Windows 8 / 8.1 / 8.1 Update 1 Bluetooth File Transfer

07
2014-07
  • zack_falcon

    My laptop came with Windows 8 pre-installed. I've since updated it to Windows 8.1, and recently, 8.1 update 1.

    For an OS which focused on more mobile tech, I have to say, it sure made BlueTooth File transfers a PITA, especially compared to Windows 7.

    Here's my BlueTooth Icon on the systray. Notice the lack of Send / Receive File Options.

    enter image description here

    And here's my BlueTooth Settings:

    enter image description here

    I don't see anything out of the ordinary. I'm aware that I can type fsquirt in command prompt to bring up the original File Transfer Dialog, but really, Windows 8?

    Is there an easier way to do this? Did I miss something?

    • Answers
  • Lincoln Bergeson

    Due to the ambiguity of your question, I can only guess what the problem is. More research and editing would be required to achieve a definite answer.

    The lack of Send/Receive File options is, as Ramhound said, probably due to you not having any devices connected. I recommend checking the connectivity of the device you're trying to transfer files to.

    If your bluetooth devices are connected, your drivers may be out of date.

    As (I'm guessing) you know, those options exist, and they look like this:

    enter image description here

    Source

    I provided that image because I'm unsure if you have ever been able to successfully transfer files via Bluetooth, and if anything has changed in your setup since then.

    Good luck!


    • Related Question

    windows 7 - Bluetooth File Transfer Error Between 2 Computers
  • Lynda

    I have two machines that I am attempting to connect using Bluetooth. One machine running windows 7 has bluetooth built in. The other machine running Windows XP has a bluetooth USB dongle that I am using and windows recognized the the bluetooth and installed the driver itself. No additional software came with the dongle.

    Here is my issue:

    When I attempt to transfer a file from the Windows 7 Machine to the Win XP machine I get the following error:

    Screenshot of Error

    Both computers tell me that I am connected and I can transfer from windows XP to the windows 7 machine without issue.

    Am I missing some software on the Windows XP Machine? How do I fix the error and transfer files from the Windows 7 Machine to the Windows XP Machine?

    EDIT: I attempted to download and use the OBEX File Transfer Program (program by Medieval) and the program said OBEX File Service not supported.


    • Related Answers
  • Wesley

    I strongly suspect that this is a problem with the wrong BlueTooth profile being selected within XP (or perhaps 7, but I'm leaning towards XP). Here's a web page that shows how to update the Bluetooth stack on XP. I'm not a fan of linking to a page as the only set of instructions in a forum post because links can die. As such, I'll reproduce the instructions in my own words, however I will not copy the pictures from the page.

    1. Go to the Computer Management MMC: start >> run >> compmgmt.msc >> [enter key]
    2. Open up the "Device Manager" node on the left hand side
    3. Open up the "BlueTooth Radios" node within Device Manager
    4. Right click on "Generic Blue Tooth Radio" and select "Update Driver"
    5. Click "No, Not this time" in the "Hardware Update Wizard" dialog box and then click "next"
    6. Click "Install from a list or specific location" in the "Hardware Update Wizard" dialog box and then click "next"
    7. Click "Don't search. I will choose the driver to install" and then click "next"
    8. Make sure that your generic BlueTooth radio is selected and then click "Have Disk"
    9. Click the "Browse" button
    10. Make sure that the model for the drivers for your USB dongle are selected and then click "next"
    11. The drivers for your dongle will be installed.

    This may be what resets your BlueTooth to the proper profile for file transfers.

  • 8088

    Windows XP had generic Bluetooth drivers as of SP2. If there was no software with the dongle, it should've been supported by the stock drivers. Here's what you need to do to troubleshoot the issue (in no particular order):

    OBEX is a software feature not hardware so the problem is in the drivers.