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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.

Read more: How to Connect a Bluetooth Speaker or Headphones to Your TV

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.

Read more: The Power of Restarting: Why Turning Devices On and Off Fixes Them

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.

  1. 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.)
  2. 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.
  3. 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 loading

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From Baig on December 01, 2017 :: 11:22 am


I am having a problem with my tablet’s Bluetooth. It never turns on

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From Dan Kelly on December 05, 2017 :: 1:27 pm


There’s one you missed…

Clear Bluetooth App Data

That is the only thing that seems to work for me.

But, it’s early to tell if my issue is totally fixed.

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From UreKismet on December 10, 2017 :: 7:09 pm


Now that every portable consumable comes bluetooth enabled or compulsory; after this holiday season I expect every human on the planet to take a set against this badly conceived poorly implemented tech.
The only question is will it go the same way as 3d screen and where VR is inevitably headed, or will it because it is inexpensive to implement, merely be relegated to the small print on the tin?
Obviously as anyone who has spent too much time trying to pair two bluetooth devices when neither have the benefit of a gui but each has an accursed ‘multi-function button’ instead, bluetooth has shifted from being a must have selling point to a tech to be avoided.
Under normal circs product engineers would toss bluetooth on the scrapheap where it belongs but it is cheaper and easier to package than 3.5mm cables and the like - & enables at least $50 to be chucked on to recommended retail because device is ‘wireless’ but like most I have found the recharging demands of any bluetooth device to be far from wireless.  A big thankyou also needs be given to those drongos who design their equipment to switch off during recharging (hiya Sennheiser)so that a user has to tolerate considerable downtime with their device.
Bluetooth - whose silly idea was that again?

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From sean on June 06, 2020 :: 10:31 am


Word for word, my sentiments exactly.

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From Jan on December 18, 2017 :: 8:41 pm


I have successfully paired my Samsung 6 with the Uniden home phone system. But every time I leave range of the home phone and then return to the house with my mobile phone, it asks me to reset the pin.  Every few seconds until I pair up again by physically asking the Uniden phone to find my mobile phone at the same time as entering the pin.  Driving me mad.  I’ve unpaired both but and then re-paired but makes no difference.  When I first set up the phone a month ago it worked well.  No more…Ideas?

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From Suzanne Kantra on December 22, 2017 :: 4:16 pm


You can try clearing the Bluetooth cache. To do that, go to Settings > Application Manager and then select Bluetooth. Select Clear cache and then Clear data. Restart your phone when the operation is complete. Hope this helps.

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From Janine on December 27, 2017 :: 2:32 pm


Hi Suzanne,

Thanks for your tip.  My phone does not seem to allow me to clear cache in the apps manager.  Any other suggestions? 

Many thanks,

Janine

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From Jay on January 03, 2018 :: 9:52 pm


The earbuds arn’t even showing up on my phone as an option to connect through bluetooth. This is strange for 2 reasons. One being that it has connected fluently to my phone several times without any problems. And the other reason is that I am able to connect to my PC with windows 10 on it (but not my phone). I just got these this Christmas. the slightest help is much appreciated.

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From Peter on January 07, 2018 :: 9:53 am


İten 8 solvedd myy bluetooth issue. Tanks a lott.

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From ava rose goodwalt on January 07, 2018 :: 11:59 pm


i got my vivitar headphones 2 weeks ago and they were working fine untill they stopped pairing to my chrome book. Help!

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From Adam Rogers on January 15, 2018 :: 4:17 pm


Bluetooth pairs but the mic does not work to receive phone calls or use Google assist.

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From Karthikeyan on January 16, 2018 :: 5:20 am


Hey!  Thanks for the article I was looking for a problem that I faced in Jabra Talk on Lenovo K3 Note. Though the headset was paired and in use, sometimes it get connected with message “NO PHONE” and stops working. i.e. the Phone shows blue tooth headset in connected mode but not able to speak/listen to calls in the headset. The problem got solved by unpairing the headset and restarting the phone and pairing it again. Hope it is helpful to others who face similar problem. Thanks..

