We may earn commissions when you buy from links on our site. Why you can trust us.

How to Fix Bluetooth Pairing Problems

by Suzanne Kantra on December 26, 2023

Updated on 12/26/2023 for the latest changes with Bluetooth features and device operating systems.

Bluetooth is a popular method of wirelessly transferring data between two devices, such as your phone and your headphones, your computer and a speaker, or your iPad and a keyboard. It’s one of the most widely used wireless technology in the world, according to the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. More than 5.9 billion Bluetooth products are expected to ship in 2024 alone, and that number will likely increase to more than 7.6 billion per year by 2027.

Bluetooth is all great when it works. But if you’re someone who likes to play around with these kinds of connected gadgets, you know it can be frustrating when there’s a hang-up pairing the two. And as a professional tech journalist who has reviewed hundreds of Bluetooth devices in my career, believe me, I feel your pain.

Here are some common causes of pairing problems, as well as my advice on what you can do about them.

Understanding Bluetooth pairing

To better understand pairing issues, let's explore how Bluetooth operates. Bluetooth depends on both hardware and software to work properly. From a hardware perspective, the devices need to support the same 2.4GHz frequencies. On the software side, they need to support the same Bluetooth profiles so they can decode instructions for specific functions. For example, you can't pair a mouse with your car because your car doesn’t support the Human Interface Device Profile.

In general, Bluetooth software is backward compatible: Bluetooth devices supporting Bluetooth 5 or higher should still be able to pair with devices using, say, the ancient Bluetooth 2.1, launched back in 2007.

Unless there is a hardware or software incompatibility, most Bluetooth pairing problems can be easily resolved.

Usually, Bluetooth devices connect with one device at a time. When a device is already paired with another device and has an active connection, that will interfere with pairing. However, some headphones support multipoint pairing – a feature that lets one pair of headphones connect to two or even three devices simultaneously.

If you're having issues pairing a multipoint device, I suggest you skip to the section below on tips for solving problems with Bluetooth multipoint pairing before going through the general Bluetooth pairing failure steps.

What you can do about Bluetooth pairing failures

Smarphone and Bluetooth earbuds on a table

1. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on

You should see the little Bluetooth symbol at the top right of the screen if you have an Android device. For iOS and iPadOS, you'll need to go into the settings to enable and disable Bluetooth. Windows users will find Bluetooth in Settings > Devices > Bluetooth (or you may have a shortcut on your taskbar). Mac users will find a Bluetooth status icon on the menu bar.

2. Determine what pairing process your device employs

Most Bluetooth pairing is straightforward. You put both devices into paring mode, they see each other, and they connect. Sometimes, though, there is an extra security step, like typing in a code. If you’re not sure how to pair your device, refer to its user guide; you can usually find one by searching online.

3. Turn on pairing mode

Bluetooth devices typically fall into two main categories: accessories and main devices. Accessories include items like headphones and keyboards, while main devices encompass phones, cars, TVs, and computers.

Accessories usually start in pairing mode out of the box, indicated by a blinking light. Once initially paired, if you need to pair these accessories with another device, you'll have to activate pairing mode again. To do this, search for 'how to put [product name] into pairing mode.' (We have guides for Jabra, JBL, JLab Audio, Mpow, Skullcandy, and Sony.)

For main devices such as phones and cars, you must first ensure Bluetooth is activated. Then, put the device into pairing mode through its settings menu. Instructions for this can typically be found by searching 'put [product name] into pairing mode.'

Let’s say you want to pair your phone with your car’s infotainment system to enjoy hands-free calling, texting, and navigation. First, activate Bluetooth on your phone, making it visible to the car. Then, put your car into Bluetooth-pairing mode. The method varies depending on whether your car is an older model, often requiring a series of button presses, or a newer model, which usually involves navigating the in-dash touchscreen display.

Once your car detects your phone, it may ask for a numeric code that you'll need to confirm or input on your phone. After entering the code, the devices should be paired. Be aware that both your car and phone will only remain in pairing mode for a limited time, usually a few minutes. If you exceed this time, you'll need to restart the pairing process.

