If you want to connect a Bluetooth peripheral device to a computer, you may need to download a new driver to support it. There are two approaches to this: If your Bluetooth device came with a driver on a disc, you can install the driver directly from the disc. Otherwise, simply connect your computer to the Internet and connect your Bluetooth device to your computer, then wait for Windows to install any required drivers automatically. You may receive this message when you connect your Bluetooth device to your computer: "Windows needs to install driver software for your Bluetooth peripheral device." Bluetooth peripheral device driver downloads are easy to locate via any search engine.
Installing a Driver from a Disc
Step 1
Open the CD-ROM drive on the computer and insert the driver disc that shipped with the Bluetooth device.
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Step 2
Wait for a moment to see if the software auto-launches, as most modern software discs do. If the program does not launch automatically, double-click the "My Computer" icon and then double-click the "CD-ROM drive" icon. If this does not launch the software but instead opens a file folder, look for a .exe file such as "setup.exe" or "run.exe" and double-click that. You're looking for a Bluetooth peripheral device driver.
Step 3
Follow the on-screen prompts, once the software launches, to install the Bluetooth peripheral device drivers on the disc. You may be prompted to restart your computer at the end of the process.
Letting Windows Install the Driver
Step 1
Make sure Windows is up to date, as most Bluetooth drivers are included in Windows Service Pack updates. To do this, make sure your computer is connected to the Internet, then click the "Start" button in Windows and select "Windows Update" from the program list. This will launch an Internet Explorer window. Click the "Find Updates" button in the window and wait for Microsoft to search for available updates. If it recommends any high priority updates, follow the on-screen prompts to install them.
Step 2
Connect the Bluetooth device to the computer. There are three ways to do this. If you have an internal Bluetooth receiver in your computer, just make sure the receiver and your Bluetooth device are turned on and put your device within range of the computer. If you have a USB Bluetooth receiver, plug it into an available USB port on the computer; then turn on the Bluetooth device and put it within range of the computer. If you have another type of auxiliary cable, you may also be able to use it to connect your Bluetooth device to the computer without using a Bluetooth connection.
Step 3
Watch the system tray in the bottom right corner of Windows. You should see a notification that Windows has detected a Bluetooth device, followed by another notification that the device has been installed properly. The installation it is referring to is that of the driver. If this does not work as expected, proceed to the next step.
Step 4
Click the "Start" button in Windows, then click "Control Panel." Launch "Device Manager."
Step 5
Expand the "Bluetooth Devices" entry in the Device Manager by clicking the plus sign next to it. Find your Bluetooth device listed under this heading, right-click it and select "Update driver" from the list of options. Wait as Windows automatically finds and configures any missing Bluetooth peripheral device driver downloads.
Warning
You must be connected to the Internet for Windows to automatically configure your drivers.