Why are my Bluetooth headphones not playing sound Android?
Check Bluetooth Is On
The first step is to open your Android phone’s settings and ensure Bluetooth is enabled. The Bluetooth icon, which looks like a capital B or two interconnecting circles, should display at the top of your phone screen when Bluetooth is turned on.
If you don’t see the Bluetooth icon, try toggling Bluetooth off and then on again. You can do this by going into your settings, selecting “Connected devices” or “Connections,” and then tapping the toggle next to Bluetooth so it turns from gray to blue. This resets the Bluetooth connection and can often resolve issues if Bluetooth was stuck in a problematic state.
According to Google’s own Bluetooth troubleshooting guide, turning Bluetooth off and back on is one of the first steps to take if your Bluetooth headphones or speakers aren’t connecting or playing audio (source). The quick settings menu provides the fastest way to toggle Bluetooth on most Android phones. Simply swipe down from the top of your screen and long press on the Bluetooth icon to turn it off, then tap again to turn it back on.
Check Headphones Are Paired
To resolve issues with Bluetooth headphones not playing sound, first open your phone’s Bluetooth settings and ensure the headphones show as a paired device. If you do not see the headphones listed in the paired devices, you will need to connect and pair them.
To pair new Bluetooth headphones, put the headphones into pairing mode by pressing and holding the power button until the LED light flashes (refer to your headphone manual for specific pairing instructions). Then, on your Android phone, go to Settings > Connected Devices > Bluetooth and select the option to add new device. You should see your Bluetooth headphones pop up in the available devices list. Select them to connect and pair the headphones.
According to Android Community, Google has introduced a Fast Pair feature to make connecting Bluetooth devices like headphones quicker and easier on Android phones.
Once your headphones show up under paired devices in Bluetooth settings, they should connect automatically whenever they are powered on in range of your phone. If you are still not getting audio, continue troubleshooting other potential issues.
1. Check Media Volume
To rule out a simple volume setting issue, first open the volume settings on your Android device and ensure the media volume is turned up. On most newer Android devices, swipe down from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings and tap the volume button. This will allow you to set the volume for media playback separately from ringtone or call volume.
Make sure the volume for media is set high enough to hear audio comfortably through your Bluetooth headphones. You may also want to try adjusting the volume up and down to see if that resolves the no audio issue.
Additionally, check for any in-app volume controls within the app you are trying to play audio from. For example, streaming apps and music players often have their own volume adjustment separate from the system volume. Make sure the in-app volume is also turned up. This app-specific volume might be interfering with your ability to hear audio through the Bluetooth headphones.
If adjusting the system and in-app volume levels still does not resolve the problem, you will need to troubleshoot other potential causes.
Toggle Bluetooth A2DP
A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) is the Bluetooth profile that handles streaming high-quality audio from one device to another. It allows devices like headphones to receive an audio signal from a source device like a phone or tablet and play it back.
On Android, there is an option to enable or disable Bluetooth A2DP which can be found in the Developer options. To access Developer options, go to Settings > System > About phone and tap the “Build number” option 7 times. Now back in Settings you will see Developer options appear. In Developer options, find the setting for “Bluetooth Audio Codec” and toggle the option for A2DP off and back on. This essentially resets the A2DP Bluetooth profile which can fix issues with Bluetooth headphones not playing sound properly.
As noted in this CNET article, A2DP allows Bluetooth audio streaming to headphones and speakers from phones, tablets and other devices. Toggling this setting off and on again may resolve problems if the A2DP connection has become unstable.
Disable Battery Optimization
Android can restrict Bluetooth functionality in the background to save battery life. This is called battery optimization and it can prevent Bluetooth headphones from working properly when the screen is off or the app is in the background. To fix this:
Open Settings and go to Apps & notifications > See all apps. Find the Bluetooth app, tap it, then select Battery > Battery optimization > Don’t Optimize. This will disable battery optimization for Bluetooth system-wide so it can function properly in the background.[1]
You can also disable battery optimization for individual apps like streaming music apps. This ensures they can keep using Bluetooth audio when minimized. Open app info, go to Battery, and turn off optimization. With optimization off, Bluetooth and audio should perform reliably in the background.
