Android Phone Won’t Connect With Bluetooth [Fixed]

What To Do When Your Android Phone Won’t Connect With Bluetooth?

Pairing Issues in Bluetooth is the most common problem when you will find that your Bluetooth device won’t connect to your Android phone or the problem when Bluetooth won’t turn on at all. Such situations are frustrating when you are trying to connect your Bluetooth devices like headphones or speakers to your Android Phone and the pairing fails. These are thus the times when you will need to look for some fixes to cure the connection issues between the Android Phone and the Bluetooth devices. However, before we move on to explore the various steps using you can repair the Bluetooth (BT) pairing fail problems, we will first need to look into what is Bluetooth and what causes its connection issues.

What is Bluetooth?

Bluetooth (BT) is a wireless technology that wirelessly transfers data between two devices such as the Android phone and the other Bluetooth devices, for instance, a BT Headphone or a Speaker. This is one of the most popular wireless transfer technology in the world with the Bluetooth Special Interest Group or the Bluetooth SIG speculating a two-fold increase in the production of such devices in the next three years. Now, Bluetooth is all great only when it works and it could really get annoying when in the time of need you would discover that your wireless device won’t connect to your Android Phone. You will hence need to look for ways to repair these connectivity issues. However, before proceeding towards the solution let us first look at what causes such Bluetooth pairing fail issues.

Why Do Pairings fail?

Bluetooth depends on both the Hardware and the Software in order to function properly. During transmission, the two devices can connect only if they speak the same BT language. Thus, the problem with pairing happens when the devices don’t speak the same transmission language. BT connection problems may arise out of the following reasons:

• Devices are not compatible with each other.
• Too much distance between the device and any obstruction between them will too affect the connectivity between the devices.
• Devices won’t pair if the Bluetooth connection is switched off or not connected to power or don’t have enough charge.
• Make sure that the devices have their Bluetooth enabled and are ready to pair.
• Remove any sources of interference.
• Turn the devices off and back on again.

In general, the BT technology enables Backward compatibility which allows newer versions to be able to pair up with the older versions of this wireless technology. For instance, BT devices supporting the BT 5 standard should still be able to pair with devices using, say, that of the 2.1 version, launched back in 2007. Exceptions in this case, however, are the gadgets that use a low-energy version called BT Smart, which works on a different protocol than older, or “Classic” BT devices. Bluetooth Smart devices are not backward compatible and won’t recognize (or pair with) older devices that support Classic Bluetooth. (For example, an old Sony Ericsson phone sporting BT 3.0 won’t be able to connect to a BT Smart device.)

However, if a device supports BT 4.0 (in some cases), 4.2 (in most cases) or 5.0 (in most cases), it should recognize both Bluetooth Smart and Classic. BT 4.0 devices will be officially labeled Bluetooth Smart Ready. In the case of BT 4.2 and 5, it’s expected. Gadgets that commonly use Bluetooth Smart include personal health gadgets such as fitness bands or heart-rate monitors. These gadgets will only pair with a smartphone or tablet that also uses Bluetooth Smart – or are BT Smart Ready. Most smartphones are BT Smart compatible. That includes Android phones running 4.3 or newer. Therefore, it is important that your phone is running the latest version of its operating system – but if your device isn’t new enough to run relatively current software, you may not be able to pair it with that fitness band.

Besides these causes, devices also come with specific BT profiles. If Bluetooth is the common language connecting devices, you can think of a profile as a dialect associated with a certain use. For example, you probably aren’t going to be able to connect a mouse and a camera because a camera doesn’t support the Human Interface Device Profile. But if both a mobile phone and a wireless headset support the Hands-Free Profile, you should be able to pair them. However, if the pairing failure is a matter of user error, then here are the steps using which you should be able to fix this.

How To Fix Android Phone When It Won’t Connect Or Pair With Bluetooth

A pairing issue between the Android and a BT device is common and can be fixed by following some troubleshooting steps. Nevertheless, it is still advised that one should get professional help if the pairing problem doesn’t get resolved despite the troubleshooting procedures.

