Monday, November 11, 2013

How to Update Bluetooth Peripheral Device Drivers

Bluetooth devices, like their hard-wired counterparts, need special software in order to communicate with your computer. In particular, they need Bluetooth peripheral device drivers. These drivers tell your computer's operating system what the device is, what it is capable of doing, and how to communicate with it. Without Bluetooth peripheral device drivers, your computer has no way of knowing if an attached Bluetooth device is a mouse, a cell phone, an MP3 player, or anything else.
Bluetooth devices typically connect to a computer via a short range wireless connection. Your computer must have a Bluetooth wireless adapter, which will also need its own set of Bluetooth drivers, in order to connect to Bluetooth devices. Bluetooth adapters are either internal or external. If your computer came with a built-in Bluetooth adapter, it likely already has the correct drivers installed. However, you may need to update the Bluetooth peripheral device drivers periodically. If you have purchased an external adapter, it will likely connect via a USB port on your computer. When you first insert the adapter into the port, Windows will search for the correct Bluetooth peripheral device drivers and automatically load them if found. If not, you will need to manually install them using the disc that came with the adapter.
Once your computer is set up with the Bluetooth adapter and its set of drivers, it is ready for Bluetooth devices. However, the devices themselves will need to be installed and detected. This is typically done in the Control Panel where you'll find a Bluetooth category under Devices and Printers. Before you click the "Add a Bluetooth device" link, make sure that your new device is turned on and set to its "discoverable" mode. When in this mode, the device sends out a signal that your computer's adapter will pick up. Once your computer detects the device, you'll see a display of found devices. Select the device and enter its "pairing" or "PIN" code when prompted. This process tells your computer to work with this device whenever it's in range. Your computer will ignore other Bluetooth devices that are in range but not paired with it.
From there, Windows may prompt you to install the Bluetooth drivers from CD or it may automatically search from them. Once the Bluetooth peripheral drivers have been installed, your computer should recognize the device and be ready to use it. You may need to reboot your computer in order to finalize the installation of these Bluetooth drivers.
Like regular device drivers, Bluetooth peripheral device drivers should be updated from time to time. Updates ensure that your Bluetooth device is patched with the latest updates, fixes, and enhancements. You can update your Bluetooth peripheral device drivers in several ways including by using Windows Update or going directly to the device manufacturer's website and downloading them there.

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