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Likely fix

Fix: Car Bluetooth won’t pair

Car Bluetooth pairing often fails because the car is not in pairing mode, the phone is already paired badly, the car memory is full, or the phone is connected to another Bluetooth device.

Quick answer

Delete the car from the phone, delete the phone from the car, restart both, then pair again from the car’s Bluetooth menu.

Important warning

Do not troubleshoot car Bluetooth while driving.

Try this

  1. 1 Park safely before changing Bluetooth settings.
  2. 2 Delete the car from the phone’s Bluetooth settings.
  3. 3 Delete the phone from the car’s Bluetooth device list.
  4. 4 Restart the phone.
  5. 5 Turn the car off and back on if safe to do so.
  6. 6 Open the car’s Bluetooth pairing screen.
  7. 7 Pair the phone again and accept contact or audio permissions if asked.

Common causes

Old pairing is corrupted.

Car Bluetooth memory is full.

Phone is already connected to another device.

Car is not in pairing mode.

Permissions were denied during pairing.

What to check next

  • Check whether the car has too many saved phones.
  • Check whether the phone is already connected to headphones or another car.
  • Check whether contacts and media audio permissions were allowed.
  • Check whether the car requires pairing from the car screen first.

FAQ

Why won’t my phone pair with my car?

The car may not be in pairing mode, the old pairing may be corrupted, the car memory may be full, or the phone may already be connected elsewhere.

Should I delete the phone from the car and pair again?

Yes. Delete the car from the phone and the phone from the car, then pair again fresh.

Why does my car ask for permissions?

The car may need permission for calls, contacts, messages, or media audio depending on what features you want.

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