What Are Bluetooth Drivers?
Bluetooth drivers are also referred to as a Bluetooth stack, and can be divided into two different categories- general purpose and embedded system. General purpose drivers are used mainly for desktop computers and are written with emphasis on richness and flexibility.
There are countless Bluetooth general purpose stacks, such as Windows, EtherMind, Toshiba, BlueSoleil, and BlueFritz. Embedded drivers, however, are strictly intended for devices that have limited resources and limited demands, such as cell phones. Embedded drivers include BlueMagic, IwBT, and Bluetopia.
Windows stacks only support external or integrated Bluetooth dongles attached through a USB port. It does not support Bluetooth radio connections, but it does support Bluetooth radio. There can’t be more than one stack installed on a Windows computer. Switching stacks usually requires uninstalling the current program and then installing a separate driver.
Windows XP comes with Bluetooth drivers already installed, starting with the Service Pack 2 update, which was released in 2006. Windows Vista is improved with adequate frequency hopping so that Bluetooth hardware can coexist with Wi-Fi connections. Windows vista supports a kernel mode for device driver interface which enables third-parties to add support for additional Bluetooth profiles.
BlueMagic is highly portable embedded Bluetooth software that powers Apple’s phone and other Qualcomm powered devices, like the Motorola RAZR. BlueMagic can also go with products by Logitech, Samsung, LG, and others of the like. IwBT is an open source Bluetooth protocol stack. Open source usually means access to the said product’s source materials.
What happens when you don’t have the correct Bluetooth driver installed? Well, your computer may fail to recognize the Bluetooth device. When the driver is missing or installed incorrectly, the means for communicating with your Bluetooth device disappears. A computer is not an intelligent form of life, and it needs help to read what it should.
If your Bluetooth fails to be recognized, you can try switching the USB port, or replacing the batteries. If there are multiple Bluetooth device on your computer, try removing the ones you aren’t troubleshooting. Remove any USB devices. You can also make sure the Bluetooth device is enabled, and running.
Bluetooth drivers help make Bluetooth what it is. It enables computers, cell phones, and wireless ear pieces to communicate with one another. There are plenty of Bluetooth drivers, and whichever one you choose depends on what system you have, be it Windows Vista or Windows XP. Phones are fairly simple, as most phones already come Bluetooth enabled.
How to update Bluetooth drivers
Drivers are updated frequently as changes to existing technology are implemented or new technologies arise. The Bluetooth device must be able to comply with the changes and recognize new technology in order to cooperate with other devices. Without the updated driver, your Bluetooth device may not function with new technology or comply with updated platforms. Drivers can be difficult to find and once they are found, can be tricky to install.
Right-click on the Start button to open the WinX Menu.
Select Device Manager to open the following tool.
Here you can uninstall, disable, rollback or update Device Drivers.
Locate Bluetooth and double-click on it to expand it.
You will see the Bluetooth driver/s installed. Select the one you want to update and right-click on it.
The menu will show you the option to Update the driver. Select it to open the following wizard.
You may opt for either one of these:
Search automatically for updated driver software
Browse my computer for driver software.
If you have the driver file on your computer, you can select Browse my computer for driver software.
Browse to and select the driver software file on your hard disk and click OK to proceed.
It is recommended to select Search automatically for updated driver software and let Windows identify, download and install the driver.
You may click on OK and exit or select Search for updated drivers on Windows Update.
In this way, you will be able to update your Bluetooth driver.