Bluetooth device won't reconnect or stay connected to Galaxy phone or tablet

If you cannot connect a Bluetooth accessory to your phone or tablet, going through the connection process step-by-step will help get your wireless devices working together.

A Galaxy phone's Bluetooth settings screen displaying a list of available devices including 'Galaxy Buds2 Pro', with the Bluetooth feature turned on, shown next to the open case of the earbuds

Bluetooth device won't reconnect or stay connected to Galaxy phone or tablet

Checkpoint

Check your phone or tablet's Bluetooth

Open the Bluetooth settings.

Bluetooth icon highlighted in the Quick settings panel on a Galaxy phone

Using two fingers, swipe down from the top of your device’s screen to open the Quick settings panel, and then touch and hold the Bluetooth icon. Make sure the switch is turned on.

Check the device’s current connections.

List of bluetooth devices in Bluetooth settings on a Galaxy phone

Your Bluetooth device may not connect to your phone or tablet if it's already connected to another device. If you've previously paired your Bluetooth device to another device that is in range, try disconnecting it from that device before pairing it with a new one.

Try connecting a Bluetooth device.

First, make sure the devices are within 30 feet of each other and that the Bluetooth device is in pairing mode.

From the Bluetooth settings menu, tap Scan, and then select your desired Bluetooth device from the list of available devices. Follow the prompts to complete the pairing.

Scan button highlighted in Bluetooth settings on a Galaxy phone

Remove any third-party cases or covers that may interfere with wireless connections.
If the Bluetooth device requires a PIN, enter the PIN for the device, and then tap OK.
If needed, please refer to the manual that came with the Bluetooth device to confirm the PIN number. If you don't have the manual for the Bluetooth device, try entering 0000. This is the default PIN for many Bluetooth devices. If this does not work, contact that device's manufacturer.

Reset your network settings.

Reset mobile network settings and Reset Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings highlighted

Note: Resetting your network settings will remove all Wi-Fi networks and reset your mobile data settings. You will need to reconnect to any stored networks.

You can try resetting the network settings on your Galaxy device to see if that clears the problem.

Tap Reset mobile network settings for issues with your mobile connection.
Tap Reset Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings for issues with your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections.

Then, tap Reset settings. You may be prompted to enter your security credentials and tap Reset to finish.

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Check your Bluetooth device

Pair another Bluetooth device to the phone or tablet.

Try pairing a different Bluetooth device to the phone or tablet. If it pairs, there is a problem with the original Bluetooth device that wasn't connecting. You will need to contact the Bluetooth device's manufacturer.

Update your accessory.

Many devices have their own firmware or drivers that may need to be updated in order to be compatible with more devices. Updates are often overlooked for devices like car stereos and multimedia receivers. Check with the manufacturer for updates.

Request service.

If you still have issues pairing a Bluetooth device, please visit a Samsung walk-in service center or you can schedule a repair service online.

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Force a reboot on the phone or tablet

Make sure your device has enough battery.

Make sure your battery is charged to at least 5 percent. If your battery is below 5 percent, the phone may not turn on after the reboot.

If the battery is completely drained, it should be charged for a minimum of 15 minutes using an appropriate Samsung charger.

Reboot the device.

Rebooting will be a little different depending on what model you have.

Devices with a Power button: Press and hold the Volume down and Power buttons simultaneously for approximately 10 seconds.
Devices with a Side button: Press and hold the Volume down and Side buttons simultaneously for approximately 10 seconds.

The Power menu may appear; just continue pressing the buttons until the Samsung logo appears.

Select Normal Boot.

The device should boot up normally. However, if the Maintenance mode screen appears, use the Volume buttons to cycle through the options. Then, press the Power button or Side button to select Normal Boot.

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Perform a factory data reset on your phone or tablet

Warning

You may need your Samsung account password or Lock screen password when resetting your phone or tablet. All your data will be erased. However, before resetting your device, you can use Smart Switch or a cloud account to back up your data onto an SD card or USB drive. If you have encrypted your SD card, it must be decrypted before resetting your device.

Before you reset the phone or tablet.

Make sure to back up your phone or tablet. All data and settings will be erased.
Write down the username and password for the account that you used to back up your data.
We recommend having your phone or tablet plugged into the wall charger during the reset process because it may take up to an hour.
If you have encrypted the SD Card inserted in to your phone or tablet, make sure to decrypt it before the reset. Navigate to Settings, search for and select SD, and then tap Decrypt SD card.

Navigate to Settings. Search for and select Factory data reset. Tap Factory data reset again, and then tap Reset. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the reset. You may need to enter your Samsung account password or Lock screen password. The phone or tablet will reboot.

When the phone or tablet reboots, it will have its original factory settings. Now you will need to go through the initial setup to finish setting up the phone or tablet. The phone may require you to enter your Samsung or Google account information to complete the setup.

Before installing any apps, make sure that your phone or tablet is functioning normally.

If you are still encountering any issues, please visit a Samsung walk-in service center or you can schedule a repair service online.

Note

If you are still experiencing network service issues with calling, SMS or MMS messages, network signals, mobile data, or hotspots after resetting the device, you may need to contact your carrier.

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Contact Samsung Support

Contact us online through chat and get support from an expert on your computer, mobile device or tablet. Support is also available on your mobile device through the Samsung Members App.

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