Connect with Bluetooth

You can use Bluetooth to connect your phone to other devices without a cord. After you pair a Bluetooth device for the first time, your devices can connect automatically.

Turn Bluetooth on/off

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

  1. Open quick settings.

  2. Tap to switch it on/off.

Pair with and use devices

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.

Your devices stay paired until you unpair them.

  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 > Connected devices.

  3. Tap plus icon.

    As the phone searches for available devices, you'll see .

  4. Tap the name of 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, tap Cancel, verify the name of the device you want to pair with, and try again.)
    • 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 tap 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. Tap Pair on your phone. Check the other device for a pairing prompt as well; if it has one, you'll need to confirm on both devices or pairing will fail.

  7. Set sharing options if you'll want to share contacts, phone audio, media audio, or internet access.

TipIf you use a screen lock, you can define a paired Bluetooth device as a trusted device, keeping your phone unlocked while connected to it. When you disconnect or move out of range, your phone locks again. Go to Settings > Security & privacy > More security & privacy > Extend Unlock > Trusted devices.

Can't pair? Troubleshoot the issue.

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

After pairing with a device, you’ll need to set sharing options and then you can use Bluetooth to:

  1. Open quick settings and turn on.

  2. Turn on the Bluetooth device.

Configure, rename, or remove

  1. Go to Settings > Connected devices.
  2. Tap settings icon by the device's name.
  3. Turn sharing options on or off.
  4. On the paired device or in the device’s app, look for Bluetooth settings to review and adjust. For more information, see the paired device manufacturer’s instructions.

You'll see your phone's name on other Bluetooth devices when you're pairing with them. You can change the name.

  1. Go to Settings > Connected devices.
  2. Tap plus icon > Device name.
  1. Go to Settings > Connected devices.
  2. Under Saved devices, find the device to remove. Tap See all if needed.
  3. Next to the device, tap settings icon.
  4. Tap Delete icon > Forget device.

When Bluetooth is off, your phone can still scan and automatically connect to a previously paired device. To prevent this, turn off Bluetooth scanning.

To turn off scanning:

  1. Go to Settings > Location.
  2. Tap Location services.
  3. Turn Bluetooth scanning off toggle off switch.

If you turn this off, apps that use your location won't work as well.

Fix an issue

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