If you are having issues using the Bluetooth on your Fairphone, make sure to read the article Connect via Bluetooth. There you'll find instructions on how to connect via Bluetooth and the compatible Bluetooth protocols.

If you are still having issues after going through the article, proceed with the next steps.

Update

Make sure that your phone is up to date.

If you are not running the latest software, or you are not sure, update your Fairphone to the latest Fairphone OS.

For the device you're trying to connect with, check the manufacturer's website or contact their customer support.

No connection?

Sometimes simply reconnecting the devices or going through the pairing process again is all that it takes. Here's how you can do that:

1. Turn your phone's Bluetooth on and off again. You can see here how to do this.
2. Test again.
   If that didn't help, continue with the next steps.
3. Go to Settings → Connected devices → tap on the problematic device → tap on the button Forget.
4. Remove any paired devices from your target device (refer to the device's user manual).
5. Reboot your Fairphone in Safe mode.
6. Now try to pair again:
   • If rebooting in Safe Mode solves the issue, a third-party app might keep the phone from connecting properly.
   • If rebooting in Safe mode does not solve the problem:
     1. Go to Settings → System → Advanced → Reset options → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth.
     2. Tap on RESET SETTINGS on the bottom and try to pair again.
        
        -IMPORTANT-
        This will remove all saved Wi-Fi networks and paired Bluetooth devices.

No automatic connection?

Reconnection should happen automatically. If you have to set up the connection manually every time, here are a few things to try.

Clear Bluetooth app storage:

1. Go to Settings → Apps → See all [number] apps.
   • Alternatively, go to Settings → Apps & Notifications → App info.
2. Tap on the three dots menu in the upper-right corner → Show system.
3. Tap on the search icon next to the three dots and type in "Bluetooth".
4. Select the app.
5. In the menu that opens, tap Storage & cache.
6. In the menu that opens, tap Clear Storage.
7. Restart the device and try again.

Reset connection settings:

1. Go to Settings → System → tap on Advanced → Reset options.
2. Select Reset Wi-Fi, mobile and Bluetooth.
3. Tap Reset settings.
   
   -IMPORTANT-
   This will remove all saved Wi-Fi networks and paired Bluetooth devices.

Still no connection?

If, after all this, your Fairphone still does not connect and you have access to another Fairphone of the same model, try to pair it with the target device:

1. If the other Fairphone connects while yours does not, make a backup, perform a Factory reset, and try again. If the phone still does not connect, let us know.
2. If the other Fairphone does not connect, there is probably some compatibility issue. For example check if you need to update the firmware of your other device so they can connect with newer Android-based devices. Check the Support section of the manufacturer's website of the device you want to pair with for more information.

If all this doesn't work out, contact our Customer Support with information about the product (brand, model, version), and we will report it to our developers.

In the meantime...

There are still some alternative options:

• Use a wired headset instead of Bluetooth ones.
• Connect to your multimedia hub/stereo system via auxiliary cable.
• Transfer data via USB cable or Wi-Fi.

If after reading the article you need more help, contact our Customer Support.