Fix 1- Toggle the Connection

This is the most basic solution that would work most of the time when your Bluetooth device won’t connect to your Android Phone. In order to troubleshoot the connection, you will first have to go to the Bluetooth icon by pulling down the notification shade of your phone. Once you find the icon, switch off the connection and wait for 10 seconds before you switch it back on. Once you have completed the procedure, check if your Bluetooth connection is working or not. If you still see the issue when Bluetooth won’t connect to the Android phone is prevailing then that might be a hardware or software related issue and you might need to visit a professionally skilled technician to get your Android phone repaired.

Procedure 2- Locate If The Issue Lies In The Device Or In The Phone

Without any doubt, this is the most primary and the most important step where we need to find out if the problem lies with the Bluetooth device or the Android phone. In order to find this out try connecting the BT device to another device like a different phone or a laptop and check if it works properly on the other devices. If it works fine then you will know that the problem actually lies with your Android phone and not the Bluetooth device. However, if you find that the BT device is actually not getting connected to even other devices then the problem lies with the device itself and you might need to troubleshoot the device or have it checked by a technician. On the other hand, if the phone is at fault then troubleshooting of the phone should be done and if the problem remains, it must be taken to a technician who can check the device and repair your Bluetooth won’t connect to Android issue.

Fix 3- Restart The Phone And The Device

This is a fact that a simple restart or simple rebooting of a device will fix most of its problems. So in order to fix the problem of the Bluetooth not connecting the Android phone, you can start by restarting the phone. Here is how you can perform this step to solve the Bluetooth connecting issues or pairing fail issues. Pull down the notification shade of your phone and tap on the Bluetooth icon after your phone restarts. Make sure that the device is in pairing mode. Keep it close to your phone and give your phone some time to scan all the nearby devices. Once your phone shows the name of a device on the screen, tap on it and connect. If the connection is successful and the pairing works, then the problem is fixed, but if the problem persists, try restarting the device you are trying to connect. Restart the device and put it in pairing mode and check if the connection is established and if your problem is fixed.

If you find that the issue of Bluetooth not connecting to Android phone is fixed then you have your fix, if it is not then you should check if the BT device is at fault or the phone by following the previously mentioned method. If the former is at fault it should be taken to a technician, similarly, if your Android Phone is at fault then it should be taken to a certified technician who can repair your Android mobile phone and fix the issue of Bluetooth not connecting to the Android phone.

Fix 4- Remove All Paired Devices

Sometimes your Bluetooth connection issue may arise if there are too many old connections listed in your device’s connection list. To put it simply, let’s say your Bluetooth speaker was not connected to your phone, but to your friend’s phone so instead of yours, your friend’s device would automatically get connected once the BT is turned on. Therefore, if you want to pair a new device or add a new connection, you remove the old connections and let your device to get refreshed. This will clear the old connections and let your device look for new connections without any interference.

Here are the steps you should follow to remove all the paired devices:

• Go to Settings Menu 
• Tap on Bluetooth
• When your Bluetooth is On you will see a list of devices that you had paired it with
• There is a settings icon next to the name of each device, tap on the icon and unpair the device
• Do this for all the devices till you have no devices on your list

Once you have removed all the connections, your device will start searching for new phones to connect with and will pair up quickly. However, if you see this fix is not working and your Bluetooth device still won’t connect to your phone then you should take your phone to a certified technician who can repair your phone and fix the issue of Bluetooth not connecting to the Android phone.

Fix 5- Clear Bluetooth Cache And Data

Cache files are the most obnoxious things if they get corrupted. Most of the time it is seen that corrupted cache files and data are the cause of many functions to stop working including Bluetooth. Among BT problems, you would see these two common problems where either the Bluetooth won’t turn or it won’t connect to the Android phone. Here thus, as a solution, you will need to clear the harmful cache files and data that obstructs the BT from getting connected. Cache files usually get corrupt over a long period of time and need to be removed. Deleting cache files is harmless because they only contain data which helps your phone make your Bluetooth experience smooth. These files are automatically created once again when you use Bluetooth.

