PC Bluetooth Adapter Buying Guide: Connect Controllers and Headphones Wirelessly (2026)

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Plenty of desktop PCs have no Bluetooth. Self-built rigs with a motherboard that lacks a Wi-Fi module stay silent the moment you try to pair a controller or wireless headphones. A USB Bluetooth adapter fixes that cheaply. It just isn't the best tool for every job.

This guide covers what matters when you buy one, where Bluetooth hits its limits in gaming, and when an Xbox adapter or an audio dongle is the better choice. At the end you'll find five models available on Amazon.de.

Transparency: We have not tested these adapters ourselves. All specs come from TP-Link, ASUS, Microsoft, Sennheiser and the Amazon.de product pages we checked (as of October 2026). We don't list prices because they change constantly.

Do you need an adapter at all?

First check whether your PC already has Bluetooth. On Windows 11 it lives under Settings > Bluetooth & devices. If there is no Bluetooth toggle, the hardware or the driver is missing.

On a desktop PC you have three options:

USB dongle: plug it in and you're done. That's what this guide is about.
Wi-Fi card with Bluetooth: many PCIe cards include Bluetooth but need a free USB header on the motherboard. More in the PC Wi-Fi adapter buying guide.
A device with its own wireless dongle: many gaming headsets and mice use their own 2.4 GHz receiver. Then you don't need Bluetooth at all.

Important: one adapter at a time

Windows doesn't handle several active Bluetooth adapters well. TP-Link states in its product information that built-in Bluetooth has to be disabled for the USB dongle to work. If you're replacing a weak internal chip, turn it off in Device Manager before plugging in the new adapter.

Controllers over Bluetooth: what to know

Xbox Wireless Controller

Microsoft lists three ways to connect to a PC: a USB cable, the Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows, or Bluetooth. Microsoft itself lists the limits of Bluetooth:

Headsets, chatpads and the Xbox Stereo Headset Adapter on the controller do not work over Bluetooth.
Microsoft recommends connecting only one controller over Bluetooth at a time.
According to Microsoft, rumble doesn't work when you play on a PC over Bluetooth.
Older Xbox One controllers without Bluetooth can be spotted by the plastic around the Xbox button: if it's part of the top piece with the bumpers, there's no Bluetooth.

The Xbox Wireless Adapter, on the other hand, connects up to eight controllers at once, four with chat headsets or two with stereo headsets.

DualSense (PS5)

Sony supports the DualSense over Bluetooth on Windows 10 (64-bit) and Windows 11. On PC, however, haptic feedback requires a USB connection according to Sony, and so does a headset in the controller's headphone jack. Adaptive triggers, the mic and the speaker work if the game supports them. If you want every effect, play wired. The gaming controller buying guide covers the differences between pads.

Bluetooth headphones: the microphone catch

Classic Bluetooth audio has two modes. As Microsoft explains, A2DP delivers good stereo sound but can't use the microphone. As soon as you turn on the mic, Windows switches to the Hands-Free Profile (HFP). You then hear mono at reduced quality, on Windows at 16 kHz (wideband) or 8 kHz (narrowband) depending on the device. In a game that means the moment voice chat starts, everything sounds muffled and it gets harder to tell where footsteps are coming from.

Bluetooth LE Audio fixes this. Windows 11 then uses 32 kHz for voice. Since Windows 11 24H2, stereo with an active mic is possible on suitable hardware. The catch: Microsoft requires LE Audio capable drivers, and for stereo with the mic even factory-integrated Bluetooth LE. Don't count on that with an add-on USB dongle.

For headphones, an audio dongle is often the better route. It shows up on the PC like a USB sound card and handles the Bluetooth link itself. That's how the Sennheiser BTD 700 supports codecs such as aptX Adaptive and LC3 regardless of the PC's Bluetooth. For voice chat without compromise, a gaming headset with its own 2.4 GHz dongle is still the simplest choice.

What to look for

Bluetooth version

Newer Bluetooth versions are backward compatible. A dongle with 5.3, 5.4 or 6.0 will still pair with older controllers. The version number alone won't make controller input noticeably faster, though. Drivers, reception and placement matter more.

Form factor and range

Nano dongles barely stick out of the port and suit laptops and front ports. Dongles with an antenna such as the TP-Link UB500 Plus are larger, but the antenna can be angled. That helps when the PC sits under the desk and the dongle is plugged into the back.

Placement: keep away from USB 3.0

An Intel white paper published by the USB-IF describes how USB 3.0 devices and cables can radiate noise in the 2.4 GHz band, where Bluetooth also operates. The result can be shorter range. So don't plug the adapter right next to an external SSD or a USB 3.0 hub. A free front port or a short USB extension cable on the desk brings the dongle closer to your controller and headphones.

Operating system

All dongles shown here are made for Windows. TP-Link lists Windows 11/10/8.1/7; Windows 7 needs a driver from TP-Link's website. According to the Amazon listing, the UB dongles are not meant for Mac or Linux, nor for direct use on Xbox or PlayStation. ASUS lists Windows 10/11 and Linux for the USB-BT540.

Five example models

The following adapters were in stock on Amazon.de when we checked (October 2026). They are not test winners, just examples for different jobs. The details come from the manufacturers and the Amazon.de product pages.

