Bluetooth Earbuds Not Connecting? Here’s How to Fix Them

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Your Bluetooth earbuds won’t connect, or your phone no longer shows them in its list? Check the charge on the earbuds and the case first, then see whether they are still connected to another device. After that, work through the solutions in order, from a simple restart to a full reset, for AirPods, Galaxy Buds and Sony, on Android, iPhone and Windows.

Common symptoms and causes

• Earbuds not detected, missing from the Bluetooth list, or listed but never connecting.
• Low battery, in the earbuds or in the case.
• Earbuds still connected to another device.
• Pairing mode switched off. In this mode, the earbuds make themselves visible to a new device.
• An old, corrupted pairing. Pairing is how the earbuds are saved in your phone or PC.
• Phone or computer software out of date.

Good to know: menu labels vary by Android manufacturer. If the problem is with a car stereo, follow our guide on car Bluetooth that has stopped working instead.

Before you start

• Charge the earbuds and the case.
• Turn on Bluetooth on the phone or PC.
• Identify the exact model: AirPods 4, AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3 are handled differently from other AirPods.
• With Galaxy Buds, keep the Galaxy Wearable app handy: the software reset runs through it.

Warning: never puncture, bend or heat a lithium battery, and never open the earbuds. A swollen battery will no longer charge and belongs in a collection point. Work on a non-flammable surface.

Warning: a reset erases the pairings and settings of the earbuds (Sony, Galaxy Buds, AirPods), except the simple Sony reset, which keeps the pairing. Note down your personal settings before you start.

Warning: faulty earbuds go through the manufacturer’s warranty or support. Keep your receipt.

Solution 1: recharge and restart Bluetooth

Android

1. Turn the phone’s Bluetooth off, then on again.
2. Check in the Bluetooth list that the earbuds are paired and connected.
3. Restart the phone and the earbuds.

Galaxy Buds

1. Put the earbuds back in the case.
2. Close the lid.
3. Wait at least 7 seconds.
4. Take the earbuds out again.

The Galaxy Buds should reconnect on their own.

AirPods

1. Update iOS, iPadOS or macOS.
2. Put both AirPods in the case and check their charge.
3. Check that Bluetooth is on in Settings > Bluetooth (on a Mac, Apple menu > System Settings > Bluetooth).
4. Open Control Center and tap the AirPlay button.

The AirPods should appear in the list. If they don’t, move on to the next solution.

Solution 2: disconnect the other device and enter pairing mode

Stop playback on any other paired devices first.

Tip: a tablet or computer left within range often grabs the earbuds the moment they leave the case. Turn its Bluetooth off while you pair.

Android

1. Make the earbuds visible: the light often flashes blue.
2. Open Settings > Connected devices > Pair new device.
3. Tap the name of the earbuds.
4. Enter 0000 or 1234 if a PIN is requested.

The earbuds should show as connected.

Good to know: connected but silent? Turn up the volume, then tap the gear icon in Settings > Connected devices > Saved devices. Turn on Media for music and Phone calls for calls, two labels that vary by manufacturer.

AirPods on iPhone

1. Close the case for 15 seconds, then open it again.
2. On AirPods 4, AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3, double-tap the front of the case until the light flashes white.
3. On other models, hold the setup button on the back of the case until the light turns white.
4. Keep the case open near the iPhone and follow the on-screen prompts.

The AirPods should connect once the prompts are done.

Windows

1. Put the earbuds in pairing mode, following their manual.
2. Click Connect in the notification, if the earbuds support Swift Pair (Windows quick pairing).

With no notification, the manual pairing in solution 3 takes over.

Solution 3: forget the device, then pair again

Android

1. Open Settings > Connected devices > Saved devices. If that line is missing, tap Bluetooth.
2. Tap the gear icon next to the earbuds.
3. Tap Forget device (or Unpair, depending on the phone).

The earbuds should disappear from the list. Then pair them again as in solution 2.

iPhone

1. Leave the AirPods in the closed case for 30 seconds.
2. Open Settings > Bluetooth.
3. Under My Devices, tap the (i) button next to the earbuds.
4. Tap Forget This Device.
5. Confirm.

The earbuds should leave My Devices. Repeat the pairing from solution 2.

Windows 11

An already paired device would be removed from Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices, with the … button then Remove device. We did not read this path on an official page.

1. Open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices.
2. Turn Bluetooth on.
3. Open Quick Settings and click the arrow next to Bluetooth.
4. Click Manage Bluetooth devices.
5. Pick the earbuds under New devices.
6. Click Done.

Paired earbuds then reconnect on their own whenever they are in range.

Tip: earbuds missing from the list? Set Bluetooth device discovery to Advanced. A PC without Bluetooth needs a USB adapter.

Good to know: Windows 10 has not been supported since October 14, 2025.

If your PC has no Bluetooth or picks up the earbuds poorly, here is a USB adapter with an adjustable antenna.

TP-Link UB500 Plus, Bluetooth 5.3 USB adapter with external antenna

Adds Bluetooth to a PC that has none or a weak chip. It plugs into a USB port and its antenna can be adjusted.

