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Likely fix

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.

Quick answer

Forget the speaker in Bluetooth settings, restart both devices, then put the speaker in pairing mode and pair it again.

Important warning

Some speakers can store only a limited number of devices. Clearing the speaker’s Bluetooth memory can help.

Try this

  1. 1 Forget or remove the speaker from Bluetooth settings.
  2. 2 Turn Bluetooth off and on.
  3. 3 Restart the speaker.
  4. 4 Restart the phone, tablet, or computer.
  5. 5 Put the speaker into pairing mode.
  6. 6 Pair the speaker again.
  7. 7 If it still fails, reset the speaker’s Bluetooth memory.

Common causes

Corrupted saved pairing.

Speaker already connected to another device.

Speaker memory is full.

Battery is low.

Bluetooth is stuck on the phone or computer.

What to check next

  • Check whether the speaker connects to another device.
  • Check whether the speaker is already connected somewhere else.
  • Check whether the speaker has a reset or clear pairing mode.
  • Check whether the speaker battery is charged.

FAQ

Why does my Bluetooth speaker appear but not connect?

The saved pairing may be broken, the speaker may already be connected to another device, or the speaker may need its Bluetooth memory cleared.

Should I forget the speaker and pair again?

Yes. Removing the saved pairing and pairing again often fixes speakers that appear but will not connect.

Can a Bluetooth speaker's memory be full?

Yes. Some speakers remember only a limited number of devices and need old pairings cleared.

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