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From Blair on January 17, 2018 :: 6:27 pm


I was using it yesterday and now when I go to use it it says it’s “Unable to connect to Bluetooth input device while being used as a Bluetooth input device” what does that mean? I’ve went into settings turned each of them off, and its not working. I’m very confused

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From Suzanne Kantra on January 17, 2018 :: 6:54 pm


Sounds like your Tab A thinks the keyboard is being used by another device. Did you only pair the keyboard with the tablet? And what else is your tablet paired with that would be nearby?

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From amanda whybrow on January 18, 2018 :: 2:47 pm


My smartphone screen is broken & so I can’t use settings. How can I unpair my SoundPeats Q7 earphones in order to pair to new phone? They don’t want to pair to a 2nd device. Thanks

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From Sridhar on January 24, 2018 :: 11:17 pm


The Bluetooth headset is not connected in my mobile.
Bluetooth headset name not showing in display
How to connecting the Bluetooth headset

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From LaTasha on January 26, 2018 :: 1:35 pm


I had trouble connecting my smartphone to my polaroid bluetooth speaker, but after reading your article and applying the methods you explained I was able to connect thank you for this article.

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From Josh Kirschner on January 26, 2018 :: 2:11 pm


Always happy to hear when we’re able to help people out. Thank you for letting us know.

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From CARLEY on May 04, 2021 :: 3:24 pm


can you help me connect my Bluetooth?

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From Michael Nutting on January 30, 2018 :: 3:18 pm


I read with interest the number of articles about issues with win 10 phones and BT connections failing or not re connecting on subsequent connections with the same device.

It can be seen that some smart phones like Samsung S8, S8+ and I phones re connect to the paired devices automatically once in range however with windows this is not the case especially found with win 10 phones and connection via BT and a car, here it is required to always connect the phone with the car to do this on the win 10 phone when in the car open BT settings on the phone and select the paired device needing connection hit connect and away you go it works all the time, just remember always go to BT settings on the win 10 phone and hit connect.

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From Kirstie on February 02, 2018 :: 1:54 pm


I have Bluetooth headphones which I think are connected to another device, I want to connect them to my iPod touch and although when I listen to them they say connected it isn’t to my iPod, how can I clear the memory of devices on my headphones ( they are standard vol up and vol down button and main button in middleJ

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From Andrew Ravenwood on February 03, 2018 :: 8:15 am


Thanks for number 6. I had a phone blocking the connection.
Was driving me bonkers. Thanks

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From Tammy on February 06, 2018 :: 3:00 pm


If all else fails…ALL ..u have to do is keep trying it in your spare time..it may take a few days ..meaning 1-2 or up to 4 days…just keep trying it..it will eventually connect..

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From Ratul on February 08, 2018 :: 12:33 pm


Bluetooth I cannot Find my bluetooth headset device…..do you have any answer

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From Sonnycanuck on September 15, 2021 :: 3:48 pm


an’t pair for past month.  Used to pair earlier but no device on right side

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From Lyn on February 08, 2018 :: 5:45 pm


I keep deleting a phone from my car radio. The phone that keeps adding itself is not a phone I own. How is that even possible.

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From Austin on February 14, 2018 :: 8:25 am


Thanks for the help I really needed the help

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From Shay on February 14, 2018 :: 8:41 am


All of a sudden the bluetooth audio in my car won’t connect to my phone. They only pair with call audio but will not connect with media audio. Please help?

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From e3 on February 23, 2018 :: 2:50 pm


Hi & thanks for your post,

Went through your tips but unsuccessful yet trying to pair my Miniso Minispeaker with my Win10 Lenovo Ideapad 100s. On first attempt, the BT detected the speaker name but failed showing a Try connecting again yellow caption. Tried again million times. Now BT doesn’t even find the device. They’re both charged. Speakers work on every other device I connect them to.

THanks again!

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From Psswrd Confusion1? on February 27, 2018 :: 12:57 pm


Hi
My. bluetooth worked just fine in my car for 3 plus years with my IPhone 6. Last week
I Had a new battery put in my car and it hasn’t worked since. Any suggestions?
Thanks

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From Josh Kirschner on February 27, 2018 :: 3:10 pm


Did you try deleting your phone from the car and re-pairing it? Also, deleting the car from your phone before re-pairing?

