Connect with Bluetooth™

To connect with a new Bluetooth accessory or other device, you need to pair with it. You only need to do this once for each device.

After connecting with a device, you can use Bluetooth to:

TipBluetooth connections can really drain your battery. Save power by turning Bluetooth off when you're not connected to a device.

Pair with a Bluetooth device

  1. Set the device you want to pair (accessory, computer, other phone, etc.) to Bluetooth discovery mode so that your phone can find it. See the device manufacturer’s instructions.
  2. On your phone, go to Settings and touch Bluetooth.

  3. Turn on Bluetooth.

    As the phone searches for available devices, you'll see . To refresh the list of available devices, touch > Refresh.

  4. Touch an available device to connect.

  5. Do any of the following:

    • If a pairing code appears on your phone and Bluetooth device, make sure the codes match. (If they don't, touch Cancel, verify the name of the device you want to pair with, and try again.) If available, use check boxes to select which phone features the paired device can access (like contacts, phone audio, internet access).
    • If your device shows a passkey (like 0000 or 1234), enter it on your phone. If you don't see a place to enter it, swipe down from the top of your screen and touch the Bluetooth notification.
    • If your device doesn't show a passkey and you must enter one for the device to pair, see the device manufacturers' instructions.

  6. Touch Pair on your phone AND touch the pairing prompt on the other device. If you don't confirm on both devices, pairing will fail.

    appears in the status bar when the device is connected.

  7. Set options:

    • On your phone: Next to the paired device name, touch to allow or deny use of certain phone features (like contacts, phone audio, or internet access).
    • On your paired device: Look for Bluetooth options, where you can adjust settings, including file transfer settings.

    If you don't allow access to these features, you may not be able to perform tasks over Bluetooth.

TipIf you use a screen lock on your phone, you can designate a paired Bluetooth device as a trusted device to allow your phone to remain unlocked while connected to it. When you disconnect or move out of range, your phone locks again. Go to Settings > Security > Smart Lock > Trusted devices.

Adjust usage settings for paired device

To allow a paired device to use certain phone features (like contacts, phone audio, or internet access), you must turn on access. You may have done this during pairing.

To review or adjust these settings:

  1. Go to Settings and touch Bluetooth.
  2. Turn on Bluetooth.
  3. Next to the paired device, touch .
  4. Check or uncheck features as needed.

The paired device (car, computer, etc.) might also have Bluetooth settings. Review and adjust those, too. For more information, see the paired device manufacturer's instructions.

Reconnect with a Bluetooth device

  1. Open quick settings and touch to turn it on.

  2. Turn on the Bluetooth device.

    appears in the status bar when the device is connected.

Turn Bluetooth off

Bluetooth uses more of your battery, so turn it off when not in use.

Open quick settings and touch to turn it off.

Change your phone name

Your phone name identifies your phone in a Bluetooth network. You can change the name.

  1. Go to Settings and touch Bluetooth.
  2. Make sure Bluetooth is on.
  3. Touch > Rename this device.

Fix a problem

If you’re having problems with a Bluetooth device, try these troubleshooting steps.