Wireless Technologies

Before attempting to connect a wireless mouse and keyboard, it is important to determine the wireless technology used by your mouse or keyboard.

There are multiple methods of wireless connectivity that can be used by device makers to connect wireless devices to a computer or mobile device. Some devices are able to connect by more than one method, but most will only offer one connection method. This can be a problem since most wireless connection types are not compatible with each other. We'll start by going over the different types of wireless connectivity available, then discuss how to determine what connection method is being used by your device.

Proprietary 2.4GHz Wireless

While Bluetooth has become more common in recent years, it used to be much more common for wireless mice and keyboards to use a custom wireless solution. To some extent, it is still quite common to find wireless mice and keyboards that use a manufacturer's own wireless solution.

Most non-Bluetooth wireless mice and keyboards will come with a USB adapter included that is preprogrammed to connect to the device(s) they were bundled with. This is the first sign that the device isn't using Bluetooth.

Though solutions with proprietary 2.4GHz wireless solutions are restricted to connecting to devices with USB ports where their adapter can be connected, there are some advantages to these over Bluetooth solutions. In particular, proprietary wireless keyboards and mice are essentially the same to a PC as a wired version. This allows input devices with this wireless connection method to be used within a PC's BIOS configuration menus and in other situations where Bluetooth isn't working.

It is common for users with devices that use proprietary 2.4GHz wireless solutions to misplace their USB adapter and seek a replacement. Unfortunately, the only viable solution to replace it is to seek a replacement from the original manufacturer.

For Logitech peripherals in particular, their Logitech Unifying Receiver can be configured with software provided by Logitech to connect to multiple Logitech-branded peripherals.

Bluetooth

There are two distinct variations of Bluetooth. While it isn't necessarily important to distinguish between these variations on modern Windows and Linux releases, it is important to understand the difference when using Windows 7 and earlier, as well as older Linux distributions.

Bluetooth Classic

All versions of Bluetooth and their associated profiles, up to and including Bluetooth 3.0, are considered Bluetooth Classic. Bluetooth Classic is supported on Windows XP and above, and is widely compatible across Linux distros. Bluetooth mice and keyboards with this technology use the HID (Human Interface Device) profile.

Bluetooth Low Energy/Bluetooth Smart

With the release of Bluetooth 4.0, a new type of Bluetooth connectivity was released in the form of Bluetooth Low Energy (also branded as Bluetooth Smart). As the name implies, Bluetooth Low Energy connections strive for increased energy efficiency as compared to Bluetooth Classic. This means that devices using Bluetooth Low Energy connections will generally have longer battery life than their Bluetooth Classic counterparts.

The downside of Bluetooth Low Energy is that it must be supported on hosts and devices for them to function. Newer Bluetooth mice and keyboards use the HoG (Human Interface Device over Generic Attribute Profile) profile to connect over Bluetooth Low Energy. Because Bluetooth Low Energy support was never added to Windows prior to Windows 8.x, these devices are unable to connect to systems running Windows 7 or earlier.

Determine What Wireless Technology Your Keyboard/Mouse is Using

Unfortunately there aren't many quick ways of determining what type of connection your keyboard or mouse is using. Here are some of the indications you can use to determine what technology your mouse or keyboard is using.

• Product Name
  • Products with some form of Bluetooth will usually have Bluetooth in the name, and you will usually find a Bluetooth logo somewhere on the packaging or product page
  • Products using proprietary wireless connections will often just say 'Wireless' in the product name, and you will not find Bluetooth logos on product packaging or pages
• Product Specifications
  • In the product specifications, typically found on the manufacturer's website, you can likely find details regarding the wireless connection standard used
• Product Compatibility Information
  • Bluetooth mice and keyboards using Bluetooth Low Energy will usually explicitly mention that they are not compatible with Windows 7
• Adapter/Dongle Included
  • Mouse/keyboard products that come with their own adapter are almost always using a proprietary 2.4GHz wireless connection, rather than Bluetooth
  • Mouse/keyboard products that do not include an adapter are almost always using Bluetooth Classic or Bluetooth Low Energy
• Pairing/Connect Button
  • Most non-Bluetooth mice/keyboards do not have a button for pairing or connectivity on them
  • Some non-Bluetooth Logitech mice/keyboards will have a 'Connect' button for their proprietary Logitech Unifying Receiver. However, some Logitech devices support connecting over multiple wireless standards, including the Unifying Reciever and Bluetooth
  • Bluetooth mice and keyboards will usually have a pairing button of some kind
• Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group) Qualified Listings
  • Devices that are properly licensed to use Bluetooth technology should appear in the Bluetooth SIG qualified listings database . If your device is listed here, the listing will indicate what version of Bluetooth is used by the device
  • Non-Bluetooth devices will not appear in the Bluetooth SIG qualified listings database

Finding Keyboard/Mouse Model Information

Most ways of determining the type of connection used for wireless connectivity require knowing the name, manufacturer, and model of the device. If you are unsure of these details, here are some ways of finding this information.

• Labels
  • Check for labels on the underside of the keyboard or mouse
  • Sometimes labels with more information can be found inside the battery compartment, if the device uses replaceable batteries
• Printed Markings
  • Check all sides of the device for printed markings
• Order Details
  • If you ordered the device online, check your purchase history to find the product page for the device
• Packaging
  • If you still have the packaging for your mouse or keyboard, check for information on the packaging
• Device Manager (Windows Only)
  • If you managed to connect your keyboard/mouse at any point to your PC, then you may be able to check Device Manager for details
    • Windows 10—Press Windows Key + X, then select Device Manager. In the device manager window, open the 'View' menu, then enable 'Show Hidden Devices'
    • Windows 10 and Lower—Press Windows Key + R, then enter devmgmt.msc in the window that appears, and press Enter. In the Device Manager window, open the 'View' menu, then enable 'Show Hidden Devices'
  • In Device Manager, check the 'Human Interface Devices', 'Mice and other pointing devices', as well as the 'Keyboards' category for your device.

If you are having problems determining the wireless connection of your keyboard or mouse, it is recommended to reach out to the device manufacturer for details. Alternatively, please reach out to us at support@plugable.com with pictures of your device, including any labels, markings, or other details that may help with identification.

Pairing

Once you've determined that your keyboard or mouse is using Bluetooth, please follow our pairing guide.