How to Add Bluetooth to a PC: 3 Simple Ways in 2026
The short answer: most desktop PCs do not have Bluetooth built in, so you add it with hardware. The easiest way is a plug-and-play USB Bluetooth adapter (from £10). For better range and Wi-Fi as well, fit an internal Wi-Fi + Bluetooth card. And if you are buying a new machine, the tidiest option is to have it built in from the start. This guide from our Wolverhampton workshop walks through all three, plus how to check whether your PC already has Bluetooth.
Buying a new PC and want Bluetooth ready to go? Call Kevin on 01902 714533 and he will spec the right board so your desktop has fast Wi-Fi and Bluetooth as standard.
The 3 Ways to Add Bluetooth to a Desktop PC
You cannot add Bluetooth with software alone, it needs a small piece of hardware. Here are the three ways to give your computer Bluetooth, plus how to check whether it already has it.
1. USB Bluetooth Adapter
The quickest and cheapest way. A small USB dongle plugs into a spare USB port and, on Windows 11 or 10, sets itself up in seconds. From £10, it is the best way to add Bluetooth to a PC for most people. This is the route to choose if you want it done in minutes with no case opening.
2. Internal Wi-Fi + Bluetooth Card
An internal card fits into a spare PCIe slot and adds Wi-Fi and Bluetooth together, with external aerials for stronger, more reliable range than a dongle. Cards such as the Intel AX210 add Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3; the newer BE200 adds Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. Typically £20 to £40.
3. M.2 Wi-Fi + Bluetooth Module
Many motherboards have a small M.2 Key-E slot made for a Wi-Fi + Bluetooth module. If yours does, and it has the aerial mounts on the rear panel, a module here is the neatest internal option because it uses no PCIe slot. It adds the same Bluetooth versions as the PCIe cards above.
Already Built In?
Some higher-tier motherboards ship with fast Wi-Fi and Bluetooth as standard, so you may already have it. It is worth two minutes to check before you buy anything. We show exactly how to check on Windows 11 and 10 further down the page.
Which Method is Right for You?
An honest comparison of the ways to make your PC Bluetooth capable.
Not sure which route suits your machine? Call Kevin on 01902 714533 and he will give you a straight answer, no sales pitch.
How to Check if Your PC Already Has Bluetooth
Before you buy anything, spend two minutes checking whether your desktop is already Bluetooth compatible. Higher-tier motherboards often include it, so you may not need to add anything at all. Here is how to check whether your PC is Bluetooth compatible on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
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Press the Windows key and type "Bluetooth", then open "Bluetooth and other devices" from the results.
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If you see a Bluetooth on/off toggle, your PC already has it. Switch it on and start pairing your devices, no hardware needed.
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If there is no toggle, only an "Add device" that does nothing, you have no Bluetooth radio yet. That is normal on desktops, and the fix is one of the adapters below.
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Want to be sure? Open Device Manager and look for a "Bluetooth" heading. No heading means no Bluetooth hardware is fitted.
How to Install Bluetooth on Your PC
Three steps that cover both the USB dongle and the internal card. Whichever you choose, Windows does most of the work.
Choose Your Adapter
For most people, a USB Bluetooth dongle is the best way, cheap and simple. If you also want Wi-Fi, or you want the strongest, most reliable range, choose an internal Wi-Fi + Bluetooth card instead. Both give your PC Bluetooth capability.
Plug It In or Fit the Card
For a USB adapter, put it in a spare USB port and you are done. For an internal card, switch off and unplug the PC, open the side panel, seat the card in a free PCIe or M.2 slot, secure it with its screw, attach the aerials, then close the case back up.
Let Windows Set It Up, Then Pair
Windows 11 and 10 install the drivers for most adapters on their own. If yours is not recognised, install the driver on the disc or from the maker's website, then run Windows Update. Open "Bluetooth and other devices", switch it on, and pair your headset, controller, or keyboard.
Adding Bluetooth to a machine we built, or not sure which adapter fits your board? Call Kevin on 01902 714533 and he will tell you exactly what to buy.
Do Gaming PCs Come With Bluetooth?
Not always, and it is worth knowing why. To keep a build keenly priced, most PCs start on a good-value motherboard, and those entry boards usually do not include Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. That is true across the industry, not only at Ginger6. The good news is that when you configure a system on our website, you have two easy ways to get Bluetooth from day one.
