What is Bluetoothhow Bluetooth worksand how to get it on a PC

Bluetooth is one of those technologies you probably use daily without thinking too much about it. Maybe it’s for your wireless headphonesa smartwatchor your car’s infotainment system. Did you happen to ask yourself questions like “What is Bluetooth?” on your computeror maybe “What is Bluetooth used for?” or even “Why is it called Bluetooth?”. In this guideI’ll try to answer all those questions as clearly as possible. I’ll also tell you how you can add Bluetooth to a PChow it worksand how it evolved from a simple wireless standard into something nearly every device supports. Interested? Thenread on:

What is Bluetooth? A definition in simple terms

Bluetooth is a wireless form of radio communication designed for transferring data over short-range distances between different types of devices. Bluetooth works using radio signals on the 2.4 GHz frequencythe same as the Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) and Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) wireless networking standards. The Bluetooth branding Source: Bluetooth Technology Website Howeverit’s designed to consume less power and cover shorter distances. That makes it ideal for things like sending files between smartphonesconnecting a wireless mouse to a laptopor streaming music to a headset or a portable speaker.

How does Bluetooth work?

So now you know what Bluetooth is. The next obvious question is: How does Bluetooth work exactly between two devices? The answer is relatively simple: when two or more devices connect and communicate over Bluetooththe data exchanged between them is sent via radio waves. Unlike usual Wi-Fi connectionsBluetooth connections are directmeaning that the devices that transmit data this way do it directly from one to the otherwithout an intermediary like a router or access point. Bluetooth connections are made directly between deviceswithout intermediaries Source: Davide Boscolo on Unsplash When two Bluetooth-enabled devices are within range of one anotherthey can automatically detect each otherand you can pair/connect them. What is Bluetooth pairingyou ask? Pairing two Bluetooth devices is a sort of a handshake or an exchange of information between them. Just like when you meet someone newand you introduce yourselves to know who you’re talking withso do Bluetooth devices reveal their identity. In other wordsBluetooth pairing allows the devices involved to register and memorize the identity of the other. ObviouslyBluetooth pairing only needs to happen once; afterwardBluetooth connections are established almost instantly between previously paired devices. Bluetooth pairing earphones with a Samsung Galaxy smartphone After establishing a line of communicationdata can be sent over 79 different radio frequencies within the 2.4 GHz band. While at firstthe Bluetooth-enabled devices randomly choose only one of these frequenciesonce the connection is madethey will jump from one frequency to another multiple times every second.

What types of Bluetooth are there? What’s Bluetooth’s range?

There are four main types of Bluetooth radiosfrom Class 1 to Class 4:

1. Class 1 Bluetooth is used in industrial environments. It provides a range of up to 100 meters (328 feet)but it uses quite a bit of electrical power - 100 mW.
2. Class 2 Bluetooth is the most commonespecially on mobile devicesas it uses only 2.5 mW of power and provides a range of up to 10 meters (33 feet).
3. Class 3 uses 1 mW of power and provides a range of only 1 meter (3.3 feet).
4. Class 4 can use a maximum of 0.5 mW of power and has a range of fewer than 0.5 meters (1.64 feet).

The Bluetooth logo (symbol)

What devices use Bluetooth?

Bluetooth technology is used in many different types of devices. Some devices with Bluetooth radio chips are not even close to what you might think of as Bluetooth-enabled. Among many other types of devicesyou can find Bluetooth in:

• Smartphones - The most common use of Bluetooth is to allow smartphones to communicate with each otherwith computersand with other devices like headsets or portable speakers.
• Computerslaptopsand tablets - Many tablets and notebooksas well as many desktop computershave Bluetooth radio chips. You can use them to connect mobile keyboardsmicewireless headphonesand other gadgets.
• Gaming consoles - Bluetooth is also present on gaming consoles. For exampleyou can link the Nintendo Switch and the Sony PlayStation controllers to their respective consoles through Bluetoothin addition to cable.
• Other devices - Bluetooth can also be used by wireless home entertainment systemsaudio car systemsand personal health devices such as smartwatchesheart rate monitorsNike+ training shoesetc.

Devices that can connect via Bluetooth TIP: If you’re using Windows 11 and want to try it outhere’s how to turn on Bluetooth on your laptop.

What versions of Bluetooth standards are there?

Bluetooth specifications change over timegetting new powers and features and adjusting to modern requirements. HoweverBluetooth versions are formalized into standards created by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG)an alliance of over 30,000 companies worldwide (I discuss a bit more about them later in this article). If you’re curious about the Bluetooth version your device supportsor if you’re shopping for an adapter and want the best oneyou should know what the major versions offer. At the momentthere are six main Bluetooth versions:

Bluetooth 1.0 to 3.0: Early versions

The earliest versionBluetooth 1.0was a bit rough. Initiallyit had many issuesbut the later iterationsBluetooth 1.1 and Bluetooth 1.2fixed many of them. The fastest data transmission speed you could achieve with it was 732.2 kbit/s. It workedbut it was slow and unreliable. The next iterationBluetooth 2.0was released in 2004 and was capable of data transmissions of up to 2.1 Mbit/s. On July 262007Bluetooth 2.1 appearedoffering better security and a superior pairing experience. Bluetooth 3.0 came out on April 212009and promised theoretical data transfer speeds of up to 3 Mbit/s natively and up to 24 Mbit/s when using its new enhanced Wi-Fi mode. It could be pretty fastbut in real lifeit proved to be quite unstable and also battery-draining. You might still find it todayalbeit only on some low-end smartphones and other portable devices. An old Galaxy Tab 7.7 that used Bluetooth 3.0 Source: Samsung

Bluetooth 4.0 to 4.2: Efficiency first

The big leap came with Bluetooth 4.0a standard that significantly improved over Bluetooth 3.0 and introduced Bluetooth Low Energya version that’s highly power-efficient. In other wordsit is perfect for smartwatchesfitness bandsand other small gadgets that run on tiny batteries. It was adopted on June 302010 and was later updated with 4.1 and 4.2which added better support for internet-connected devicesimproved securityand smoother performance. Bluetooth 4.1 came out on December 42013. It added coexistence support for 4G LTEwhich meant that Bluetooth transmissions no longer interfered with other wireless technologies. The old Motorola Nexus 6 had Bluetooth 4.1 Bluetooth 4.2 was released on December 22014 and brought with it several new features and upgradesaimed at making Bluetooth connections both smarter and more secure. For instanceit added support for IPv6allowing IoT (Internet of Things) devices that support Bluetooth Low Energy to connect to the internet without hubs. It also improved security and privacy by making it more difficult for third parties to track devices.

Bluetooth 5.0 to 5.4: Improved rangehigher speedmore features

These are the Bluetooth standards most common today. Bluetooth 5.0 was released on June 162016. Compared to Bluetooth 4.2which brought better internet connectivity and securityBluetooth 5.0 doubled the data speed from 1 Mbps to 2 Mbpsand quadrupled the range. The latter can now extend to up to 240 meters (800 feet)albeit in ideal conditions only. A JBL portable speaker with Bluetooth 5.1 Source: JBL Over the next yearsBluetooth 5.1, 5.25.3and 5.4 updates were also releasedadding new features such as faster connection initiation and LE Audio (Low Energy Audio). Bluetooth 5.1 and 5.2 came out in 2019on January 21 and December 31while Bluetooth 5.3 was published on July 132021and Bluetooth 5.4 was launched on February 72023. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus comes with Bluetooth 5.3

Bluetooth 6.0 and 6.1: Enhanced precision and better privacy

Bluetooth 6.0 came out on September 32024. It makes it easier for devices to know exactly where other Bluetooth devices are. It also adds a new feature that helps measure distance more accuratelywhich is great for things like smart locks or tracking tags. While there aren’t any on the market right nowfuture devices supporting Bluetooth 6.0 will also use less battery and avoid interference by filtering out signals they don’t need. Bluetooth 6 will be great for tracking devices Source: Samsung Announced on May 72025Bluetooth 6.1 improves privacy and power use. It changes how your device hides its identitymaking it harder for others to track you. It also does this in a more efficient wayso your battery lasts a bit longer.

Comparison table of Bluetooth versions

To better understand how Bluetooth has evolved over the yearshere’s a comparison of all major and minor versionsincluding their maximum speedsrangeand each version’s key features: Comparison table of Bluetooth versions As you can seeeach new version of Bluetooth builds on the previous oneadding faster speedslonger rangeand new features.

What is the difference between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth?

Both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are ways of transferring data wirelessly. Howeverthe differences between them are significant:

• Bluetooth is designed to allow devices to communicate wirelessly over short distancesusually about 10 meters. In contrastWi-Fi allows for a much broader range (tens to hundreds of meters).
• The number of devices that can connect via Bluetooth simultaneously is limited. Wi-Fi allows for a much higher number of simultaneously connected devices.
• Two devices can connect via Bluetooth directlyin a simple manner. When it comes to Wi-Fiyou usually need a third devicelike a wireless router or wireless access pointto help connect them.
• Bluetooth requires only a small amount of power to run. The added benefits of Wi-Fisuch as higher coverage and data transfer speedtranslate into much higher power consumption.
• Bluetooth security protocols are not as advanced as the ones available on Wi-Fi.

What are the disadvantages of Bluetooth?

You know now that Bluetooth is a form of wireless communication between devicesand using it has some downsides. Here are the most prominent ones:

• Bluetooth usually works for short-range communication only
• The bandwidth offered by Bluetooth connections is low
• Bluetooth security is improvingbut Wi-Fi is still much more secure
• In real lifeBluetooth connections can sometimes drop without any obvious reason
• Different versions of Bluetooth might not be compatible with each other (for examplea device with Bluetooth 5 might not be able to connect to a Bluetooth 3 device)

Should Bluetooth be left on all the time?

