If you're experiencing Bluetooth connectivity or pairing problems on your Android phone, don't worry—you're not alone. Many people have been struggling to get Bluetooth working properly on their Android phones. In this guide, we'll show you how to troubleshoot and diagnose Bluetooth issues yourself.

What Are Some Common Bluetooth Connectivity Issues?

There are a few types of Bluetooth problems that Android users commonly experience. We've outlined some of the most common issues below:

  • Android Phones won't connect to other devices
  • Your phone won't connect to a car; perhaps Android Auto isn't working
  • Audio playback is choppy
  • The phone keeps disconnecting

If you're experiencing any of the issues listed above, read on for the troubleshooting tips you need to follow to fix them.

1. Try to Connect With a Different Device

If your phone isn't connecting to a Bluetooth device, the first thing you should try is to connect it to a different device. This will help you rule out whether the problem is with your phone or with the other device you're trying to connect to.

If the problem is with the other device, you should apply the fixes below on that device instead.

2. Turn Off Bluetooth and Then Turn It On Again

One of the simplest tips you can try is to turn Bluetooth off and then turn it back on again. To do this, open the notification panel by swiping down from the top of your screen. Then, look for the Bluetooth icon and tap it to turn Bluetooth off. Wait a minute and then tap the icon again to turn Bluetooth back on.

3. Unpair the Devices and Try to Pair Them Again

If you're having trouble connecting your Android phone to other devices, try unpairing them and then pairing them again. To unpair, go to the Bluetooth settings on your phone and find the device you want to unpair. Tap on it and select Forget. Once it is unpaired, wait for a minute and try to pair your device to your Android phone using Bluetooth again.

4. Check the Distance Between the Devices

Another quick fix is to make sure that the devices you're trying to connect are close enough together. The maximum range for Bluetooth connections is about 30 feet. If the devices are out of this range from each other, they probably won't connect. Also, obstacles such as walls can interfere with the Bluetooth signal and cause problems.

If you're experiencing choppy audio playback over Bluetooth, it could be because of interference from other devices. Try moving your Bluetooth device away from other electronic devices to see if that improves the connection quality.

5. Make Sure the Other Device Is Discoverable

If you're trying to connect your Android phone to another phone or a computer, you'll need to make sure that the other device is discoverable. Otherwise, your phone won't be able to find it. To make a device discoverable, go to the Bluetooth settings on that device and turn on any options to Make discoverable or Make visible.

You should also check your phone for this setting. If your phone has Android version 11 or 12, you may not find this setting in your phone as Bluetooth is discoverable by default.

6. Restart Your Phone

If you're still having trouble, try restarting your phone. This will close all apps and background processes and your phone will restart. In most cases, this solution will work if the issue is with your phone's Bluetooth connection.

7. Clear the Bluetooth Cache and Storage

One potential fix for Bluetooth problems is to clear the Bluetooth cache. This will remove all the Bluetooth temporary data that has been stored on your phone's storage. To clear the Bluetooth cache, open the Settings app and go to App management > App list. If you can't find the Bluetooth app, tap on the three dots in the top-right corner of the screen and select Show system. It will show all the system apps including the Bluetooth app.

Scroll down and find the Bluetooth app. Tap on it and then select Storage and cache. In Storage and cache menu, you will find the options to clear the Bluetooth cache and storage.

8. Reset the Bluetooth Settings

Another solution is to reset your phone's Bluetooth settings. This will erase all of your custom Bluetooth settings and restore them to defaults.

To reset the Bluetooth settings, go to Settings > System. Then, tap on the Reset phone or Reset options. The available options may depend on the phone brand you are using. Tap Reset Wi-Fi settings and select the SIM card for which you want to reset the settings. Finally, select Reset Settings. This will reset your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings.

Once the reset is complete, try to connect your devices again and see if the problem is fixed.

9. Check if a System Update Is Pending

If there's a system update pending, it might be causing Bluetooth problems on your phone. To check for system updates, go to Settings > System. Here, tap on System update. Then, tap Online update. If an update is available, follow the on-screen installation instructions. If there is no update there, you will see the message, "Your system is up to date."

10. Scan for Viruses and Malware

Your phone may have been infected with a virus or malware. Viruses and malware can interfere with your phone's operating system and cause all sorts of problems.

To check for malware, you can use an antivirus or a malware scanner app. Most Android phones come with a built-in antivirus app that works best. If you want to use a third-party app, Malwarebytes Mobile Security is a good option. Once you've scanned your phone and removed any Android viruses or malware, try to connect your devices again and see if the problem is fixed.

11. Check for Troublesome Apps

Sometimes a third-party app with bugs may interfere with your phone's Bluetooth connection and cause problems. To sort out the troublesome app, you may have to go through the time-consuming process explained below.

  1. Open Settings > App management > App list.
  2. From here, disable the first app, restart your phone, and check if the issue is resolved. If Bluetooth is now working, it means this is the troublesome app.
  3. If the problem persists, disable the second app and restart your phone again. Then test Bluetooth again.
  4. Keep going until you find the app that's causing the problem.

If the problematic app is important to you and you can't remove it, contact the app developer about the bug. You can also download an alternate app until the developer resolves the issue.

12. Last Resort: Reset Your Phone

If you've tried all of the above solutions and nothing has worked, your last resort is to reset your phone to factory settings. This will delete all the data and settings on your phone. So make a backup of your important data before the factory reset.

To reset your Android phone, Go to Settings > System > Reset phone. Now tap on Erase all data. On the next screen, the system will again ask you to confirm the reset. Tap Erase all data to do so.

Once the reset process is complete, your phone will restart and all the data will be wiped. This should fix any Bluetooth problems you were having.

If the Bluetooth issue still exists, it's time to go to a reliable phone technician as there may be a problem with your Bluetooth hardware.

Fix Your Android Bluetooth Problems

Bluetooth is a great way to keep your devices connected, but when it doesn’t work properly, it can be incredibly frustrating. Luckily, in most cases, you can fix the Bluetooth problems on your phone with a few simple solutions.

If there is no hardware problem, one of the above solutions will definitely fix the Bluetooth issue on your Android phone. If none of those tips work, then you need to get a hardware repair instead.