Bluetooth transfer is usually slower than using a cable or Wi-Fi connection, so it isn't suitable for very large amounts of data. A 1.6 megabyte file takes approximately 2.5 minutes to transfer.

Things You'll Need

• Two bluetooth enabled devices, such as cell phones
• Something to send.

Instructions

1. Click "Start" on the destination computer and select "Control Panel." Click "Hardware and Sound," and then choose "Bluetooth Devices."

2. Click the "Options" tab and check the option "Allow Bluetooth Devices to Find This Computer" in order to place the computer in discovery mode. Check the options "Allow Bluetooth Devices to Connect to This Computer" and "Alert Me When a New Bluetooth Device Want to Connect." Click "Apply," and then click "OK."

3. Go to "Bluetooth Devices" in the source computer, check the second and third boxes under the Options tab, then click "Apply" and "OK."

4. Right-click the Bluetooth icon in the system tray on the source computer and select "Send a File." Click "Browse" to find the destination computer if it does not appear in the Send To box. Click "Next."

5. Click "Browse" to find the file you want to send, and then select it and click "Open." Click "Next" to start the file transfer.

6. Click the "Request for FTP File Access Permissions" balloon on the destination computer when prompted. Under "Allow Access," select "For the Current Task" if you are transferring a single file. Choose "For the Next" and select the number of minutes from the drop-down menu if you are transferring several files. Select "Always Allow This Device to Access to my Computer's File Transfer Service" if you intend to transfer files regularly between these devices.

Tips & Warnings

• For additional security, use a passkey when pairing the devices.

References

• O'Reilly Media; Bluetooth File Transfer; Wei-Meng Lee