The answer to this question is a mixed onein my opinion. It all depends on whether you permanently leave Bluetooth activated on a device plugged into a power socket or on a gadget running on battery. Why is that? As long as Bluetooth is enabled on your deviceit continuously scans for other available Bluetooth-enabled devices to connect to. That means that the Bluetooth chip in your device permanently draws electrical power to run. It’s not a problem if your device is plugged into an electrical socket. Howeverkeeping Bluetooth active on a battery-powered devicesuch as a smartphone or tabletdrains your battery a bit faster. Furthermoreif your devices are olderthe Bluetooth version on them might not excel in terms of security; each moment you keep it onyou might risk getting hacked. In conclusionif you have new devicesit’s okay to leave Bluetooth on. If your devices are olderyou should consider turning Bluetooth off when you’re not using it. Should you leave Bluetooth on? TIP: Turning Bluetooth on or off in Android is very simple. If you’re not sure how to do itthis tutorial explains how to enable or disable Bluetooth on Android devicesincluding Samsung phones.

Does my PC have Bluetooth?

Are you wondering whether your PC has Bluetooth or not? Finding out is easyand there is more than one way to do it: A simple method to check if your PC has Bluetooth is by trying to enable it. You can do this fast from Windows’ quick settingsas well as in the Settings app. Bluetooth in Windows 11 Or you can check whether your PC has a Bluetooth chip. Open Device Manager and look for an entry called Bluetooth. If you find itthen your PC has Bluetooth. Bluetooth chip listed in Device Manager on Windows 11 TIP: If you’re planning to use a wireless keyboard or mouseI’ve already explained how to connect such Bluetooth accessories to your PC.

How to get Bluetooth on a PC?

Bluetooth is included in almost every smartphone and tablet. It is also found on all modern laptops. Howevernot all desktop computers come with Bluetooth chips. Do you want to know how to get Bluetooth on your PC? Did your teacher ask you to “describe three ways in which a computer can become Bluetooth enabled?”. 🙂 Here are all the answers: If your PC or device does not have Bluetoothyou can make it Bluetooth-enabled using one of these means:

• Buy a Bluetooth USB adapter and plug it into a free USB port on your PC or device.
• UsuallyBluetooth chips are built into Wi-Fi network cardsso you can buy a wireless adapter card and mount it on your desktop PC or laptop.
• Although rare these daysyou could also buy a Wi-Fi + Bluetooth ExpressCard module that you can mount on some older notebooks if they support such modules.

Out of all three options to make a PC Bluetooth-enabledthe most common one is using a Bluetooth USB adapter. Such adapters can be found in almost any tech shopincluding Amazon. A Bluetooth USB adapter for PCs made by TP-Link When purchasing a Bluetooth USB dongleplease pay attention to the Bluetooth version it supports. You should get one that works with at least Bluetooth 4preferably Bluetooth 5 or 6. The cheaper USB adapters provide support only for Bluetooth version 3 or even 2.1 and not the newer versions. The more expensive adapters tend to provide support for the latest versions. Here are a few recommendations to get you started in your search for Bluetooth USB adapters: TP-Link USB Bluetooth Adapter for PC and ASUS USB-BT500 Bluetooth 5.0 USB Adapter. Installing such devices is generally a plug-and-play experience. Connect the Bluetooth adapter to a USB portand Windows detects it and installs its drivers automatically. Thenyou can start using the device. If that does not happenyou need to search for drivers on the manufacturer’s website. Once Bluetooth is installed and working on your computeryou should see its blue icon in the notification area on your taskbar. Bluetooth should also become available in the Quick settings and in the Settings app. If it is not therethe installation was not performed correctlyor you don’t have a Bluetooth device. Bluetooth icon shown in Windows 11's taskbar And if you’re using an iPhone or iPad and you’re not sure how to connect accessorieshere’s how to pair Bluetooth devices with Apple devices.

Who invented Bluetoothand why is it called that? (A concise history)

Bluetooth was invented by the Swedish company Ericsson in 1994. Since 1998the standard has been managed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) - a body that oversees the development of Bluetooth standards and the licensing of Bluetooth technologies and trademarks to manufacturers. Bluetooth Special Interest Group The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) organization is focused on developing the standarddesigning new versionsimproving specificationsand protecting Bluetooth trademarks. The Bluetooth SIG does not manufacture or sell Bluetooth-enabled products. This is handled by the companies that are part of the group. If a company is interested in licensing Bluetooth technologiesit must become a member of the Bluetooth SIG. This also involves going through a rigid certification process. “Bluetooth” was the codename of the SIG organization when it was first formed. It is inspired by the 10th-century Danish King Harald Blåtand - or Harold Bluetooth in English. He was the first king who united warring factions in parts of what is now NorwaySwedenand Denmark. If you would like to learn more about him and his deedsyou should check his Wikipedia entry: Harald “Bluetooth” Gormsson. Harald Bluetooth Gormsson

How do you use Bluetooth?

Before closing this tutorialI’m curious to know how you use Bluetooth on your computers and devices. Do you connect Bluetooth devices like portable speakers or headsets to your laptop or smartphone? Maybe you use a fitness trackera Bluetooth mouseor smart gadgets around the house. Comment belowand let’s talk about Bluetooth and how you use this technology.