4. Make sure the two devices are in close enough proximity to one another

While you wouldn’t think someone might try to pair an iPad with a keyboard if the two weren’t sitting right next to each other, to be clear, you should make sure any devices you're trying to pair are within five feet of one another.

5. Power Bluetooth off and back on

A soft reset of Bluetooth can sometimes resolve an issue. With phones, an easy way to do this is by going into and out of airplane mode. For other devices, turn off the power and restart them.

6. Manage old Bluetooth connections

Bluetooth accessories can actively pair with between one and three devices simultaneously. However, they can store pairing information for several more devices, often up to eight, facilitating easy reconnection.

These accessories typically reconnect automatically to the most recently connected device. If you're experiencing issues with pairing, it might be due to the accessory being connected to another device. For example, if your Bluetooth speaker is registered to connect with your phone, tablet, laptop, and media player, it cannot maintain a connection with all four at once. If you encounter pairing issues, check which device or devices are currently connected and disconnect one to pair with a new device.

When a Bluetooth accessory reaches its limit for stored connections, it may either drop an old device from its memory or refuse to enter pairing mode. In the latter case, you might need to 'forget' the accessory from one of your currently paired devices or perform a reset.

If you're unable to pair a new device, consider two solutions: either make one of your existing devices 'forget' the accessory to free up a spot, or reset the accessory to clear all existing pairings. You can find specific reset instructions by searching for 'reset [device name].'

7. Charge up both devices you're trying to pair

Some devices have smart power management that may turn off Bluetooth if the battery level is too low. If your phone or tablet isn't pairing, make sure it and the device you're trying to pair with have enough juice.

8. Delete a device from a phone and rediscover it

If your phone sees a device but isn’t receiving data from it, sometimes it helps to start from scratch. In iOS settings, you can remove a device by tapping on its name and then Forget this Device. In Android settings, tap on a device’s name, then Unpair.

If you're deleting the device from your car, you may need to turn off your car after deleting the device, open and close the car door, and wait a couple of minutes before trying to pair the device again.

9. Move away from the WiFi router

Another potential obstacle to successful pairing is interference from devices that use the same 2.4GHz spectrum, such as your WiFi router. WiFi has been designed to cope with this, but it might not be a good idea to have your devices next to your router.

10. Move away from your smart home devices

Some smart home devices use a wireless technology called Zigbee. You find Zigbee in smart home hubs, including Amazon's Echo Show and Samsung's SmartThings Station, as well as a wide range of smart door locks, light bulbs, in-wall switches, open/close sensors, plugs, and more. Like WiFi, Zigbee devices use the same spectrum as Bluetooth devices and can interfere with pairing. Move away from your Zigbee devices when attempting to pair.

11. Move away from your laptop's USB 3.0 or USB-C port

Some USB 3 and USB-C devices generate frequencies in the 2.4GHz range, which can interfere with Bluetooth. Since this is a wired connection, the frequency leakage usually occurs at the ports. However, poorly shielded cables can also be a problem. So, if you're trying to pair Bluetooth gadgets or use them near your computer, try moving them away from your computer, or at least away from plugged-in USB devices.

12. Download a driver

If you’re having problems pairing something with your computer, you might be lacking the correct driver. The simplest way to figure this out is to do an online search for "[product name] driver." If there's an updated driver available, download and install it and see if that fixes the problem.

13. Update the hardware’s firmware

Some automotive audio systems are known to not pair with newer phones because the Bluetooth drivers in these systems didn’t work with later versions of Bluetooth. Updating your vehicle's firmware may fix the issue. If you’re not sure how to get the latest firmware for your car, check with the manufacturer.

14. Remove your Bluetooth device and start fresh

If you're having trouble connecting or experiencing a spotty connection, clearing your Bluetooth cache can resolve these issues by removing outdated or corrupt connection data. You can do this by removing your problematic registered Bluetooth gadget(s), restarting your main device, and then re-pairing.

