Tips + Tutorials

Bluetooth Won't Connect? 7 Fixes to Try First

Before you replace the device, reset everything, or decide Bluetooth is personally attacking you, try these seven quick checks first.

Turn Bluetooth off and back on

Sometimes the Bluetooth connection just gets stuck. Toggling Bluetooth off for a few seconds and turning it back on forces the device to scan again.

Quick Fix: Turn Bluetooth off, wait about 10 seconds, turn it back on, then try connecting again.

Make sure the device is actually in pairing mode

A Bluetooth device can be powered on without being ready to pair. Many headphones, speakers, keyboards, and accessories need a button held down until a light flashes or a pairing message appears.

Quick Fix: Check for a flashing indicator light or the device's pairing instructions before trying again.

Move the devices closer together

Bluetooth works best at short range. Walls, furniture, interference, and even having the device across the room can make pairing unreliable.

Quick Fix: Put the two devices within a few feet of each other while pairing.

Disconnect it from another device

Some Bluetooth accessories automatically reconnect to the last phone, tablet, or computer they used. If that happens, your current device may not be able to connect.

Quick Fix: Temporarily turn Bluetooth off on the other device or disconnect the accessory there first.

Forget the device and pair it again

Saved Bluetooth connections can occasionally become corrupted or outdated. Removing the saved pairing lets both devices start fresh.

Quick Fix: Choose Forget, Remove, or Unpair for the device, then put it back into pairing mode and reconnect.

Restart both devices

If Bluetooth services or background processes are stuck, restarting both the phone or computer and the accessory can clear the problem.

Quick Fix: Restart the main device, power the Bluetooth accessory off and back on, then try pairing again.

Check for updates

Bluetooth problems can sometimes come from outdated operating system software, device firmware, or drivers. Updates may include compatibility and connection fixes.

Quick Fix: Install any pending updates, restart afterward, and test the connection again.

Still not connecting?

At this point, check whether the Bluetooth device can connect to something else. If it works on another phone or computer, the issue is probably with the original device. If it refuses to connect anywhere, the accessory itself may need a reset or further troubleshooting.