← Back to Bluetooth won’t connect

Likely fix

Fix: Bluetooth speaker not showing up

A Bluetooth speaker usually does not show up when it is not in pairing mode, is already connected to another device, has low battery, or Bluetooth discovery is stuck.

Quick answer

Charge the speaker, put it into pairing mode, disconnect it from other devices, then turn Bluetooth off and on.

Important warning

Some speakers automatically reconnect to the last device and will not appear for pairing until that device disconnects.

Try this

  1. 1 Charge the speaker.
  2. 2 Turn the speaker off and on.
  3. 3 Put the speaker into pairing mode.
  4. 4 Move it close to the phone, tablet, or computer.
  5. 5 Turn Bluetooth off and on on the device.
  6. 6 Turn off Bluetooth on nearby devices that may already be connected.
  7. 7 Reset the speaker if it still does not appear.

Common causes

Speaker is not in pairing mode.

Speaker is already connected to another device.

Battery is low.

Bluetooth discovery is stuck.

Speaker needs a reset.

What to check next

  • Check whether the speaker says pairing mode.
  • Check whether another phone is already connected.
  • Check whether the speaker appears after restarting Bluetooth.
  • Check whether the speaker connects by cable if it has an aux input.

This might need a cable or adapter

If this fix points to a cable issue, check the related cable guide before buying the wrong one.

Check the related cable →

FAQ

Why is my Bluetooth speaker not showing up?

It may not be in pairing mode, may be connected to another device, may have low battery, or may need a reset.

Can a Bluetooth speaker connect to another phone automatically?

Yes. Many speakers reconnect to the last paired device automatically.

Should I reset the speaker?

Reset it if charging, pairing mode, and disconnecting other devices do not make it appear.

Related fixes

Fix: Bluetooth headphones not showing up

Bluetooth headphones usually do not appear when they are not in pairing mode, are already connected to another device, have low battery, or need to be reset.

Fix: Bluetooth speaker won’t connect

A speaker that appears but will not connect usually has a broken saved pairing, is already connected somewhere else, or has reached its device memory limit.

Fix: Bluetooth audio stutters or cuts out

Bluetooth audio usually stutters because of distance, interference, low battery, a crowded 2.4 GHz area, app issues, or the device switching audio profiles.

Fix: Bluetooth headphones won’t connect

Headphones that appear but will not connect usually have a corrupted saved pairing, are connected to another device, or need Bluetooth restarted.

Fix: Bluetooth connected but no sound

Bluetooth can connect successfully but play no sound when the wrong audio output is selected, volume is muted, the app is using another device, or the Bluetooth audio profile is stuck.

Fix: Only one Bluetooth earbud works

One earbud usually stops working when the earbuds are out of sync, one side has low battery, the case contacts are dirty, or the earbuds need to be reset.