Installing Wireless, Network, and Bluetooth Devices
You can connect most wireless, network, and Bluetooth devices to a computer, including wireless network, storage, phone, keyboard, mouse, and media-extender devices.
Often, these devices include installation software, but before you use
the installation software, you should be sure it is compatible with
Windows 8. If it isn’t, you should check the device manufacturer’s
website for updated software.
Some devices connect directly to a computer. Others connect to a
computer via a network. To connect a wireless or Bluetooth device
directly to a computer, do the following:
-
Most wireless and Bluetooth devices require you to connect a
receiver to the computer. Some devices might share a receiver. For
example, with a wireless keyboard and mouse desktop pack, you might
need to plug a shared receiver into a USB slot on the computer. -
Position the computer and receiver so that the receiver is within
range of the device you want to connect to. For example, a keyboard or
mouse might need to be within 6 feet of the receiver, but the receiver
for a wireless adapter might need to be within 100 feet of a wireless
router. -
Configure the device as necessary, and check that it is powered on. If you’re trying to add a wireless network device, it must be configured for your wireless network before you can add it to a computer. Some wireless
network devices need to be put into a discovery mode known as Wireless
Protected Setup (WPS) before they can be detected. -
The device should be detected and installed automatically. If the
device isn’t detected and installed, open Devices And Printers. In
Devices And Printers, be sure that the device isn’t already listed as
available. If the device isn’t available yet, tap or click Add Devices
And Printers, and then follow the prompts. -
If you have trouble connecting the device, try the following as part of troubleshooting:
-
Make sure the device isn’t turned off, low on battery power, or in
sleep mode. Some wireless devices have a button on them that you need
to push to force a connection. Others, such as a Bluetooth
phone, might have a setting in their software menu that you need to
select to make them available. The receiver for a device might also
have a button that you can press to force the receiver to scan for
compatible wireless devices. -
If wireless and Bluetooth capability is integrated into the
computer, make sure that the wireless or Bluetooth transmitter is
turned on. Many laptops have an external switch for turning the
transmitter on or off. -
If you suspect that the device is out of range, try moving it closer
to the computer. If there’s a wall between the device and the computer,
try putting the device and the computer in the same room. -
If a positional issue is causing the problem, you can resolve the
problem by moving the cables and devices that could be causing
electromagnetic interference, including power cables for other devices,
large speakers, or desk lamps. If the problem persists, make sure the
device is positioned away from air conditioning units, microwave ovens,
and so on.
To connect a wired or wireless device to a computer via a network, do the following:
-
Connect the device to the network and turn it on. Then configure its
initial settings as appropriate for the network. For example, you might
need to configure TCP/IP settings to use DHCP, or you might need to use
a static IP address. -
Wait up to 90 seconds for the device to be detected. The device
should be detected and installed automatically. If the device isn’t
detected and installed, open Devices And Printers. In Devices And
Printers, check whether the device is already listed as available. If
the device isn’t available yet, tap or click Add Devices And Printers,
and then follow the prompts. -
If you have trouble connecting the device, try the following as part of troubleshooting:
-
Make sure that a firewall isn’t blocking connectivity to the device.
You might need to open a firewall port to allow access between the
computer and the device. -
Make sure the device is turned on and connected to the same network
as the computer. If your network consists of multiple subnets connected
together, try to connect the device to the same network subnet. You can
determine the subnet by looking at the computer’s IP address. -
Make sure the device is configured to broadcast its presence on the network. Most network devices automatically do this. -
Make sure the network device has an IP address and proper network
settings. With DHCP, network routers assign IP addresses automatically
as devices connect to the network.
Note
Not all detectable devices can be added to a computer. To find out
if a device is able to be connected to your computer, check the
information that came with the device or go to the manufacturer’s
website.
Note
Network discovery
affects whether your computer can find other computers and devices on
the network and whether other computers on the network can find your
computer. By default, Windows Firewall blocks network discovery, but
you can enable it by following these steps:
-
In Control Panel, tap or click Network And Internet. -
Tap or click Network And Sharing Center. -
In the left pane, tap or click Change Advanced Sharing Settings. -
Under Network Discovery, tap or click Turn On Network Discovery for
the Domain profile (and/or other profiles as appropriate), and then tap
or click Save Changes.
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