Phones · Repair guide

How to fix Bluetooth not connecting on your phone

8 fixes, easiest first4 min readUpdated November 2026

Quick fix

Forget or unpair the accessory on your phone, put the accessory back into pairing mode, then pair it again with the two close together. For a car, also delete your phone from the car's Bluetooth list first.

What it means

Bluetooth problems usually come from the accessory not being in pairing mode, a flat accessory battery, the accessory still being linked to another phone, or an old pairing record that has gone stale. Cars add their own quirks, such as a full list of saved phones. Forgetting the device on both sides and pairing again fixes most cases.

Common causes

  • The accessory isn't in pairing mode, is switched off or has a low battery
  • The accessory is still connected to another phone, tablet or computer
  • A stale pairing record on the phone or the car
  • Bluetooth needs a restart on the phone or the accessory
  • The two devices are too far apart or something is in the way
  • The car or accessory doesn't support a feature, such as music over Bluetooth
  • A software bug after an update

How to fix it

Work down the list. Each fix is safe to try before moving on to the next.

01Check the basics: power, distance and Bluetooth onEasy

  1. Make sure the accessory is switched on and charged, or plugged in. Replace its batteries if it uses them.
  2. Keep the phone and the accessory close together while pairing.
  3. On iPhone: open Settings > Bluetooth and check Bluetooth is on.
  4. On Samsung: open Settings > Connections > Bluetooth and check it is on.
  5. On Pixel: open Settings > Connected devices and check Bluetooth is on.
  6. Turn Bluetooth off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.

Why it helps: A flat accessory, too much distance or a stuck Bluetooth radio are the most common reasons pairing fails.

02Restart the phone and the accessoryEasy

  1. Turn the accessory off and back on. For a car, turn the engine or infotainment system off and on.
  2. On iPhone with Face ID: press and hold either volume button and the side button until the power-off slider appears, drag it, wait 30 seconds, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
  3. On iPhone with a Home button: press and hold the side button until the slider appears, then restart the same way.
  4. On Samsung: open the Quick panel, tap the Power icon, then tap Restart.
  5. On Pixel: open the power menu and tap Restart.

Why it helps: Restarting clears temporary glitches in the Bluetooth software on both devices.

03Put the accessory in pairing mode and free it from other devicesEasy

  1. Check the accessory's manual for how to enter pairing (discovery) mode. Often you hold the power or Bluetooth button until a light flashes.
  2. If the accessory connects to another phone, tablet or laptop but not yours, unpair it from those devices first, or turn their Bluetooth off.
  3. Some accessories only remember a few devices. Clearing old pairings on the accessory, as its manual explains, can help.
  4. With the accessory in pairing mode, look for it on your phone's Bluetooth screen and tap its name.

Why it helps: Many accessories won't pair with a new phone while they are already connected to another device.

04Forget the device and pair it againEasy

  1. On iPhone: go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the Info button (i) next to the accessory, tap Forget This Device, then tap Forget Device to confirm.
  2. On Samsung: go to Settings > Connections > Bluetooth, tap the settings (gear) icon next to the device, tap Unpair, then tap Unpair again to confirm.
  3. On Pixel: go to Settings > Connected devices > Saved devices (or Bluetooth if you don't see Saved devices), tap the settings icon next to the device, tap Forget, then Forget device.
  4. Put the accessory back into pairing mode.
  5. On iPhone, tap its name when it appears on the Bluetooth screen. On Android, tap Pair new device and choose it.
  6. If asked for a code and you don't have one, try 0000 or 1234, or check the accessory's manual.

Why it helps: Removing the old pairing makes both devices create a fresh connection, which fixes most pairing and dropout problems.

05Fix car Bluetooth pairingEasy

  1. Forget the car on your phone using the steps above.
  2. In the car's Bluetooth or phone menu, delete your phone and any phones that are no longer used. Your car's manual shows where this is.
  3. Check the manual to see whether you should start pairing from the car or from the phone, and make the car discoverable.
  4. Keep the phone's Bluetooth screen open, select your phone on the car's screen or the car on your phone, and check that the codes on both screens match before confirming.
  5. On Android, if asked, allow access to contacts and call history. On iPhone, allow contacts sync if you want caller names in the car.
  6. If calls work but music doesn't (or the other way round), on Android open the car's settings icon under Saved devices and turn on Media audio and Phone audio. Some cars can't play music or handle calls over Bluetooth at all.

Why it helps: Cars keep their own list of phones, and a stale or full list stops a phone from reconnecting.

06Update the phone and the accessoryEasy

  1. On iPhone: go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any update.
  2. On Samsung: go to Settings > Software update > Download and install.
  3. On Pixel: go to Settings > System > System update.
  4. Check the accessory maker's app or website for a firmware update, especially for earbuds, smart speakers and car systems.
  5. If Bluetooth stopped working right after a phone update, forget and re-pair the device, then check for a newer update.

Why it helps: Updates on either side often fix compatibility bugs that cause failed pairing or dropouts.

07Reset Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings on AndroidMediumResets settings

  1. Know what this erases first: saved Wi-Fi networks and their passwords, plus Bluetooth pairings, so you'll need to reconnect to Wi-Fi and re-pair your devices. Photos, apps and messages stay.
  2. Make sure you know your home Wi-Fi password before you start.
  3. On Samsung: go to Settings > General management > Reset > Reset Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings, then tap Reset settings. It applies straight away.
  4. On Pixel: go to Settings > System > Reset options > Reset Bluetooth & Wi-Fi, then tap Reset settings.
  5. Pair the accessory again afterwards.
  6. On iPhone, there is no separate Bluetooth reset. If the accessory works with an app, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Bluetooth and make sure that app is allowed to use Bluetooth.

Why it helps: This clears every saved connection setting, which can fix problems that forgetting one device doesn't.

08Test with another phone to find the faulty sideEasy

  1. Try pairing the accessory with another phone or tablet.
  2. If it fails on every device, the accessory is likely the problem. Contact its maker.
  3. If other accessories also fail to connect to your phone, or Bluetooth won't turn on or is greyed out, the phone likely needs service.
  4. On iPhone, contact Apple Support. On Android, contact Samsung, Google or your phone maker.

Why it helps: Testing with a second device shows whether to get the phone or the accessory checked.

Check it's fixed

  • The accessory shows as Connected in your phone's Bluetooth settings.
  • Sound plays through the headphones, speaker or car, and calls work if supported.
  • The accessory reconnects by itself after you turn it off and on again.

When to get help

If Bluetooth won't turn on, the switch is greyed out, or no accessory connects to your phone, contact Apple, Samsung or Google support. If one accessory fails with every phone, contact that accessory's or car's maker.

Questions

Why does my Bluetooth keep disconnecting?

A low accessory battery, too much distance, or a stale pairing are the usual causes. Charge the accessory, keep it close, then forget it and pair again.

Why won't my phone connect to my car's Bluetooth?

The car may still hold an old record of your phone or have too many phones saved. Delete your phone in the car's menu, forget the car on your phone, then pair again following the car's manual.

Will resetting Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings delete my Bluetooth devices?

Yes. On Samsung and Pixel, this reset removes paired Bluetooth devices and saved Wi-Fi networks, but keeps your photos and apps. Afterwards, pair your accessories again.

My headphones connect to my laptop but not my phone. What should I do?

Many headphones connect to one device at a time. Turn off Bluetooth on the laptop or unpair the headphones there, then put them in pairing mode and connect to your phone.

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