Atheros AR5BBU12 Bluetooth module
The is a USB-based device often integrated into laptops and desktops from manufacturers like Acer, Lenovo, and Gigabyte. Because Qualcomm Atheros typically does not provide direct consumer driver downloads, you should primarily source drivers from your computer manufacturer's official support page. Driver Download Sources
Q1: Is the Atheros AR5BBU12 a Bluetooth 4.0 device?
Verdict
Identify Hardware ID
: Right-click Start > Device Manager . Find your Bluetooth device, right-click Properties > Details > Hardware Ids . Confirm it matches USB\VID_0489&PID_E02C .
- Go to the respective support site for your laptop model.
- Search for the Bluetooth driver.
- If you cannot find "AR5BBU12," look for drivers related to "AR3011" or "AR3012". The AR5BBU12 module often utilizes the AR3011/AR3012 Bluetooth chipset core.
- Extract your downloaded Atheros driver folder (e.g.,
AR5BBU12_Driver_v8.0.1.342). - Go back to Device Manager.
- If the Bluetooth adapter is missing entirely, look under Other devices for “Bluetooth Adapter” or “Unknown device.”
- Right-click it > Update driver > Browse my computer for drivers > Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
- Click Have Disk > Browse.
- Navigate to the extracted folder →
Win64(orWin32) → selectbtfilter.inforatherosbt.inf. - Click Open > OK.
- Select “Atheros Bluetooth Device (AR3011/AR3012)” from the list.
- Ignore the “driver not signed” warning – click Install anyway.