Connecting Android Devices to Windows 7 via Bluetooth

Question

I'm trying to connect both of my Android devices to my Windows 7 laptop, to see what I can do with them (file transfer, bluetooth tethering, etc.)

Here is the hardware I'm working with:

• Samsung Series 5 Laptop - Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 / fully patched
  • Intel(R) Centrino(R) Wireless Bluetooth(R) 3.0 + High Speed Adapter
  • Driver: Intel - 2011/12/09 - 1.0.90.20620
• Samsung Galaxy Nexus with Google official Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean (unrooted)
• Asus / Google Nexus 7 with Google official Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean (unrooted)

The pairing process between the Android devices and Windows 7 works flawlessly. Here is what I'm doing to pair them:

1. Put the Android device into discoverable mode (Settings --> Bluetooth --> Tap device name)
2. Open Devices and Printers on Windows 7
3. Click Add Device
4. Select Android device in device list and click Next
5. When the pairing code is displayed, confirm on Windows 7 and Android device
6. Pairing is complete

The devices are paired. However, they never seem to connect to each other. I see the device's icon switch between being greyed out and opaque, on Windows 7 Devices and Printers briefly, and eventually it just goes grey. No matter how much I tap on the Windows 7 computer's name in the list of paired devices on the Android device, it does not re-establish a connection.

One function that I tested successfully, is sending a file using Bluetooth File Transfer (fsquirt.exe). When I attempted to send a file to one of my Android devices, initiated from that utility on Windows, the Android device prompted me to accept the file transfer. The Bluetooth icon on Android was still greyed out, however, which indicates to me that the devices are not connected to each other persistently.

Bottom line: Does anyone know how to use Android Bluetooth features with Windows 7?

Answer 1

I found Windows 7 Bluetooth lacking so I bought a third party package and have no problem using Windows 7 bluetooth with my Android devices. The package was by Blue Soleil

Answer 2

I located a solution from this youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZNPO1gMcoA and thought I would share here since this was the first result when I began looking for a solution.

The problem is that Windows does not detect the Bluetooth serial links automatically. You can manually point to the standard windows drivers by completing the following steps.

1. Go to Device Manager
2. Right click the item under Other Devices labeled Bluetooth Peripheral Device and click Update Driver Software
3. Click Browse my computer for...
4. Click Let me pick...
5. Select Ports (COM & LPT) and click Next
6. Navigate to and select Microsoft in the left field, pick Standard Serial over Bluetooth link on the right field, and click Next
7. Click OK on the driver install warning box and it should successfully install the driver

I am unsure of why windows cannot automatically detect this component and install the driver, but this solution worked for me. Hopefully it will for you as well.

Answer 3

The solution is fsquirt.exe as a previous poster said. Not the nice auto pilot thing we would like, I know. I just used this for xfer of SS to win7 pc. Link: http://plugable.com/2013/11/11/easy-way-to-use-bluetooth-to-exchange-files-with-your-phone-in-windows-fsquirt-guide/