Wireless technology allows one or several computers to connect to printers, copiers, and other devices without needing to string cable across a room. Most new desktops and laptops can connect devices wirelessly through Bluetooth technology with a Bluetooth antenna built into the computer.
However, if your system doesn’t have a Bluetooth antenna, you can still connect it by finding the best USB Bluetooth adapter for Windows 10 for your desktop or laptop.
Comparison Table
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How To Use A Bluetooth Adapter
image source: Pexels
Setting up a Windows 10 computer with Bluetooth is a simple task because Windows 10 has the necessary drivers for connecting it to the software. An adapter, also known as a dongle, is the hardware that is necessary to connect to Bluetooth. All you need to do is plug the adapter into a free USB port and then pair the Bluetooth devices to your system.
However, before buying an adapter, you need to know which Bluetooth version to buy. To use a system with Windows 10, you will need an adapter that has Bluetooth 3.0 or 4.0 on it. Otherwise, it may not connect the devices to your system. Also, to make sure it has the drivers on your system, go into the Device Manager to check for a Bluetooth Network Connection.
If the computer has that listed, you are ready to plug the adapter into an available USB port and start pairing your devices. If you don’t have any open USB ports, you can buy a USB hub or expansion card to get one to use.
Some of the devices you can pair to your computer using Bluetooth connectivity include:
Pairing Devices With Windows
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To pair one of these devices to your Windows computer once the adapter is plugged in, you need to place the device in “Discovery” mode. With a headset, keyboard, or speaker, there is usually a button you can press and hold down for a moment that will start the device seeking the Bluetooth connection.
Once some devices are turned on, they will automatically go into a Discovery mode. Many of these devices have an indicator light that tells you if it is in Discovery mode. In Windows, you can help devices find the PC by going into the Control Panel and changing the Bluetooth settings. Click "Change Bluetooth Settings" and then, "Allow Bluetooth devices to find this PC."
Once the Bluetooth device discovers your computer, a small Bluetooth icon should appear, or you can go to the Control Panel to manage Bluetooth devices to ensure the printer, headset, or whatever the device happens to be is listed there.
How We Chose Our Ratings
To find the best USB Bluetooth adapters, we read about each choice and the reviews and testimonials from people who bought them to find the list of the best ones to recommend to our readers. We then gave each device a star rating from one to five stars, with five being the best, to help people choose the best adapter for their Windows 10 system.
Top 10 - Best USB Bluetooth Adapter
for Windows 10
Here are the 10 adapters that we found to connect Bluetooth to a Windows 10 laptop or desktop.
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Whether you have a laptop or desktop PC that needs a Bluetooth dongle, you can use this TECHKEY USB Bluetooth 4.0 adapter on either type of device. It provides support for Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, and Linux systems that don’t have it. Additionally, it adds Bluetooth 4.0 support for Low Energy Bluetooth technology for Windows 8, 8.1, and 10.
The adapter is compact and can be left in a laptop while traveling with it. It will connect to a variety of devices like headsets, keyboards, mice, speakers, and others. It is also compatible with Ubuntu and Raspbian for Raspberry Pi. This device will not work with Mac systems, TVs, or car stereos.
It provides a Bluetooth signal up to 33 feet away, and it has a data transfer rate of three Mbps with EDS or Enhanced Data Support.
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If you need to add Bluetooth to your desktop or laptop PC, this adapter can do that for Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP, and Windows 2000. It is also compatible with Linux laptop and desktop computers, as well as Raspberry Pi. It does not work with Mac OS, TVs, or car stereos.
The data transfer speed on this adapter is three Mbps, and it has a working range of 33 feet. It should be connected through a USB 2.0 port as USB 3.0 can cause some interference. It will connect to several Bluetooth devices and services like:
This Bluetooth 4.0 adapter uses the latest Low Energy technology, and it is backward compatible with Bluetooth versions 3.0, 2.1, 2.0 and 1.1. HIGHEVER offers a 24-month warranty on this device.
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Add Bluetooth connectivity to your desktop or laptop computer by installing this USB Bluetooth 4.0 adapter. It is compatible with 32- and 64-bit Windows computers, versions 10, 8.1, 8. 7. Vista, and XP. It does not work with iOS or Mac OS, car stereos, or TVs.
It has a wireless range of up to 33 feet, and it provides high-speed data and audio transmissions. It works with USB 2.0, and it is compatible with USB 1.1. It has low power consumption, so it won't use up too much energy when it is connecting your system to Bluetooth devices. The adapter has an indicator light to let you know when it Is working.
It connects to Bluetooth devices like:
It does not support mics, HP Elite Book, or Wi-Fi Pinter. It is also compatible with the XBOX One S and PS3/4 Controllers.
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If you need a Bluetooth dongle for your Windows 10 laptop or desktop PC, the Avantree USB adapter is an Amazon's Choice device. It is also compatible with Windows 8.1, 8, 7, and Windows Vista systems. It is compatible with a wide range of Bluetooth devices, although it will not work with 2.4G devices like a mouse.
