In most cases the saved pairing is corrupted: delete the device from the list and pair from scratch (Solution 1). If it does not even appear in the scan, the accessory is probably not in pairing mode or is already connected to another device (Solution 2). When several accessories stop connecting at once, the saved-device list may have hit the limit the phone expects - clearing the old ones fixes it (Solution 4). If the scan finds nothing at all, check the nearby devices permission (Solution 5). Connecting then dropping is usually low battery, distance or interference (Solution 7).
What causes this problem
- A corrupted saved pairing on the phone or the accessory, which blocks reconnection even with everything switched on.
- The accessory already connected to another device, since most only accept one audio connection at a time.
- A full paired-device list, on the phone and on the accessory, which usually stores only a few pairings.
- Nearby devices permission denied to the app or the system, stopping the scan from finding anything.
- Low accessory battery, which still powers on but loses the connection a few metres away.
- Wi-Fi interference on the same band, obstacles between the devices, or the phone in the pocket on the opposite side.
- Charge the accessory before trying anything. Low battery produces symptoms identical to a fault and fools a lot of people.
- Work out whether the problem is with one accessory or all of them. One points at that device's pairing; all of them point at the phone.
- Test the accessory with another phone or a tablet. If it fails on both, the accessory is the problem.
- Keep both devices less than a metre apart while pairing, with nothing in between.
- Know how to put your accessory into pairing mode: usually holding the power button for a few seconds until the light flashes in two alternating colours.
Solutions, in the order to try them
1Unpair the device and pair it again
This is the fix that resolves the most cases, for a simple reason: the security key exchanged during the first pairing is stored on both sides and can fall out of sync after an update, a dropped connection or a change of device. Deleting it on both sides and pairing from scratch recreates that key.
- Open Settings > Connected devices and tap the gear icon next to the accessory.
- Choose the option to unpair, forget or permanently disconnect.
- Switch the accessory off and back on.
- Put the accessory into pairing mode and wait for it to appear in the phone's list of available devices.
- Tap its name and confirm the code, if one is shown. Never accept a pairing request that appears on its own when you did not ask for it.
2Confirm pairing mode and disconnect from the other device
If the accessory does not even show up in the scan, most of the time it is simply powered on rather than in pairing mode - those are different states. Another common trap: headphones and speakers reconnect automatically to the last device they used, and stay invisible to anything else while that connection is live.
- Turn off Bluetooth on the laptop, tablet or other phone that usually uses the accessory, or disconnect from there.
- Put the accessory into pairing mode following its manual. A light flashing in two alternating colours usually indicates that mode.
- On the phone, tap pair new device and leave the scan screen open while the accessory flashes.
- With earbuds, take both out of the case and put them back, then try pairing mode with the case open.
- If the accessory supports multiple pairings, check it is on the right channel or profile, which is usually signalled by different sounds or colours.
3Restart the Bluetooth radio and both devices
Android's Bluetooth service can hang in the background and keep showing the toggle as on without actually working. Switching the radio off and on tears that state down. Airplane mode does it more thoroughly, because it restarts every radio on the device at once.
- Pull down the quick settings, turn Bluetooth off, wait ten seconds and turn it back on.
- If that does not help, enable airplane mode for thirty seconds and turn it off.
- Restart the phone completely, not just lock the screen.
- Switch the accessory off and on too, or use its reset button if it has one.
- Try connecting before changing any deeper settings.
4Clear out the saved-device list
Both the phone and the accessory store a limited number of pairings, and the accessory is usually the tighter of the two: many headphones and speakers keep only a few devices and silently drop the oldest. Once the list fills up, new pairings fail or last a single session. Clearing what you no longer use restores normal behaviour.
- Open Settings > Connected devices and look at the previously saved devices list.
- Remove every accessory you no longer use, especially ones from old phones and rental cars.
- On the accessory, check the manual for how to clear its pairing memory. On many models it is a button combination held for a few seconds.
- Once both sides are clear, pair the accessory you care about again.
- If you use the same headphones with two devices, keep only those two in its memory so one does not push the other out.
5Grant the nearby devices permission
On recent Android versions, scanning for devices depends on a specific permission, and on older versions it was tied to location. Without that authorisation, the list of found devices stays empty forever, with no message explaining why. It is the classic cause for anyone trying to connect through an accessory maker's app.
- Press and hold the icon of the app you use to connect and open the app info screen.
- Go into permissions and allow nearby devices.
- On phones with older Android, also allow location and confirm that device location is turned on in quick settings.
- If you connect directly through system settings rather than an app, turn location on anyway and scan again.
- Close the app and open it again so the new permission takes effect.
6Clear the cache of the system Bluetooth service
Android caches information about paired devices, and that file can become inconsistent over time. Clearing the Bluetooth service cache wipes the saved pairings and makes the system start over. Nothing beyond that is lost: no files, photos or apps are affected.
- Open Settings > Apps and tap the option to see all apps.
- Use the three-dot menu and turn on showing system apps.
- Find the Bluetooth entry in the list.
- Go into storage and choose clear cache. Clearing storage also works, but it deletes every saved pairing.
- Restart the phone and pair the accessory you care about again.
7Fix a dropping connection: battery, distance and interference
When it connects and then drops, it is hardly ever pairing. The first suspect is the accessory's battery, which still powers on but cannot sustain the connection. Then come distance and obstacles: the human body absorbs the signal well, so a phone in the pocket on the opposite side from the earbud is a genuine cause of dropouts.
- Charge the accessory fully and test again before concluding anything.
- Stay within a few metres of the phone, with no walls or your own body between the two devices.
- Move away from microwave ovens and active routers, which work on a nearby band and interfere.
- Disconnect other active Bluetooth accessories, such as a watch or a fitness band, to reduce contention for bandwidth.
- If the drop only happens while using a specific app, take that app out of battery optimisation, because the system may be suspending it in the background.
8Reset network settings or the accessory itself
If nothing worked, a reset is what remains. Android's network reset wipes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile data settings, returning everything to default, without touching files or apps. A factory reset of the accessory does the same on its side. Since you lose saved Wi-Fi passwords, write the important ones down first.
- Open Settings > System > Reset options and choose reset Wi-Fi, mobile and Bluetooth.
- Confirm and restart the phone. Then reconnect your home Wi-Fi and pair the accessory again.
- On the accessory, check the manual for the factory reset, which usually involves holding two buttons together for a few seconds.
- Check for a phone software update in Settings > System, and for accessory firmware updates through the maker's app.
- If the accessory still fails with other devices after all this, the accessory is at fault: use the warranty or a repair service.
Applies to
| System | Status |
|---|---|
| Android 12 or newer | Confirmed |
| Android 9 to 11 | Confirmed |
| Manufacturer skins (Samsung, Xiaomi, Motorola and others) | The steps are the same, but the connected devices menus have different names |
| Car infotainment systems | Some models store very few pairings and require clearing the list from the car's own screen |
Menu names can change slightly between versions. If a step above does not match what you see on screen, the official support page from the manufacturer has the most current wording for your version.
Frequently asked questions
Last checked: Oct 27, 2026 · We review this guide whenever the manufacturer changes the process.