The Most Likely Reasons Bluetooth Won’t Connect
When you can’t pair a Bluetooth headset to your phone or Bluetooth car kit, there are several potential causes. These problems range from compatibility issues to interference from other devices. Before you investigate further, it’s always a good idea to restart your device. If it’s still acting up, here are some likely culprits. A notable exception is when one device uses something called Bluetooth Smart. These devices can only pair with devices that are Bluetooth Smart-compatible. If you have two devices that refuse to connect, do some research to determine whether those devices are compatible. If your devices refuse to connect, remove any obstructions between the two devices. Once you pair your phone with your car via Bluetooth, it should remain connected when you put it in your pocket, backpack, or car phone holder. You might be able to turn Bluetooth back on manually, or you may find that charging your devices is the only way to get them to pair correctly. In any case, it’s a good practice to make sure your devices are fully charged or plugged into a power source if you have trouble getting both to connect. When pairing a phone to a head unit, you typically make one or both devices discoverable, depending on how each one is set up. If your devices are set as discoverable, and you still can’t see one device from the other, you may be dealing with a Bluetooth compatibility issue. USB 3.0 connections can spit out interference in the same 2.4 GHz spectrum used by Bluetooth devices. The issue is related to poor shielding, and you’re more likely to run into this problem in your home or office than in your car. That said, if your laptop uses USB 3.0 and is sitting in the passenger seat, look at it as a potential source of interference. Essentially any electronic device that bleeds into the 2.4 GHz spectrum can interfere with the pairing and operation of Bluetooth devices. If possible, pair your devices in a different location. For internal Bluetooth devices in cars, pair with the vehicle turned off or with accessories like car power inverters unplugged.