For Windows 10 and 8, it is a plug and play device. You need to plug it into an available USB port, and it will install itself. However, for other Windows systems, you will need to add the driver from Avantree’s support site or the install it from the CD that comes with the device.
This dongle comes with 24-months of support and warranty. You can choose to buy a dongle just for Windows 10, or they have one available for all compatible versions of Windows.
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This ZEXMTE USB Bluetooth adapter is Amazon’s Choice for a Bluetooth desktop adapter. It is a Bluetooth v4.0 dongle that is compatible with Windows 10, 8.1, 8. 7, XP, and Vista. It does not work with TVs, Mac OS systems, or car stereos. It is not compatible with 2.4G wireless technology.
For Windows 10, 8.1, and 8, the adapter is plug and play, but for Windows 7 and prior versions, a driver needs to be added to connect Bluetooth to your desktop. The dongle uses the latest Low Energy Bluetooth technology, and it is compatible with other Bluetooth versions, including 3.0, 2.1, 2.0, and 1.
Although most Bluetooth devices will connect to your system once the adapter is in place, some products like the Bose QC35 require a special driver downloaded to your system before it can connect. It connects from far away as 33 feet, and it runs at a speed of 3Mpbs.
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Kinivo’s BTD-400 dongle helps to connect your desktop or laptop to Bluetooth devices like headphones, printers, stereo speakers, and smartphones. Along with new Bluetooth devices, it is also compatible with older equipment that accepts low energy technology Bluetooth v4.0.
It is compatible with both 32- and 64-bit Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, and XP. It is also compatible with Raspberry Pi and Linux systems that do not have built-in Bluetooth. It provides plug and play installation for Windows 10, 8.1, and 8, and the driver for all other Windows versions, plus Raspberry Pi. The wireless range for Raspberry is 10 meters or 30 feet.
The company offers a two-year warranty on the device and the support for the adapter is based in the United States.
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The tiny dongle with Plugable allows your Windows 10, 8.1, 8, or Windows 7 computer to use Bluetooth connectivity available on many devices. It is also compatible with Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora, and other Linux computers.
While it is plug and play for most versions of Windows, special drivers will need to be added for Windows 7 to use it with Bose devices like the QC35 and others. This adapter will not work on Mac computers, for TVs, or in cars.
The company offers a full one-year warranty on the adapter, and its email support is in the US.
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This ASUS USB Bluetooth adapter is compatible with several versions of Windows including:
It supports USB 2.0 and Bluetooth v4.0. For Windows 10, the adapter is plug and play as the OS will automatically recognize it, but for the other versions of Windows, the driver needs to be installed to use Bluetooth on the system.
It also supports Bluetooth Low Energy devices to reduce power consumption. It has full backward compatibility with Bluetooth v3.0, 2.1, and 2.0, so it can connect to a wide variety of devices using Bluetooth connectivity.
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This small adapter allows you to add Bluetooth technology to your Windows 10, 8.1, or 8 desktop or laptop. It uses Bluetooth Low Energy Technology to save on power consumption when you’re using a Bluetooth device like a printer, headset, smartphone, or mouse.
Although this is Bluetooth version 4.0, it is also compatible with v3.0, 2.1, 2.0, and 1.1. Along with being compatible with Windows computers, this Bluetooth adapter is compatible with Linux systems as well. Sabrent offers a 1-year warranty on the adapter, but if you register it within the first 90-days, then they will extend the warranty to two years for free.
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Rocketek offers a Low Energy USB Bluetooth adapter that is compatible with Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP. It is plug and play for Windows versions 7 and above, but you will need to download Bluetooth drivers for Windows XP and Vista.
This adapter will work with both desktop and laptop PC with these Windows versions. You can connect seven devices with one adapter like speakers, printers, headsets, phones, and more. It has a wireless range of 30 feet or 10 meters.
Along with having the latest Bluetooth v4.0 Class 2 low energy technology, the adapter also works with older Bluetooth devices. The tiny adapter carries a 12-year manufacturer’s warranty. Rocketek also offers an adapter compatible with Linux OS and an EDR wireless receiver for Bluetooth.
Buyers Guide
The best USB Bluetooth adapter for Windows 10 is a plug and play device, so when you connect it to the USB port, it will detect the Bluetooth Network, and you can start connecting the Bluetooth devices you have to your computer.
image source: Pexels
However, if you have certain versions of Windows, such as 7, XP, or Vista, then you will need to download drivers to use Bluetooth. Also, check to make sure your USB port is 2.0. A USB 3.0 port can infer with the signal, and you may not be able to use your Bluetooth devices with that type of port.
Knowing which Bluetooth and USB versions to look for can save a lot of frustration when trying to use wireless devices with your desktop or laptop computer.
