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How to Fix Bluetooth That Won't Connect

Tap each step to follow along in order.

  1. Turn Bluetooth off and back on

    Simply turning Bluetooth off and back on in your settings often clears up temporary connection glitches on its own.

  2. Restart your devices

    Power off and back on your phone or computer, along with whatever Bluetooth device you're trying to connect.

  3. Forget the connection and pair again

    In your Bluetooth settings, remove the existing paired connection (look for 'Forget' or 'Remove Device'), then start the pairing process over from scratch.

  4. Check distance and interference

    If your devices are too far apart, or there are a lot of other wireless devices nearby, the connection can become unstable β€” try moving closer and reconnecting.

  5. Update software or firmware

    If your operating system or the earbuds/speaker's own firmware is outdated, updating to the latest version can resolve compatibility issues.

Most cases resolve with a simple fix

A large share of Bluetooth connection problems get solved just by restarting a device or re-pairing. Working through the steps above in order usually reveals the actual cause.

If it's a specific pair of earbuds or a speaker

Some Bluetooth devices hold a limited memory of paired devices, and once that list fills up, new connections can start failing. Resetting the earbuds or speaker itself back to factory settings, then pairing fresh, often clears up problems that persist across multiple devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Earbuds that connected fine before won't pair with a different computer now.

The earbuds' paired-device memory may be full. Try resetting the earbuds themselves and pairing again from scratch.

The connection stays active, but the audio keeps cutting out.

Bluetooth signals can be affected by walls, metal objects, or interference from other wireless devices, so try removing obstacles and moving the devices closer together.