Reset Bluetooth Cache
Clearing the cache and app data for your Bluetooth app can often resolve connection issues with Bluetooth headphones or other devices. Over time, the cache can become corrupted which can interrupt connections. Resetting this data forces the app to start fresh. Here’s how to reset the Bluetooth app cache on Android:
1. Go to Settings > Apps & notifications.
2. Select the Bluetooth app.
3. Tap Storage > Clear Cache. This clears the app cache.
4. Next tap Storage > Clear Data. This resets the app data.
5. Confirm by tapping OK. The Bluetooth app data and cache are now cleared.
Restart your phone. The Bluetooth app will re-initialize with a clean slate. Try connecting your headphones again. Often, this simple reset will fix Bluetooth connection problems with headphones, speakers, cars, and other paired devices when they suddenly stop working. It’s one of the easiest troubleshooting steps to resolve Bluetooth issues on Android.
Check Physical Headphone Controls
Some Bluetooth headphones have physical buttons to pause, play, skip tracks, adjust volume, etc. If your headphones suddenly stop playing audio, first check if the physical controls are working properly.
Try pressing the play/pause button on the headphones a few times to toggle between pausing and resuming audio playback. The buttons may have become stuck, and pressing them can unstick them.
You can also try pressing the volume up or next track buttons, as sometimes any button press can resolve the issue. Wearable headphones like earbuds tend to accumulate dust and debris near the controls, so pressing the buttons repeatedly can dislodge anything stuck in there.
If your headphones came with a user manual, consult it for instructions on troubleshooting unresponsive control buttons. For example, you may need to long press a button or press multiple buttons simultaneously.
As a last resort, you can try gently cleaning the control buttons with a dry cotton swab to remove any stuck-on grime. Take care not to get any moisture into the earcups. If the physical controls remain unresponsive, your headphones may require professional servicing.
Check For App Interference
Some apps can interrupt or takeover Bluetooth audio on Android devices. This common issue occurs when another app hijacks the audio output and prevents your headphones from receiving the audio signal.
According to a Reddit thread, certain apps are known to cause interference with Bluetooth connections on Motorola devices [1]. Apps like Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube sometimes take over Bluetooth without permission.
To check for app interference, close any recently opened apps that could be interrupting your Bluetooth headphones. You can do this by opening the Recents screen and swiping apps closed. If closing an app fixes your headphone issues, you’ve found the culprit.
Try testing your headphones again after closing apps to see if your audio returns. This simple trick resolves Bluetooth problems in many cases where an app is interfering.
Update Bluetooth Drivers
Outdated Bluetooth drivers can cause connectivity issues between your headphones and Android device. To rule this out, you’ll want to make sure your phone’s operating system and Bluetooth firmware are fully up-to-date.
Go to Settings > System > System Update on your Android phone and install any available updates. This will ensure you have the latest Bluetooth driver version from the device manufacturer. You can also check with your phone manufacturer directly to see if any Bluetooth firmware updates are available.
According to Google support, updating your Android version can help fix various Bluetooth problems like trouble pairing devices or intermittent connections. They recommend staying current with OS updates to benefit from bug fixes and compatibility improvements. [1]
After updating, try unpairing and forgetting your headphones in Bluetooth settings, then pair them again from scratch. This will re-establish the connection using the latest drivers. If issues persist, you may need to consult the headphone manufacturer for potential bugs or incompatibilities with your specific Android model.
10. Factory Reset Headphones
As a last resort, resetting your Bluetooth headphones to factory settings may resolve connectivity issues. This will erase all paired devices and customized settings, restoring the headphones to their original out-of-the-box condition. It’s important to follow the manual instructions carefully for your specific headphone model when performing a reset.
To reset, locate the reset button on your headphones – this is usually a small recessed button somewhere on the earcups or in-line remote. Press and hold the reset button for 5-10 seconds until the LED status light flashes, indicating the reset is complete. After resetting, go through the pairing process again from scratch, connecting and testing the headphones with your Android device before customizing any settings. Resetting doesn’t always fix Bluetooth issues, but is worth trying when standard troubleshooting steps have failed.
For more details, refer to the headphone manufacturer’s guide such as these examples:
How to Factory Reset Bluetooth Headphones (Airpods, Beats, Bose, Sony, JBL, Jabra, …) [1]
How to reset Bluetooth headphones: step-by-step guide [2]
[1] https://avantree.com/knowledge-base/how-to-factory-reset-bluetooth-headphones-airpods-beats-bose-sony-jbl-jabra/
[2] https://polaridad.es/en/resetear-audifonos-bluetooth/