How to use a Bluetooth dongle Windows 10

I'm using a similar bluetooth dongle, from the same brand (Orico BTA-403) and Windows 10.

In my case I had to do this:

1. Turn on Bluetooth Windows Services

Open windows services (run services.msc or search for "services" on windows search).

Change the Bluetooth Handsfree Service and the Bluetooth Support Service to automatic (on properties) and start them.

2. Uninstall the bluetooth driver that comes with the device

When you connect the device, the driver gets installed automatically.

Go to Device Manager (Right click on Start Menu and choose Device Manager or Search for Device Manager).

Find your device on the list. My device was on Universal Serial Bus Devices (I think), named CSR8510 A10.

Right click, choose Uninstall and remember to choose "Delete the driver software for this device" (I tried without this and it did not work).


After that it started to work. You may need to remove the dongle and insert it again or to restart the computer after step 2, but if I recall correctly, it started to work right after step 2 for me.

How to use a Bluetooth dongle Windows 10

Contents

  • 1 How to Disable your old Bluetooth Adapter
  • 2 How to Install a Bluetooth Adapter for your PC
  • 3 How to Install a Bluetooth Adapter Driver for Windows 10 Manually

Though Bluetooth has been a mainstay in phones for a long time, it has taken longer to reach widespread use in laptops and particularly desktops. However, in recent years, battery-saving and latency-reducing technologies have created a world where there’s little discernible difference between a Bluetooth and wired peripheral. As a result, most people now have a Bluetooth adapter for their PC.

Less fortunately, Bluetooth adapters are far from infallible. Not all of them are created equal and can cause frequent disconnects, while others may stop working entirely. If this is the case, you may have bit the bullet and purchased an external USB Bluetooth adapter or even a PCI-E network adapter.

In many cases, this is as simple as removing your old Bluetooth adapter and plugging the new one in. But what if your old adapter is built into the motherboard? There’s a good chance Windows 10 will keep trying to use the old adapter, even if it doesn’t work. Having two active Bluetooth adapters can cause all kinds of stability issues when connecting devices or in general use.

To remedy this, we’re going to show you how to properly install a new Bluetooth adapter on your computer. Primarily, we’ll be going through your Bluetooth drivers to show you how to disable your old adapter.

How to Disable your old Bluetooth Adapter

With a few clicks in Device Manager, you can disable your old Bluetooth adapter and thus make way for your new one.

  1. Open Device Manager

    Press Start and type “Device Manager”. Click the top result.

    How to use a Bluetooth dongle Windows 10

  2. Open the ‘Bluetooth’ category

    You can do so by scrolling down the list and clicking the arrow next to “Bluetooth”.

    How to use a Bluetooth dongle Windows 10

  3. Disable your old Bluetooth driver for Windows 10

    Find your old Bluetooth adapter in Device Manager, right-click it, and press “Disable device”.

    How to use a Bluetooth dongle Windows 10

With your old Bluetooth adapter disabled, you can now proceed with the installation of your new one. The first step is to plug the new Bluetooth USB adapter into your USB port. Or, if it’s a PCI-E card, slot it into your motherboard. Windows should automatically detect it and install the relevant drivers.

You can then follow the steps below to enable Bluetooth globally.

  1. Open Settings

    Press Start and press the settings cog above the power button. Alternatively, press “Ctrl + I”.

    How to use a Bluetooth dongle Windows 10

  2. Click ‘Devices’


    How to use a Bluetooth dongle Windows 10

  3. Toggle Bluetooth on

    In the sidebar, click “Bluetooth & other devices”, then toggle “Bluetooth” to “On” in the main pane.

    How to use a Bluetooth dongle Windows 10

How to Install a Bluetooth Adapter Driver for Windows 10 Manually

If your external Bluetooth adapter still isn’t working or won’t toggle on, there’s a chance your PC does not have the correct drivers installed. This can be because Windows did not automatically detect the device.

To remedy this, you can perform a manual check for Bluetooth adapter drivers and also search the Windows Update catalog.

  1. Open Device Manager

    Press Start, type “Device Manager, and click the first result. Alternatively, access it faster via the secret tools menu.

    How to use a Bluetooth dongle Windows 10

  2. Expand the ‘Other devices’ category


    How to use a Bluetooth dongle Windows 10

  3. Choose to update the Bluetooth driver

    If your device was not automatically detected, there will be a yellow warning triangle next to its name or just a grey question mark bubble. Right-click it and select “Update driver”.

    How to use a Bluetooth dongle Windows 10

  4. Press ‘Search automatically for updated drivers software’


    How to use a Bluetooth dongle Windows 10

  5. Search for updated drivers on Windows Update

    There’s a chance that Device Manager will return the message “Windows was unable to install your _____”, with a note that it could not find drivers for your device. If this is the case, click “Search updated drivers on Windows Update”.

    This should open Windows Update automatically, but if it doesn’t, follow the steps below.

    How to use a Bluetooth dongle Windows 10

  6. Open Settings 

    Press Start and press the cog above the power button, or press Windows + I.

    How to use a Bluetooth dongle Windows 10

  7. Click ‘Update & Security’


    How to use a Bluetooth dongle Windows 10

  8. Press ‘Check for updates’

    Once the check is complete, press the “View optional updates” button to see if it has found anything. There should be a “Driver updates” section where you’ll see your Bluetooth adapter listed. Tick is and click “Download and install.

    If it isn’t there, look for your adapter on the manufacturer’s website and check the support section for drivers. Download and install the most recent version.

    How to use a Bluetooth dongle Windows 10

With the above steps complete, you should be able to use your Bluetooth USB adaptor without any problems. However, now that you have your new mouse, keyboard, or headphones connected, you may want to make some adjustments.

Follow our cursor guide to learn how to customize your mouse settings and our Windows Sonic guide for more immersive audio.

How do I get Windows 10 to recognize my Bluetooth dongle?

On your Windows 10 device PC, click Settings > Devices > Bluetooth. When your device appears in the Bluetooth window, click it, then click Pair. Click yes to confirm the passcode matches on both the device and the computer. Wait a few seconds while both devices are paired.

How do I turn on Bluetooth dongle in Windows 10?

Here's how to turn Bluetooth on or off in Windows 10:.
Select the Start button, then select Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices..
Select the Bluetooth toggle to turn it On or Off..

How do I get my computer to recognize my Bluetooth dongle?

Reinstall the Bluetooth adapter card in the computer. Turn on the computer. If the computer detects the Bluetooth adapter, it should automatically be reinstalled. Check in the Device Manager to verify the Bluetooth adapter was reinstalled.

Why my Bluetooth dongle is not working with Windows 10?

(1) Please check if the device normally shows on the Device Manager. (2) Try to insert Bluetooth USB Adapter into a different USB port and different computers. If it still doesn't work, please restart the computer and check again. (3) Make sure there are no other Bluetooth devices on the computer.