How to Use Bluetooth USB Dongle

Techwalla may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.
Image Credit: George Doyle/Stockbyte/Getty Images

Laptops that do not have a Bluetooth adapter built into the machine can add connectivity for a device, such as a mouse, by using a USB Bluetooth dongle. A dongle will add the ability to connect any type of Bluetooth device to your laptop without having to install any additional hardware. A Bluetooth dongle is typically smaller than a quarter and plugs directly into a USB port on your computer.

Advertisement

Step 1

Locate a free USB port on your laptop and insert the USB dongle.

Video of the Day

Step 2

Start your laptop and wait for the operating system to load. When the operating system loads you should see an "Add New Hardware Wizard" window appear on the screen.

Advertisement

Step 3

Click "Next" to install the drivers for the Bluetooth dongle.

Step 4

Right-click the Bluetooth device's icon from the Windows taskbar and select the "Add a Bluetooth Device" option.

Advertisement

Step 5

Make the Bluetooth device discoverable by pressing the button on the device.

Step 6

Put a check in the box for the "My device is turned on and discoverable" option from the Add Bluetooth Device Wizard.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Step 7

Click "Next" and wait while your system finds the Bluetooth device.

Step 8

Select a passkey option depending on the type of device you want to connect. A Bluetooth keyboard should have a passkey, but a Bluetooth mouse does not.

Step 9

Click "Finish" to exit the Add Bluetooth Device Wizard and begin using your Bluetooth device.

Video of the Day

Advertisement

Advertisement

references & resources

Report an Issue

screenshot of the current page

Screenshot loading...