How to Use a Bluetooth Dongle
Bluetooth dongles, also known as Bluetooth adapters, are special devices that can receive and transmit Bluetooth signals to and from a non-Bluetooth enabled computer. These adapters are useful for connecting your PC to a wireless printer, headset, or even a game controller. Installing and using a Bluetooth dongle is a very user-friendly process. You'll be up and running with your own Bluetooth-powered wireless network in no time.
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Instructions
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1
Plug the Bluetooth adapter into your computer's USB 2.0 slot. Note, most computers built after 2005 have USB ports that conform to the USB 2.0 standard, but check your owner's manual if you are unsure.
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2
Boot up the computer. If you have an installation CD for the dongle, select "No" or "Cancel" when a window pops up asking if you want Windows to automatically find software to manage the new device. Otherwise, you can download Microsoft's Bluetooth management software by clicking "Yes" or "OK."
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3
Insert the CD that came with the device into your computer's CD-ROM drive, if you have it, and run the installation utility. Generally the installation utility will run automatically, but if it doesn't you should check the Bluetooth dongle's owner's manual for specific instructions. If you do not have the CD, you can skip this step.
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Wait several minutes for the installation process to finish, and then restart the computer. Upon restart, you should be able to see the Bluetooth dongle's management utility in the system tray.
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Open the utility by double clicking on its icon, either from the desktop or the system tray. You will now be able to engage the "sync" or "discovery" mode, which will allow you to connect Bluetooth peripherals (like a printer or wireless keyboard) to the dongle.
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Tips & Warnings
Some older dongles use PCI card slots (instead of a USB connection), but these dongles are outdated and will not work with current Bluetooth devices.