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Add USB Wi-Fi and Bluetooth dongles to your order (from around £10). The quick, low-cost route, ready to use the moment your PC arrives.
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Upgrade the motherboard to a higher-tier board with fast Wi-Fi and Bluetooth as standard (typically £40 to £50). This is the route we usually recommend, because a better board brings more than wireless.
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A better board also gives you more memory slots for future RAM, multiple M.2 slots for extra fast SSDs, and more and better USB ports and connectivity, all built in and neatly out of sight.
Either way, we fit and test it for you, so there are no dongles to set up or cards to install yourself. Every Ginger6 PC is hand-built and stress-tested for 24 hours before it ships, backed by a 3-year warranty.
Adding Bluetooth: What to Choose
Three clear routes, depending on whether you are fixing an existing PC or buying a new one.
Still not sure? Call Kevin on 01902 714533. The person who answers is the person who builds your machine, so you get a straight answer.
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Common Questions About Adding Bluetooth
The easiest way is a USB Bluetooth adapter: plug the dongle into a spare USB port and Windows 11 or 10 sets it up in seconds, usually for around £10. For better range and Wi-Fi as well, fit an internal Wi-Fi and Bluetooth card into a spare PCIe or M.2 slot. If you are buying a new PC, you can have Bluetooth built in from the start by choosing a board that includes it. All three give your desktop full Bluetooth capability.
Press the Windows key, type "Bluetooth", and open "Bluetooth and other devices". If you see an on/off toggle, your PC already has Bluetooth and you can switch it on and start pairing. If there is no toggle, your desktop has no Bluetooth radio fitted yet, which is normal, and you add it with a USB adapter or an internal card. To be certain, open Device Manager and look for a "Bluetooth" heading.
Only if the hardware is already there. Bluetooth needs a physical radio, so you cannot add it with software or a download alone. The exception is a motherboard that already has Bluetooth built in, in which case you simply switch it on in Windows. If your board has no Bluetooth, you need a USB dongle, an internal card, or an M.2 module to give the PC a radio.
A USB dongle is the best way for most people: it is cheap, plug and play, and needs no case opening. An internal Wi-Fi and Bluetooth card is better if you also want Wi-Fi, or you want the strongest and most reliable range, because it uses external aerials rather than a small dongle. The card costs a little more and means opening the case, but you get Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in one tidy install.
Two ways. If your motherboard has a spare PCIe slot, fit a PCIe Wi-Fi and Bluetooth card and attach its aerials to the rear panel. If it has an M.2 Key-E slot, made specifically for wireless, fit an M.2 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module there instead, which uses no PCIe slot. Both add Bluetooth 5.3 or 5.4. If you would rather not open the machine, a USB dongle does the job without touching the board at all.
Not always. To keep prices keen, many gaming PCs start on a good-value motherboard that does not include Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. When you configure a Ginger6 PC you have two easy ways to get it: add USB Wi-Fi and Bluetooth dongles to your order, or upgrade to a higher-tier board that has fast Wi-Fi and Bluetooth as standard. The board upgrade also brings more memory slots, extra M.2 SSD slots, and better USB connectivity, so it is the route we usually recommend.
For headsets, controllers, keyboards, and mice, any modern adapter is fine. USB dongles typically offer Bluetooth 5.0 to 5.3, which handles everything most people connect. Internal Wi-Fi and Bluetooth cards go up to Bluetooth 5.4 and add the latest Wi-Fi at the same time. Higher version numbers mainly improve range, efficiency, and multi-device handling, so there is no need to chase the newest number for everyday use.
Yes. When you configure a custom PC with us, tell us you want Bluetooth and we will either add USB Wi-Fi and Bluetooth dongles or fit a board with fast Wi-Fi and Bluetooth as standard, whichever suits your budget. We fit and test it for you, so it works out of the box. Call Kevin on 01902 714533 with your games, monitor, and budget. Every build is hand-assembled in Wolverhampton, stress-tested for 24 hours, and backed by a 3-year warranty.
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Build a Custom PCWant Bluetooth Sorted Without the Faff?
Whether you add a dongle to an existing machine or have us build a new PC with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth as standard, we will make sure it works from the moment you switch on. Every Ginger6 build is hand-assembled in Wolverhampton, stress-tested for 24 hours, and backed by a 3-year warranty. The person who answers your call is the same person who builds your machine.