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From Kendall Maine on March 01, 2018 :: 9:35 pm


I have a GS7 and a brand new Plantronics PLT. I have had the earpiece for a couple days and it worked fine. I had to do a hard reset on the phone and now the earpiece won’t pair. I have tried all the normal advice. i.e., wiping the cache, powering off the devices then powering them back on, even another factory reset. Nothing is working. Is there anything else I can do?

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From Nithish on March 18, 2018 :: 12:45 pm


I have a srs btv 5 Sony Bluetooth speaker. It’s pairing but no sound.

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From Nithish on March 18, 2018 :: 12:49 pm


I hv A Sony srv bts 5 bluetooth speaker

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From Birb on March 24, 2018 :: 9:57 am


So I have had wireless headphones for about 3 months now and they connected just fine to my phone. Today however when I turned on bluetooth on my phone and turned on the headphones the headphones didn’t even show up on my phone so I could not connect them.
Anyone know what could be the issue and how I could fix it?

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From Josh Kirschner on March 26, 2018 :: 9:58 am


Try the steps above and let us know if they worked.

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From Jennifer Flynn on March 25, 2018 :: 8:25 pm


I am doing a group project with 1sheeld+ android studio and arudino. I am having terrible issues connecting 1sheeld+ to my phone app. If I turn on bluetooth before I run the app it asks for a pin, which should be either 0000 or 1234. It does not accept either. It asks if 1sheeld is ready for pairing. Does anyone know anything about this? I am searching everywhere online for info on this. please advise if someone knows.

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From Alan MacDonald on April 13, 2019 :: 1:27 am


first of all it didn’t pair with my phone and the instruction manual was hard to read as well

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From Eddie on March 31, 2018 :: 1:42 am


How do I pair a Samsung tab A(2016) with an iPhone X, having problems pairing them.

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From Prosperken on April 01, 2018 :: 4:40 pm


Thanks, this fixed it. I also installed an android app to facilitate it

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From Kaitlyn on April 02, 2018 :: 6:43 pm


I recently got a new phone and I’m trying to pair my wireless headphones to it and my phone cannot find my headphones. I’ve tried everything I can think of trying to get these things to pair and both are new so I don’t understand the problem. Headphones worked just fine with my old device and I don’t understand why it won’t work.

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From jackie on April 13, 2018 :: 11:56 am


beautiful, had the trekz titanium that wasn’t pairing with my iPhone.  did the soft shut down (going to airplane mode then back) and it paired right up.  THANK YOU!

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From Amber Towle on April 19, 2018 :: 5:59 pm


Thank you for this article! It turns out my power saving mode kept disconnecting my bluetooth keyboard.

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From kobs on April 21, 2018 :: 4:08 pm


I have these skull candy BT buds and all of a sudden they couldn’t be paired. Ipod saw it but that device said it wasn’t on. Told the ipod to forget that JIB device and rediscovered it it works… Thanks wink

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From cj on April 23, 2018 :: 1:50 pm


my computer is a peice of &*&^%^%^&*^%

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From DH on April 23, 2018 :: 9:30 pm


My Woodulisten speaker will not pair with my SanDisk Clip Sport MP3 player, but easily pairs with my other Bluetooth devices.  Any suggestions?

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From kobs on April 23, 2018 :: 10:37 pm


Try what I did, remove the speakers from your player (somewhere it must give the name of your speakers in the list of pairing devices in your player) and let it find it again. I had the same problem with my earbuds and it worked.

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From Dhaval Vora on April 27, 2018 :: 12:16 am


i have sync by 50 in-ear bt (wireless device)
and problem is left side earbud is canecting time is working and play the song but after 5 mints left side is not working and right is working
so help me and how to solw this problem

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From Josh Kirschner on April 30, 2018 :: 10:48 am


The SYNC by 50 Wireless In-Ear Sport headphones received poor user reviews on Amazon. While the product is no longer available, looking at the cached information, they had 2.7 out of 5 stars, with many users complaining of Bluetooth connection issues.

If you’re looking for something better, we just put out our guide on The Best Wire-free In-ear Headphones. Or, if you’re not looking to spend as much, see our Guide to Bluetooth Headphones Under $50

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From Ryah Majestic Ritthaler on April 30, 2018 :: 9:53 am


I am having the exact same issue! I don’t see a reply for you. Have you figured out a solution?

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