• AmazonSee at Amazon

Solution 4: reset the earbuds

Warning: the steps below erase data, except the simple Sony reset, which keeps the pairing. Depending on the brand, you lose the pairing or the earbuds’ settings, and Galaxy Buds go back to their first-use state.

AirPods 1, 2, 3, Pro 1 and Pro 2

1. Forget the AirPods on the iPhone (solution 3).
2. Open the case.
3. Hold the setup button on the back for about 15 seconds.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts.

The light should flash amber, then turn white.

AirPods 4, AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3

1. Double-tap the front of the case while the light is on.
2. Double-tap again when the light flashes white.
3. Double-tap a third time when it flashes faster.

The light should turn amber, then white. If it never turns white, close the case for 20 seconds, open it and start again.

Galaxy Buds, from Bluetooth

1. Open Settings > Connections > Bluetooth (Android) or the Bluetooth list (iOS).
2. Tap the gear icon next to the Buds.
3. Tap Unpair, at the bottom right.
4. Tap Unpair again to confirm.

Galaxy Buds, from the Galaxy Wearable app

1. Connect the Buds to the app: without a connection, the option is not available.
2. Open Galaxy Wearable > Earbuds settings > Reset. On One UI 8.0 or later, open Settings > Galaxy Buds > Manage connections > Reset.
3. Confirm.

The Buds should return to their first-use state.

Sony WF-1000XM5: simple reset

This procedure keeps the pairing.

1. Place the earbuds in the case with the lid open.
2. Hold the reset button on the back for 20 seconds or more.
3. Do not let go while the orange light is on. It appears after about 15 seconds and lasts about 5 seconds: releasing then would start the initialization.
4. Release when the light goes out.

Sony WF-1000XM5: initialization

Warning: the next step erases all pairings and all settings. Make sure the case is charged enough, or the initialization is refused.

1. Open the lid.
2. Hold the initialize button for about 15 seconds.
3. Wait for two blue flashes, then the orange light.
4. Release within 5 seconds of the orange light starting.
5. Then delete the pairing on the phone or PC.

The light should flash green four times. If not, try again. The Sony | Headphones Connect app also offers this initialization.

Good to know: these timings come from Sony’s Irish page, and other regional pages give different ones. Follow the page for your country.

On JBL, the procedure depends on the model. On some models it reportedly involves holding the case button for about 15 seconds: we read no official JBL page, so check your manual.

Solution 5: earbuds that won’t connect together

AirPods

No official page confirms that this fixes the case of a single connected earbud.

Warning: this reset erases the pairing.

1. Forget the AirPods on the iPhone (solution 3).
2. Reset them with the procedure for your model (solution 4).

The light should turn amber, then white. If the problem persists, our guide on when only one AirPod works goes further.

Sony WF-1000XM5

Same caveat: no official page confirms this for a single connected earbud.

1. Run the simple reset from solution 4.

The light should go out at the end of the procedure, with the pairing kept.

Galaxy Buds

According to discussions on the Samsung forum, an unofficial source, the software reset stays impossible until both earbuds are connected. In that case, move on to the next section.

If nothing works

After a reset, test the earbuds on another device. On Windows, Microsoft offers a Bluetooth troubleshooting article.

Tip: this test splits the problem in two. If the earbuds work elsewhere, look at the phone or PC.

If the earbuds still fail everywhere, stop there and contact the manufacturer’s warranty or support: Apple, Samsung, Sony or JBL. Have the exact model and the receipt ready.

If the earbuds are too old or out of warranty, here are three recent models to compare.

For a console, see our guide on pairing Bluetooth earbuds with a Nintendo Switch.

Take better care of your Bluetooth earbuds: our toolbox

These accessories help rule out a charging fault and keep your earbuds in good shape.

Frequently asked questions

Why won’t my Bluetooth earbuds connect anymore?

Most often the battery is low, a connection is still active on another device, or the old pairing is corrupted. Outdated software can also play a part. Work through the solutions in order, from the simplest to the reset.

How do I reset Bluetooth earbuds?

The method depends on the brand and model. On AirPods 1, 2, 3, Pro 1 and Pro 2, forget the device, then hold the case button for about 15 seconds. On Galaxy Buds, go through the Galaxy Wearable app, and on Sony WF-1000XM5, use the button on the back or the Sony | Headphones Connect app.

How do I put earbuds in pairing mode?

On AirPods, close the case for 15 seconds, open it again, then double-tap its front or hold the back button, depending on the model. For other brands, follow the manual. The light often flashes blue when the earbuds are visible.

Why does only one earbud connect?

No official page gives a fix for this case: you can try the reset, on AirPods as on Sony WF-1000XM5, with no guarantee of success. On Galaxy Buds, according to Samsung forum discussions, the software reset needs both earbuds connected. A faulty earbud is then a matter for support.

Why can’t my phone find my earbuds?

Check that the earbuds are in pairing mode and not already connected elsewhere. Stop playback on other paired devices, then turn on pairing mode. On Android, then go to Settings > Connected devices > Pair new device.