How to Fix Bluetooth Connection Problems in Android?

Bluetooth enables you to connect other devices to your Android phone wirelessly. It is classified as Personal Area Network or PAN as it works only within a short-range using radio waves. You can easily connect headphones, earbuds, speakers, printers, other phones, and computers through Bluetooth. In addition, you can transfer files to other devices using Bluetooth connection. However, you may face various problems while using Bluetooth connection in Android and here is how to fix them.

Fix Bluetooth Problems in Android

One of the most apparent troubles that users could face regarding Bluetooth is the inability of the device to form a pair or connection. The following simple but effective ways will help you resolve the Bluetooth connectivity issue.

1. Rebooting Your Phone

Restarting Android device can resolve many problems related to network connectivity and is worth trying. Press the power button of your device and then choose the “Restart” option. Let your Android phone reboot, and it will hopefully resolve the Bluetooth connectivity problem.

2. Checking Bluetooth is On and Devices are Discoverable

If restarting did not help, then you need to check the devices are within the range and Bluetooth is turned on. Firstly, make sure to check Bluetooth is enabled on both devices that you like to connect through Bluetooth. Open quick access icons by swiping down your finger from the top side of your Android phone. Tapping the icon “Bluetooth” will turn the option on or off in your phone. Sometime, simply toggling the Bluetooth off and on will make the connection to work. However, merely turning on the Bluetooth on both devices may not make a successful connection if the devices are in discoverable mode. This means that a device is ready to connect via Bluetooth with another device that must also be ready for this purpose.

When you turn on Bluetooth on your Android phone, it is not in discoverable mode by default. To do that, open the Settings menu of your Android phone and choose “Connected devices” from the list. The next screen will show you detail of connected devices, if any, and other information. An item in the list with the name “Pair new device” will turn on the Bluetooth to pair a new device. Your phone will start searching for the other Bluetooth devices nearby and display the list of discovered devices. Find the name of the devices you are trying to connect and follow the steps. Make sure the other device is also in discoverable mode so that it will appear on your phone’s list.

3. Checking Bluetooth Connection Range

Bluetooth connection operates over radio waves which have a limited range. Although the latest Bluetooth 5.0 version is claimed to have a range of 240 meters, many factors like obstacles can reduce this range significantly. Note that older Bluetooth versions have a lot less range than new versions. Make sure the device or gadget you are trying to connect is within your phone’s Bluetooth range. Also, look for any interfering objects that might interrupt the Bluetooth connections like other electronic devices. Most of the time, interruption in connection or being at the edge of range can cause your devices to disconnect frequently and reduce the reliability of the Bluetooth connection.

4. Checking 1-on-1 Device Connected via Bluetooth

The latest Bluetooth version allows multiple devices to connect simultaneously with one primary device. However, most of the Android phone models still have old Bluetooth versions, which support only one device at a time to connect. Therefore, make sure that your phone is not already linked to another device through Bluetooth.

To check whether it is connected to another device or not, open “Connected devices” from the Settings of your Android phone. A list of previously connected devices will show with their names. You can see the status of all the devices to check whether you are currently connected to any device or not. The same is true for the other device you connect to your phone. If that device is already linked to another device through Bluetooth, it is not available to connect to your phone.

5. Pairing and Unpairing Devices Over Bluetooth

Not able to pairing the devices is one of the reasons for Bluetooth connection problems in Android devices. If your previously paired device is not connecting, then you can unpair it and add it again like a new Bluetooth device. To unpair a device from the list, access “Connected devices” from the phone’s Settings menu and tap the “Settings” icon in front of the device. The next screen will show you the information about that device. There is a button called “Forget”; tapping it will delete the history of this device. Now try to add this device like a new Bluetooth device. It will probably solve the connectivity issue of already paired devices through Bluetooth.

6. Checking Other Device’s Status

Sometimes, the problem is not with your phone’s Bluetooth, but it might be with the device you are trying to connect. The best way to figure out the faulty device is try connecting your phone with a few other devices and gadgets. If the Bluetooth connection is working fine with other devices, it’s clear that the problem is not with your Android phone but with the other device or gadget in the connection. You may need to troubleshoot other device’s connection by following all the options listed in this article.

7. Clear Bluetooth Cache and Data

Clearing Bluetooth Cache and data might help resolve the Bluetooth connectivity issue.

• Access Settings and then Apps on your Android phone.
• On the Apps screen, select “See all *** apps.”
• Tap on the three dots in the upper right corner of the following screen and choose “Show system.”
• Now find “Bluetooth” in the list and open its App info.
• You will see “Clear Storage” and “Clear Cache” options, letting you clear storage and cache related to Bluetooth connections.
• Once you have cleared up the storage or cache, try to add the device again.

Final Words

If none of the above options fixed your Bluetooth connection problems in Android, it could be a hardware problem. In such a case, you need to check with your phone’s manufacturer or authorized support centre to get technical support.