A Bluetooth device that refuses to connect is one of the most common tech frustrations, and usually one of the easiest to fix.

Forget and Reconnect

Go into Bluetooth settings on both devices, remove or forget the pairing, then start fresh. Bluetooth connections can get stuck in a corrupted state that a simple reconnect attempt will not resolve, but a full forget-and-repair usually does.

Check for Interference and Range

Other Bluetooth devices, Wi-Fi routers, and even microwaves can interfere with the connection, so move closer and turn off unrelated Bluetooth accessories temporarily. Also confirm the device is actually charged, since low battery is an easy thing to overlook.

If problems persist across multiple devices, a restart of your phone or computer’s Bluetooth stack usually clears it up.