If you don't, and there's no making room because you need all your current ports, you should consider getting a quality USB hub or a USB expansion card. Once you've determined that your computer is definitely in need of a Bluetooth radio (and not just a driver update), it's time to check that you have a free USB port.

You don't need a whole lot to follow along with this tutorial. Better yet, the difference between adding Bluetooth to a computer that doesn't have it and upgrading the existing Bluetooth is just a single additional step. The good news is that it's easy to do, and you won't need to spend much on the project. And if you found that your PC does have Bluetooth, but it's old enough that you want to upgrade it for a better experience with Bluetooth headphones and accessories, you'll need an upgrade. If you've found that your PC does not have Bluetooth built-in, then you'll need to add it. From the Start Menu search box, just type 'Bluetooth' and select 'Bluetooth and other devices settings' to jump there. On Windows 10 and Windows 11, the fasted way to see if Bluetooth is installed and configured is simply opening up the Bluetooth devices menu. We can upgrade it very easily in the next section of this article.

Here are some quick ways to see if your computer already has Bluetooth.Īnd remember, even if you have Bluetooth, but it's an older version you want to upgrade, that's no problem. Similarly, it used to be a non-existent feature on desktop PCs, but in the last few years, many desktops have begun shipping with Bluetooth radios. However, if you have a newer laptop, it's practically a given that you have Bluetooth. If you have a very old laptop or computer, you're probably correct in assuming that you don't have Bluetooth built-in. See If Your Computer Already Has Bluetoothīefore we proceed, we'd encourage you to give your computer a double check for Bluetooth radios. Who knew upgrading a Bluetooth 4.2 connection to a Bluetooth 5.0 connection would be so easy and inexpensive? If only every computer upgrade were so cheap and plug-and-play. Not only will the methods outlined in this article help you add Bluetooth to a computer that doesn't have it, but they will also help you add an updated Bluetooth connection to a computer with older Bluetooth hardware. Why? Because depending on the age of your machine, it might only have Bluetooth 4.0 or older. Bluetooth is also handy when using wireless headsets, bluetooth trackers, game controllers, mice, keyboards, and other peripherals.Įven if you already have Bluetooth on your laptop or desktop PC, you may still want to follow along with this article. You could, for example, run an auxiliary audio cable from your computer to some of Bluetooth speakers we reviewed in our Bluetooth speaker guide, but it would make your speaker a lot more portable and convenient to pipe in the music over Bluetooth so you could retain the ability to move it anywhere in your office.

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