Get your devices working the way you want

Most Bluetooth^® enabled devices are easy to connect or "pair," so you can enjoy a wireless lifestyle. If you're having trouble getting two devices to work together, like a mobile phone with a hands-free car system or headphones with a music player, you may just need some advice.

The Bluetooth SIG is a trade association

We do not make, manufacture or sell Bluetooth products. We can guide you in the right direction and provide some basic tips for using Bluetooth enabled products. We also have a Bluetooth FAQ page you might find helpful.

We have over 25,000 Bluetooth SIG member companies. Our members help advance Bluetooth technology and create the innovative Bluetooth products that enable the wireless lifestyle for all to enjoy. If you need Bluetooth product specific information, technical support, drivers, or other technical information, try directly contacting the device manufacturer.

When to contact the manufacturer

If you suspect there's a problem with your device, contact the manufacturer. This advice page is not intended to replace support you might receive from the device manufacturer, especially if the product is defective.

Connecting your Bluetooth enabled devices

Often it's simple to connect two Bluetooth enabled devices—you don't even need instructions. However, there are tens of thousands of different Bluetooth enabled devices, from phones and headsets to cars and computers. If you run into any problems getting devices to work properly or pair with each other, learning a little about how Bluetooth technology works could help you fix the problem. Here are a few things you should understand before you get started.

Finding your drivers

A driver is a software program allowing a device to communicate with a computer. Without drivers, the devices connecting to your computer—phones, MP3 player, or digital camera—won't appear in your computer's list of connected devices and won't work with your computer.

There is no such thing as a "Bluetooth driver." But if you have a Bluetooth enabled device, you may need a driver to get the device to work properly with your computer. Getting drivers and installing them depends on whether you have a Windows PC, a Macintosh, or another operating system.

If you are missing a driver or it doesn’t automatically install, contact the manufacturer. The manufacturer should also be able to tell you if there is a newer version of the driver available for their product. The Bluetooth SIG does not distribute drivers for Bluetooth enabled devices.

Making sure devices are Bluetooth enabled

Both devices must be Bluetooth enabled to pair. If you're not sure a device includes Bluetooth technology, check with the manufacturer. Not all wireless devices use Bluetooth technology (especially mice and keyboards), so check to be sure.

To add Bluetooth technology to a computer, just plug a Bluetooth adapter into one of the USB ports.

Pairing devices

Not all Bluetooth enabled devices are designed to be paired. Logically, there's no reason to connect a wireless mouse to a wireless headset. You should be able to pair a Bluetooth enabled headset to a Bluetooth enabled phone, or a Bluetooth enabled mouse to a Bluetooth enabled computer.

If you're not sure whether the two devices you want to connect are designed to be paired with each other, make sure their Bluetooth profiles match.

Pairing with the profile

A Bluetooth profile provides manufacturers with a detailed description of designing a certain function into a Bluetooth enabled device. An example is the Hands-Free Profile. For a mobile phone to connect to a wireless headset, both devices must support the Hands-Free Profile. Manufactures list supported profiles in the user manual or specifications for that device.

Here's an example of two Bluetooth enabled products not likely to work together:

A mouse, which typically supports the Human Interface Device Profile and a camera aren't likely to work together since cameras don't support this profile. Looked at logically, it's obvious why, since cameras aren't designed to be controlled with a mouse.

(Credit: ivt)