This article provides steps to identify the 3Shape dongle and resolve "Can't Detect USB Dongle" errors in Chairside or 3Shape Unite software.
Identify the 3Shape dongle
The 3Shape dongle is a small USB device required to verify your subscription and run Trios or Unite software. To ensure the 3Shape dongle functions correctly, it must be plugged into a USB port on your Dandy laptop.
Distinguish the 3Shape dongle from the mouse receiver
It is common to confuse the 3Shape dongle with the wireless mouse receiver. Use these identifiers to tell them apart:
3Shape dongle: Features a transparent casing that emits a green light when connected to power.
Wireless mouse receiver: Typically a solid black or grey plastic piece with no light.
Note: Dandy no longer ships 3Shape dongles with new onboarding materials as they are not required for Chairside software. This troubleshooting applies primarily to practices using Unite.
Resolve dongle detection errors
If the software cannot detect the 3Shape dongle, you will see a "There's an issue with the USB dongle" error in Chairside or a "Network Issue" error in Unite. Follow these steps to restore the connection:
Perform a physical connection check
Verify the 3Shape dongle is plugged directly into a USB port on the laptop.
Check for a green light on the 3Shape dongle.
If the green light is missing, try a different USB port.
Update the dongle via Local Host
If the 3Shape dongle has a green light but the error persists, you may need to manually update the connection:
Open a web browser on the Dandy laptop.
Type localhost:27027 into the address bar and press Enter.
Locate the Update Dongle button in the lower-right corner of the page.
Select Update Dongle and wait for the process to complete.