Connect through Bluetooth on your Android device (2024)

You can use Bluetooth to connect some devices to your phone without a cord. After you pair a Bluetooth device for the first time, your devices can pair automatically. If your phone is connected to something through Bluetooth, at the top of the screen, you'll see a Bluetooth iconConnect through Bluetooth on your Android device (1).

Important:

Turn Bluetooth on or off

  1. Swipe down from the top of the screen.
  2. Tap Bluetooth Connect through Bluetooth on your Android device (2).

Tip: To save battery, turn off Bluetooth when not in use. Bluetooth is off in Airplane mode.

Step 1: Pair a Bluetooth accessory

Important: Your devices stay paired until you unpair them.

Option 1: Use the Settings app (all Bluetooth accessories)

  1. Swipe down from the top of the screen.
  2. Touch and hold Bluetooth Connect through Bluetooth on your Android device (3).
  3. Tap Pair new device.
    • If you don't find Pair new device, check under "Available devices" or tap More Connect through Bluetooth on your Android device (4) Connect through Bluetooth on your Android device (5) Refresh.
  4. Tap the name of the Bluetooth device you want to pair with your device.
  5. Follow any on-screen instructions.

Tip: If you need a passcode and don't have it, try 0000 or 1234 (the most common passcodes).

Option 2: Use notifications (Fast Pair accessories only)

  1. Make sure:
    • Your Bluetooth accessory works with Fast Pair.Accessories that work with Fast Pair say soon their boxes. Many also say "Made by Google" or "Made for Google." Find accessories in the Google Store.
    • Your phoneis using Android 6.0 or higher.
    • Your phonehas Bluetooth and Location turned on.
  2. Turn on your Fast Pairaccessory and put it in pairing mode. Make sure your accessory is near your phone or tablet.
  3. When you get a notification, tap Tap to pair.
  4. You'll get a "Device connected" or "Pairing complete" notification.
  5. If your accessory needs to be set up, tapSet up now.

Tip: If you don’t get a notification, open the Settings app on your phone and tap Connected devices. Under “Nearby devices,” select the device you want to pair. To learn more, go to Find Fast Pair accessories.

Step 2: Connect

  1. Swipe down from the top of the screen.
  2. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on.
  3. Touch and hold Bluetooth Connect through Bluetooth on your Android device (6).
  4. In the list of paired devices, tap a paired but unconnected device.
  5. When your phone and the Bluetooth device are connected, the device shows as "Connected."

Set up, unpair, or find a Bluetooth accessory

Unpair, rename, or pick actions for a Bluetooth accessory

  1. Swipe down from the top of the screen.
  2. Touch and hold Bluetooth Connect through Bluetooth on your Android device (7).
    • If your accessory is listed under "Available media devices," next to your device's name, tap Settings Connect through Bluetooth on your Android device (8).
    • If no accessories are listed under "Previously connected devices," tap See all. Next to your accessory's name, tap Settings Connect through Bluetooth on your Android device (9).
  3. Make your change:
    • To change the accessory's name, at the top, tap Edit Connect through Bluetooth on your Android device (10).
    • To disconnect, tap Disconnect Connect through Bluetooth on your Android device (11).
    • To remove the device from your phone completely, tap Forget Connect through Bluetooth on your Android device (12).
    • On some devices, you can turn other settings on or off.

Tip: On a tablet that people share, each person can change the overall Bluetooth settings.

Change your phone or tablet's Bluetooth name

  1. Swipe down from the top of the screen.
  2. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on.
  3. Touch and hold Bluetooth Connect through Bluetooth on your Android device (13).
  4. Tap Device name.
    • If you don't find Device name, tap More Connect through Bluetooth on your Android device (14) Connect through Bluetooth on your Android device (15) Rename this device.
  5. Enter a new name.
  6. Tap Rename.

Find Fast Pair accessories

Important: When you connect with Fast Pair, your Bluetooth accessories are associated with your Google Account. Your other connected devices can recognize newly added accessories and prompt you to pair with the accessories automatically.

  1. On your phone, open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Google Connect through Bluetooth on your Android device (16) Devices & sharing Connect through Bluetooth on your Android device (17) Devices Connect through Bluetooth on your Android device (18) Saved devices.

Tip: To save devices automatically, turn on Automatically save devices.

How Fast Pair handles your data (Fast Pair accessories only)

Google collects certain info to quickly pair your Bluetooth devices with devices that use your Google Account. Some of this functionality uses Google Play services. For example, Fast Pair collects:

  • Personal info for functionality purposes, like the name you call a Bluetooth device during setup.
  • Performance data and usage info for analytics purposes.

Opt out of Fast Pair

The data that Fast Pair collects is encrypted in transit. You can delete collected data when you opt out of Fast Pair.

  1. On your phone, open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Google Connect through Bluetooth on your Android device (19) Devices & sharing Connect through Bluetooth on your Android device (20) Devices Connect through Bluetooth on your Android device (21) Saved devices.

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Connect through Bluetooth on your Android device (2024)

FAQs

Why is Bluetooth not connecting on Android phone? ›

If possible, restart the Bluetooth device. Then, restart your phone or tablet. This can help fix minor issues and may help the Bluetooth device connect again. From the Bluetooth settings menu, tap Scan, and then select your desired Bluetooth device from the list of available devices.

What does it mean when you connect to someone's phone through Bluetooth? ›

Establishing a connection between two Bluetooth devices is like making a phone call. Similar to how you can call someone if you both know one another's phone number; two devices can connect if they have been paired, thereby storing one another's pairing information.

Why does my Bluetooth says it's connected but not working? ›

Check your Bluetooth device

Turn off your Bluetooth device, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on. Make sure your Bluetooth device is in range. If your Bluetooth device is unresponsive or sluggish, check to make sure it's not too close to any other USB device that's plugged into a USB 3.0 port.

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