Bluetooth won’t connect to car? 9 fixes for iPhone and Android
Most car Bluetooth problems come from an old pairing that has gone bad. Removing it on both sides and pairing fresh fixes most of them.
The fix
9 fixes, in order
- 1
Turn Bluetooth off and on again on the phone.
- 2
Restart the phone and turn the car fully off and on.
- 3
Forget the car on your phone.
On iPhone, tap the info button next to it and choose Forget This Device. On Android, tap the gear and choose Unpair.
- 4
Delete your phone and old phones from the car.
Look for Phone, Bluetooth or Connections in the car’s settings.
- 5
Pair again from the car.
Start pairing on the car screen, choose it on your phone and confirm the code on both.
- 6
Allow contacts and calls when the phone asks.
- 7
Check the audio options.
In the car’s entry in your phone’s Bluetooth list, turn on Calls and Media audio.
- 8
Clear the Bluetooth cache on Android.
Settings › Apps › show system apps › Bluetooth › Storage › Clear cache.
- 9
Update the phone and the car.
Check the carmaker’s app or dealer for head unit updates.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my phone connect to the car but play no sound?
The car may be on another audio source, or media audio is turned off for that connection. Pick Bluetooth as the source on the car screen and check the device’s settings on your phone.
How many phones can a car remember?
Many cars store only five to ten devices. When the list is full, new phones fail to pair, so delete old ones.
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