Configuring the Windows 7 Bluetooth Manager: A Quick How-To

Configuring the Windows 7 Bluetooth Manager: A Quick How-To
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Windows 7 comes with a superb Bluetooth manager tool to allow you to setup and configure relationships between Bluetooth devices and your PC or laptop. You might have a Bluetooth headset you want to connect, or even one of the new Bluetooth mice from Microsoft.

Accessing this tool will allow you to manage the devices you have connected and generally speaking you shouldn’t have any problems with it. Of course, nothing works quite as planned, and in the event of using Bluetooth with Windows 7 you might find that you do run into problems.

We’re going to look at how to connect a Bluetooth device to a Windows 7 PC or laptop and then deal with resolving some of the problems that might arise.

Setting Up Bluetooth

To begin connecting a Bluetooth device to your PC, you will need a Bluetooth receiver, either built into the motherboard or connected by USB. This second option is the most common, and the majority of USB adapters are compact with a built in light which flashes while it is waiting for connections.

With one of these plugged in and installed (they usually come with a driver disc, but the majority of drivers for such devices will be included in Windows 7) you should then be able to start pairing devices with your PC.

Access the Windows 7 Bluetooth “Manager”

In order to successfully pair Bluetooth devices with your PC, you will need to access the Windows 7 Bluetooth “manager” – accessible via Start > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Add a Bluetooth device. In the Add a device screen, your PC will scan for any nearby Bluetooth devices.

With the device(s) listed, you will then be able to select one to connect to. Click Next and Windows will then proceed to install the required drivers to allow you to pair your headset, keyboard, phone or whatever device it is you’re trying to add.

When complete, you will see the Bluetooth device listed under Devices in Start > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers.

Making Changes to Your Bluetooth Config

Your Bluetooth adaptor for your PC should have its own user interface to enable you to access the device in Windows Explorer and for you to enable and disable Bluetooth. If not and you have a generic adaptor, go to Start > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers, right-click the Bluetooth adaptor and choose Properties where you can enable and disable the device or upgrade the device driver.

With a Bluetooth adaptor that has come with its own dedicated drivers, however, you should be able to access the adaptor and any devices attached to it via the Bluetooth icon in your system tray. Different manufacturers make different features available here, but you should be able to easily pair devices and disable Bluetooth as required.