To remove a device or accessory, follow these steps:

For iOS and iPadOS, select the info icon ('i' in a circle) to access the option to 'Forget this device.'
For Android phones, select the device and then select 'Unpair' or 'Forget.'
For Windows computers, click on the triple dots next to the gadget and select 'Remove device.'
For Macs, hover your mouse over the device you want to remove and then click on 'Disconnect' or the 'X' button to remove it.

Once you have removed the unwanted or malfunctioning gadget, restart your main device to clear the Bluetooth cache. Now you can re-pair.

Solving problems with Bluetooth multipoint pairing

Multipoint is a Bluetooth technology allowing a device to be actively paired with more than one device simultaneously. This means, for example, your headphones could be paired with both a phone and a laptop at the same time.

If you’re having issues with setting up a multipoint connection, the first thing to do is double-check that your device supports multipoint by searching for '[product name] multipoint Bluetooth' or consulting your product’s manual. Once you’ve confirmed that your device supports multipoint, follow these steps.

Adding a second device to a multipoint product

There's no standard way manufacturers use to handle multipoint connections. But these are the basic steps for most products.

Pair with the first main device the way you would with a single-point Bluetooth device. (If you’re having trouble pairing your first device, consult the list of tips above.)
Leave the first device turned on and pair it with the second one. You'll need to put your headphones or speaker into pairing mode to do this.
Once you have successfully paired with the second main device, you may be simultaneously connected with both main devices. Some manufacturers have you take the additional step of going back to the first main device and reconnecting before allowing simultaneous connections.

Other products (like the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones, Bose QuietComfort II Earbuds, and Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds) require installing an app and turning on the ability to connect two devices before you can connect with a second main device for multipoint use.

Troubleshooting multipoint connection issues:

Multipoint devices typically connect to two or three devices simultaneously but can store many more connections. If you're having trouble, follow these steps:

Using an App: If your device uses an app for multipoint connections, open the app and toggle on the two devices you want to connect simultaneously.
Without an App: If you don't use an app, reconnect the main device that has lost its connection. In the Bluetooth settings of the second device, select it from the list of registered devices to reconnect.

Final thoughts

Bluetooth technology, while incredibly useful, can sometimes present challenges in pairing devices. Understanding the basics of how Bluetooth works, recognizing common pairing issues, and following straightforward troubleshooting steps can significantly ease the process. Whether you're trying to connect headphones, keyboards, or any Bluetooth-compatible device, remember these tips for a smoother experience.

[Image credits: Bluetooth headphones with phone via BigStockPhoto]

For the past 20+ years, Techlicious founder Suzanne Kantra has been exploring and writing about the world’s most exciting and important science and technology issues. Prior to Techlicious, Suzanne was the Technology Editor for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and the Senior Technology Editor for Popular Science. Suzanne has been featured on CNN, CBS, and NBC.

Topics

Phones and Mobile, Computers and Software, Phone Accessories, Tips & How-Tos

Discussion

From clv360@hotmail.com on April 09, 2020 :: 3:59 pm

I can play my wireless headphones with Bluetooth on my sandisk mp3 player. Why do I have to plug in my wired headphones?

From Alan White on April 13, 2020 :: 12:07 pm

Galaxy A5 works fine with hearing aids but sound alao comes from phone speaker. Can speaker be silenced?

From Jan on April 22, 2020 :: 10:47 am

I have paired my JBL to MacBook Air via bluetooth, everything seems working, choosing headphones for output audio. But it does not work, the voice is still directed to builtin speakers. Any ideas what to do?

From Melissa Z. on April 23, 2020 :: 2:25 pm

Ok I have a “Blackweb LED Bluetooth Speaker” that I’ve used many times with my phone. Then all of a sudden over the last few days ~ I’ll be connected to it, I’ll be on the internet and then it disconnects on its own and then goes through the pairing and reconnecting process automatically. And then it can be fine for a while (10 to 20 minutes) then it starts doing it (disconnects- pairing & reconnects) over again…... BUT Non-Stop this time! So frustrating! I have shut off my phone as well as the speaker and basically started the process all over again with the same results. Please please PLEASE help me ~ as I am SO CLOSE to pulling my hair out! And this speaker is ONLY like a month-and-a-half old…... Therefore, I don’t see how it should be doing this?!?