Example model

Small and current: TP-Link UB600

Nano dongle with Bluetooth 6.0. TP-Link quotes up to seven connected devices at once and plug and play on Windows 11, 10 and 8.1. It measures 14.8 × 6.8 × 18.9 mm and can stay in a laptop permanently.

Bluetooth: 6.0
Form factor: Nano
Devices at once: up to 7
Operating systems: Windows 11/10/8.1/7

Good fit if you want a low-profile dongle for a controller, mouse and headphones.

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Example model

With an antenna: TP-Link UB500 Plus

Dongle with Bluetooth 5.3 and a rotating, tilting antenna. According to TP-Link it uses USB 2.0 and measures 81 × 42 × 16.8 mm. It also supports up to seven devices at once.

Bluetooth: 5.3
Form factor: adjustable antenna
Interface: USB 2.0
Operating systems: Windows 11/10/8.1/7

Good fit if your PC sits under the desk and you play from farther away, for example from the couch.

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Example model

Linux support too: ASUS USB-BT540

Nano dongle with Bluetooth 5.4, USB 2.0 Type-A and a weight of 1.9 g. ASUS quotes up to 10 m range for classic Bluetooth and up to 40 m for Bluetooth Low Energy in open space. Besides Windows 10 and 11, ASUS also lists Linux.

Bluetooth: 5.4 (Classic and LE)
Range: up to 10 m Classic, up to 40 m LE (open space)
Interface: USB 2.0 Type-A
Operating systems: Windows 10/11, Linux

Good fit if you use Linux alongside Windows.

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Example model

For Xbox controllers: Microsoft Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows

Not a Bluetooth dongle but Microsoft's own wireless link for Xbox controllers. According to Microsoft it connects up to eight controllers, and headsets plugged into the controller work, unlike over Bluetooth. The Amazon listing names Windows 10. Sold by a third-party seller, shipped by Amazon.

Wireless: Xbox Wireless (not Bluetooth)
Controllers: up to 8 (4 with chat headset, 2 with stereo headset)
Headset on controller: yes
Operating system: Windows

Good fit if you play with Xbox controllers and a headset on the pad, or need several controllers at once.

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Example model

For Bluetooth headphones: Sennheiser BTD 700

Audio dongle with Bluetooth 5.4 and a USB-C plug; a USB-A adapter is included. According to Sennheiser it supports SBC, aptX, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless and LC3 as well as Auracast. In Game Mode, Sennheiser quotes latency as low as 30 ms, but only with supported headphones. The dongle remembers one pair of headphones and, per Sennheiser, works with Windows 10 or later, macOS 11 and 12, Android 13 or later, and iPhone and iPad with USB-C.

Bluetooth: 5.4, Class 1
Codecs: SBC, aptX, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LC3
Interface: USB-C (USB-A adapter included)
Range: up to 50 m

Good fit if you use good Bluetooth headphones on your PC and want to bypass Windows Bluetooth.

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Side-by-side

Model	Type	Standard	Strength
TP-Link UB600	Bluetooth dongle	BT 6.0	nano, current
TP-Link UB500 Plus	Bluetooth dongle	BT 5.3	antenna
ASUS USB-BT540	Bluetooth dongle	BT 5.4	Linux support
Xbox Wireless Adapter	Xbox wireless	Xbox Wireless	8 controllers, headset on pad
Sennheiser BTD 700	audio dongle	BT 5.4	aptX, LC3, Game Mode

Checklist before you buy

Does your PC already have Bluetooth? If so, disable the internal Bluetooth before plugging in.
Xbox controller with a headset on the pad? Get the Xbox Wireless Adapter instead of Bluetooth.
DualSense with haptics? Play on PC with a USB cable.
Bluetooth headphones with a mic? Expect mono sound in chat, or get an audio dongle.
Don't plug the dongle right next to USB 3.0 devices.

FAQ

Which Bluetooth version do I need for a controller?

Any current version works because Bluetooth is backward compatible. A dongle with 5.3, 5.4 or 6.0 also pairs with older controllers. Stable reception and the right placement matter more than the version number.

Why does my Bluetooth headset sound so bad in voice chat?

Because with classic Bluetooth, Windows switches to the Hands-Free Profile as soon as the mic is active. You only get mono at reduced quality. LE Audio or a headset with its own wireless dongle avoids that.

Does a Bluetooth dongle work on PS5 or Xbox?

According to the Amazon listing, the TP-Link dongles are meant for PCs only, not for direct use on consoles. There are dedicated audio dongles for consoles; check the manufacturer's specs there.

Can I connect several controllers over Bluetooth?

Technically the dongles support up to seven devices. For Xbox controllers, though, Microsoft recommends only one over Bluetooth. The Xbox Wireless Adapter is the tool for several Xbox controllers.

Does a Bluetooth dongle give less input lag than built-in Bluetooth?

There are no reliable manufacturer figures on that. A dongle can replace a weak internal chip and, on an extension cable, sit closer to the controller. For the lowest lag, a USB cable is still the safest choice.

Sources

As of October 2026. Specs come from the manufacturer pages and the Amazon.de product pages we checked:

Manufacturers occasionally change specs and variants. If anything important changes, we'll update this guide.

* Ad link: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links go to Amazon.de – the price stays the same for you.