Here are the steps by which you can delete the Bluetooth cache:

• Head to the Settings menu of your Phone from the notification’s shade
• Tap on Application Manager
• You will find a whole list of applications on the next screen. From the top tabs, swipe to ‘All’ so that all applications are displayed.
• Look for Bluetooth and tap on it
• On the next screen, stop the application forcefully by tapping on Force Stop
• Next, tap on Clear Cache and confirm your selection by tapping OK

Once the cache is cleared, you will need to restart your phone and try connecting once again. Check if the Bluetooth connection is happening or not. If the Bluetooth pairing is not failing then your problem is solved; if not then seek some technical help.

Unlike clearing the Cache Files, clearing the Bluetooth Data is more important since it will reset the BT connection as a whole so that the connection starts anew. However, clearing the Bluetooth data will delete all the previous files, unlike cache clearing which will only clear cache files. Remember, None of the previous details of Bluetooth will be saved after a data reset so if you had any Bluetooth connections or pairings on the Bluetooth’s list of paired devices, all of those connections will be lost completely. Before we move on to the steps of explaining how the data is to be cleared here is what when need to keep in mind.  Remember, none of the previous details of Bluetooth will be saved after a data reset so if you had any Bluetooth connections or pairings on the Bluetooth’s list of paired devices, all of those connections will be lost completely. So it is important to note down the items that you might need later.

• Go to the Settings menu of your device by tapping on the Settings icon from the notification shade of your phone
• Tap on Applications Manager and head into the tab that says ‘All’
• Look for Bluetooth and tap on it
• Now tap on the option that says Clear Data.

Restart the device once the clearing is done and then switch on the Bluetooth connection. With the other device in pairing mode, let your phone search for some new connections to get paired up with. If the connection is successfully done then you know the fix, if not then visit a certified technician to get your Bluetooth Pairing fails repaired.

Fix 6- Update the Software

Not getting your Android phone updated might also cause the problem of Bluetooth failing to pair or the BT device not turning on at all.  There are a lot of things that can be fixed with the help of update including the Bluetooth pairing problems or pairing fails. Therefore, update your phone’s software to ensure that your Android phone not connecting to Bluetooth gets fixed. Here is how you should do it.

Once the update is complete, your phone will restart. After the phone restarts, try to use Bluetooth and check if the problem is fixed. If not then take it to a certified technician to get your Bluetooth connection issues repaired.  It is also important to check if the Bluetooth device itself is connected or not.

Fix 7- Use The Device in Safe Mode

A safe mode is one of the most important troubleshooting methods since once the phone is put in Safe Mode it disables all third-party apps and works in the most basic way. This, in turn, helps you identify problems that may be related to third-party applications.  Sometimes the third-party apps are responsible for the malfunctioning of the device. The BT may be affected by one of the third-party applications and the best way to identify the problem is to use the phone in Safe Mode and check if the Bluetooth works in Safe Mode. Here are the steps to use your phone is Safe Mode:

• Long press the power button to bring up the power options on your screen
• Now press the Power Off option on your screen till you see a pop-up that will ask you if you want to reboot your phone is Safe Mode
• Tap on Ok and allow your phone to restart
• When your phone restarts it will show Safe Mode at the bottom of the screen.

Note: If you are using software older than Jellybean 4.1, you will need to reboot your phone and make sure that when the phone restarts you press and hold the Volume Up and the Volume Down keys together. 

In order to understand what is causing the Bluetooth pairing fails or problems, check if the Bluetooth is connecting to the phone. If yes, then the cause would probably be any application that might be interfering with the Bluetooth connection. In such a case, the only thing that would be left to do is to take action against the app or the apps that are causing the trouble. To find the application you can restart your phone, and it will go back to normal mode. Then you can begin uninstalling the apps that you think may be causing the problem.

Fix 8- Do Factory Reset

Doing a factory reset should be the ultimate fix as it would mean that all the data and apps would be cleared from the device. Once you do a factory setting, all the data and applications would be removed from your phone including the harmful files, thus making your device function smoothly. This will thus resolve Bluetooth pairing problems.