From Josh Kirschner on April 23, 2020 :: 2:43 pm

Various devices can interfere with your Bluetooth signal, causing the types of drops you’re describing. Since Bluetooth uses the same 2.4 GHz frequency as WiFi, try to switch WiFi devices to 5GHz, where possible. Also move your speaker away from any power cables, baby monitors, fluorescent lights, microwaves, etc.

Let me know if that helps.

From donald erving on May 01, 2020 :: 4:25 pm

i received a warning that my bluetooth subframe does not have a list of connections, and also something about a shadow root. i dont know WTF itwants from me!

From Daniel on May 04, 2020 :: 7:15 am

Hi!
I had earlier paired the QY7 Juarez headset with iBall Slide. Then I unpaired it by clicking on the option ‘Forget’ in the Bluetooth settings. However later whenever I tried to connect it, it just doesn’t show up in the devices list. I even switched both the iBall Slide and the QY7 OFF and then ON, but to no avail. Could you please help.
BTW, the QY7 is detected by Honor 7x and functions quite well. Also, the Slide does detect the Boult headset after it has been unpaired by selecting the option ‘Forget’.

From Alisa Medlin on May 05, 2020 :: 2:24 pm

I have been using my Bluetooth through my radio forever now it does not recognize when I ask it to call a contact, it wNts a phone#. Ready to scream!!!!!

From James on May 08, 2020 :: 7:57 am

Headset stuck in pairing mode. Turn it on and it says power on, then pair mode, and then your headset is connected, a few seconds later turns off or turns of if you hit the command but and after it’s off it turns itself back on and does it all over again. Tried updating software on the internet but still stays in pair mode. Any options to correct this issue. Already tried clear pairing memory but help there.

From shawn michael on May 09, 2020 :: 1:13 pm

i connected my phone to the stereo, but because the others cannot hear me, i turn the phone to speaker or phone. i did this one day, while my radio was on, and then i never heard my radio after that. it will come on occasionally for about 8 seconds.
what is going on???

From Clifford Farley on May 11, 2020 :: 9:37 am

Hello I have Win7 64 bit Home Premium.
I noticed after clicking on Bluetooth
in Device Manager, drop down list of 3
peripheral drivers showing yellow marks.

The person who I bought the laptop (Sony Vaio)
from very kindly supplied a recovery disk that
has windows & all drivers for the hardware.

Please advise how to restore these drivers from the disk so I
can pair an iPhone with my laptop to get online. Thanks.

From Josh Kirschner on May 11, 2020 :: 3:08 pm

First off, as of January, Windows 7 is no longer supported by Microsoft. There are no more security patches or other fixes, leaving your laptop at much higher risk for malware. I would strongly recommend upgrading the laptop to Windows 10.

If you do keep Windows 7, you should update your drivers from the Sony site so you have the latest versions, not from the recovery disk (which will be years old, at this point). The Sony Vaio may have a help utility to assist with that or you can look up your model on the Sony support site: https://www.sony.com/electronics/support.

It may also be that the drivers aren’t your issue. Usually device manager will provide more information about why a specific component is disabled. What does it say?

From Faizel Coetzee on May 14, 2020 :: 6:37 am

My Lenovo tablet don’t wanne contact with my LG tape but to all the others how can I fix it but it’s parting

From Mary on May 14, 2020 :: 3:16 pm

All seems to work until screen appears on a20e to input the bluetooth code. The screen disappears after 3 secs so I am unable to connect to my Dacia Bluetooth.
Any help would be appreciated.

From Byarugaba Joseph on May 21, 2020 :: 4:48 am

Have been using headsets but when I plugged off the earphones,the icon remained giving me to communicate on loudspeaker kindly help

From Keß Darid on June 02, 2020 :: 10:34 pm

I can’t disconnect Bluetooth Jaba now. I can’t make phone calls without it being reinstalled and paired. I’ve even went as far as getting rid of the paring of it. My phone makes the call then hangs up on my wife. Not a good story to to tell her. How do I fix this problem. Bad enough it keeps going into mute mode.

