How do I Install Bluetooth on My Laptop?

By Steve Gregory

Updated September 28, 2017

i BananaStock/BananaStock/Getty Images

If your laptop does not have Bluetooth built in, it is possible to install Bluetooth connectivity using an external USB Bluetooth adapter. Bluetooth is a wireless technology that can be used to connect devices over short distances. After Bluetooth is installed, Bluetooth-enabled peripherals, such as a mouse or keyboard, can be connected to the laptop wirelessly. To install the Bluetooth adapter, follow the instructions from the adapter's installation wizard.

Insert the Bluetooth adapter's installation CD into the computer's disc drive. The installation wizard automatically opens. If the wizard does not open, click "Start," "Computer." Double-click the icon for the disc drive. The wizard opens.

Follow the instructions from the installation wizard. For example, click the radio button to accept the license agreement and select a folder where the installation files for the Bluetooth software will be saved.

Insert the USB Bluetooth adapter into an open USB port on the computer when prompted by the wizard. The system recognizes the new hardware and installs the drivers from the Bluetooth installation CD in the computer's disc drive.

Click the "Finish" button when the installation has completed. Restart the computer if prompted. A Bluetooth icon appears in the notification area of the desktop located in the lower-left corner of the screen. Bluetooth connectivity is now enabled on your laptop.

Right-click the "Bluetooth" icon and select the option to pair with another Bluetooth-enabled device, explore the available Bluetooth connections, configure the adapter or stop the Bluetooth device.

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