Here is the way you can do a factory reset of your phone

• Go to the Settings menu of your phone.
• Tap on Backup and Reset.
• You can check the option Backup and Reset if you would like to backup your data before resetting the device.
• Tap on Factory Reset.

Once the resetting is done, try to connect the Bluetooth again, if it gets connected then the problem is fixed, if not then it is advisable that the Bluetooth connection problem has a deeper root and the hardware needs to get checked by a professional technician.

Fix 9- Check Pairing Process Your Device Employs

Bluetooth might use various pairing procedures. Sometimes, for example, it involves tapping a code into your phone. Other times, you can just physically touch your phone to the device you want to pair it with. So there might be times you are not sure how to connect a Bluetooth and an Android device using a particular process, in such cases refer to the user guide or look online.

Fix 10- Charge Up Both The Devices

Some devices have smart power management that may turn off Bluetooth if the battery level is too low. If your phone isn’t pairing and you are having Bluetooth Pairing problems or fails, make sure it and the device you’re trying to pair with having enough power in them. However, if the Bluetooth is still not connecting to your android phone then you will need to find out if the problem is in your phone or in your BT device. If the culprit is the phone then you need to get it repaired by professionals.

Fix 11- Keep Away From WiFi Router

A WiFi router can be a potential obstacle for Bluetooth to have successful pairing thus causing problems. This is because both the wifi and the Bluetooth use the same spectrum and since wifi is designed to cope with any obstacles so the Bluetooth instead will have to suffer from connection problem.

What To Do When The Bluetooth shared has stopped? 

This was the most common problem of the Android Jelly Bean 4.3 when a bug caused the Bluetooth connection to drop with an error that said: “Unfortunately Bluetooth Share has Stopped”. The resolution for this issue was to use an app by the name of Bluetooth Crash Resolver. However, if you want to look for some other solutions in such cases, then it is advised that you reset the device to Factory settings. Fortunately, an update has fixed the bug. So if you are using Jellybean 4.3 then you must consider updating the software to ensure that Bluetooth works as expected.

Nevertheless, if the Bluetooth pairing still fails and the pairing problem remains, you should get the problem fixed by professional technicians.

How To Fix Bluetooth Won’t Turn On? 

It might happen sometimes that your Bluetooth is not turning on. In such cases, you should reboot your phone and try to switch on the Bluetooth. 9/10 times it will get fixed with a simple reboot. Nevertheless, if it still remains then seek professional help.

What to do when my Bluetooth won’t connect to my car?

Before we go on to suggest a fix for Bluetooth pairing problems or pairing fails with the car, we should first keep a fact in our mind. We must remember, Bluetooth protocols and standards are revised very often. In order to stay at per with these protocols, we will need to have the latest smartphones and laptops otherwise the Bluetooth won’t work as it won’t connect with the car’s old Bluetooth kit due to lack of compatibility. If you started facing the problem after a recent update of your phone’s firmware, then you may want to check if your car’s Bluetooth kit is still compatible or not.

If it is, then try to delete the cache partition of the phone and connect again. To do so follow these steps:

• Switch off your phone
• Press and Hold the Power button and the Volume Up and Home button together
• Once the Android icon appears on the screen, release the Power button but continue to hold the other two till you see the screen for the Recovery mode.
• Once the phone has the recovery menu, release all the buttons and use the volume key to navigate to the option that says ‘Wipe Cache Partition’
• Use the Power key to confirm your selection

Your device will confirm that the cache partition has been wiped and it will return to the same screen. Now use the Volume button to highlight the option to reboot the device and press the power key to confirm the reboot. Once the device reboots, try connecting again to check if the problem is solved. If it is not, then consult a professional.

This is thus our take on how to fix the problem when your Bluetooth won’t connect to your Android phone. Most of these fixes would be effective for all the Android mobiles. However, if you still face the same issue you can get it repaired by Techyuga