From Josh Kirschner on June 03, 2020 :: 1:30 am

If you forget the Jaba (Jabra?) device in your phone’s Bluetooth settings, that should take care of it. The device should never re-pair automatically. The only other way I could conceive of this happening is if there is some Jaba app you identified to control your phone calls and it is able to repair to the device.

From a guy on June 12, 2020 :: 2:59 am

A lot of problems with JBL products. Especially with headphones. This may not fix every problem but you can RESTART them… hold the power buton and the + volume button for 10-15 seconds.

No one ever seems to point this out.

From Ashish on June 15, 2020 :: 6:20 am

Thanks man its finally connected to my mobile phone. Really appreciate ur help🙏.

From Sam on June 19, 2020 :: 3:47 pm

I did the power on for 5 seconds, it made a sound, than hold both volume up and down for 10 seconds but still it can’t get connected to any device that normally it used to… can you please help? maybe a hard reset if possible..its headphones E-Series.

From Inacio on June 21, 2020 :: 10:14 am

I use Soungate 3 to connect to my TV Adapter.
Sometimes when I push the TV button of the Soundgate it connects immediately to the TV adapter, even at a distance of three rooms.
But mostly it takes hours to connect even if it is next to each other.
The light at the Soungate blinks and blinks and then stops until I push it again. I must repeat this several times until out-of-the blue it connects by itself.
What can be the reason?

From Josh Kirschner on June 22, 2020 :: 9:37 pm

A number of common household devices can cause interference with your Bluetooth signal, such as such as power cables, microwaves, cordless phones or your WiFi router. If there are any of those types of devices nearby, you can try moving them. And if you can connect devices to your router using 5GHz instead of 2.4GHz (which is the same as Bluetooth), that might help resolve the issue.

From Traci on June 22, 2020 :: 10:30 am

My lg Stylo 4 connects to my car without problems, but as soon as I make or answer a call, it immediately drops the Bluetooth. I believe it is something with the phone, because my husband’s Samsung stays connected with no problems. I never had this problem until about a year ago; could it be a software update to my phone or my car?

From Sarju on June 28, 2020 :: 3:56 am

I have remax rbs20 Bluetooth incoming calls gets disconnected everytime in any mobile need help how to do factory reset or reboot

From Angel on July 03, 2020 :: 10:19 pm

I have a pair of mifo 07’s. I lost the right earbud. Why cant i use the left ear bud now?

From Sydell Lamb on July 07, 2020 :: 2:24 pm

I have a fire stick and when I try to connect my earbuds it says I’m connected but it’s not the sound still comes through the television.
I would like some advice if you have some thanks

From Becki Giddy on July 10, 2020 :: 7:45 am

Hi,
For some reason I cannot connect my Huawei phone to my 2008 Mitsubishi Triton. It connected before but all of a sudden it will not. When you press the Bluetooth button, it just clicks all the time. Have been trying everything but am completely at a stand still now.

Many thanks
Becki

From Tracy on July 15, 2020 :: 10:48 am

Ok, sorry this made be a silly question but here goes. I can connect but after only 20 minutes usually one will say power off. This morning they both said power off after only 5 minutes. I charged them yesterday. After fully charging, I turn the power off every time I am not using them and turn it on when in use. The power on blue light only stays on for about a minute while I am using them. I am sure it is an easy fix but I simply cannot figure it out. Thanks for your help!

From David Mann on July 17, 2020 :: 5:16 am

This is a really useful article. Incredibly thorough with a wide range of possible solutions. I think I got my earphones working with tip number 4.

From JoseG on July 20, 2020 :: 7:47 pm

My Android phone kept telling me couldn’t pair with Jabra evolve 75 because of an incorrect PIN or passkey. Tried everything except a phone reset which i was not about to do. It had paired a long time ago and worked fine but I stopped using it on my phone. Removed all Bluetooth devices and reset all services on my Android phone but no good. Paired with my daughters phone fine and I paired another BT headset fine on mine. Read your reset device (6) bit and googled Jabra 75 reset and there it was. I reset it to factory default and was now able to pair the headset again with my phone. Had to install Jabra Direct to pair the usb device on the PC.
Thank you so much!!!

From Mike Eckensweiler on July 31, 2020 :: 2:50 pm

okay I have a samsung galaxy s10e android phone and 2 W-King 50 amp blutooth speakers can have both connected but only sound (spotify music) from 1 speaker and when connect 1 the other one pauses

From Deb on August 02, 2020 :: 12:15 pm

I was looking how to REPAIR a bluetooth issue, not use bluetooth!! This article should be title, THE BASICS OF BLUETOOTH.

From Harsha on August 04, 2020 :: 12:17 am

I bought airdots two months ago yesterday one airdot is playing song another one is not playing and i unpair both airdots and put it in charging case and i take it from charge case and try to pair with my phone by mistakely i give cancel but now airdots are not showing in available devices

From Md Emon on August 05, 2020 :: 12:19 pm

Please help me my phone Bluetooth cannot on what happened I don’t know

From Mary Carnen HR on August 12, 2020 :: 8:22 pm

I have tried the steps but now it ask me for a pin. I have tried the basics but none work. Can u tell me anoche that will work please?

From Josie on August 19, 2020 :: 1:25 am

Need help connecting my true stereo wireless earbuds

From Mike on September 02, 2020 :: 8:45 pm

My radio pairs up great. I can hear the person I called but they cant hear me??

From Sydney S. on September 20, 2020 :: 1:28 am

So I have an LG Aristo 2 and I’m trying to pair my Skullcandy bluetooth headphones to it. It worked for months on end but now it suddenly stopped. Any ideas on how I could possibly fix this?

From Josh Kirschner on September 21, 2020 :: 10:19 pm

We have an article on how to fix Skullcandy Bluetooth pairing problems.

From John D. Barry on September 21, 2020 :: 6:46 pm

From Robot on September 22, 2020 :: 1:43 pm

This article saved my life, i thought my headphones were broken but it was simple as turn off/on airpla e mode, thank you very much!

From Starlene Hancock on September 23, 2020 :: 10:48 pm

Will my Bluetooth sound hub tone wireless rar buds connect with a black web portable dvd player

From Josh Kirschner on September 24, 2020 :: 1:49 am

Any pair of Bluetooth earbuds “should” connect with pretty much any Bluetooth audio device. Does the Blackweb DVD player have Bluetooth audio? I didn’t think many portable DVD players offered that, but it would be model dependent.

From Stevo Delesi on September 30, 2020 :: 5:55 am

Hi. Thanks the on and off aeroplane mode on my phone did it for me.
Thanks a lot.

From Stevo Delesi on September 30, 2020 :: 6:02 am

Hi. Thanks the on and off aeroplane mode on my phone did it for me.
Thanks a lot.

From Tiago Ferreira on October 01, 2020 :: 3:07 pm

Tenho uns headphones JBL t500bt e um recetor/transmissor Bluetooth e não consigo emparelha-los de forma nenhum. Ficam os dois com as luzes a piscar mas não se “encontram”. Alguém me pode ajudar?

From Konstantinos Kostalas on October 05, 2020 :: 4:39 am

Unable to pair my JVC HA-FX9BT headphones with my BTDG-40S USB 5.0 Bluetooth dongle on my laptop, Windows 10. PLEASE HELP.

From Dan on October 05, 2020 :: 6:55 am

hi, i really dont know how to explain whats going on, but my phone and car, which have been paired through bluetooth since i got my phone, suddenly is not working this morning. yesterday it worked fine. i have reset my phone, turned bluetooth on and off, unpaired them and paired them again, etc…. both car and phone say they are paired up, but doesnt even register on car that either my pandora is playing or that google play is playing. please help???

From Josh Kirschner on October 05, 2020 :: 10:21 am

These issues can be tricky to pinpoint remotely, since they are so device specific. But I would try resetting your Chrysler’s audio/Bluetooth system and see if that resolves things. If not, check for a Chrysler Uconnect software update for your car: https://www.driveuconnect.com/support/software-update.html.