Why wont my Android play music through Bluetooth?
Check Bluetooth Is Turned On
The first step is to ensure Bluetooth is actually enabled on your Android device. Bluetooth is usually enabled by default, but sometimes it can get turned off. Go into your Settings app and check that the Bluetooth toggle is switched on. If Bluetooth is off, turn it on.
You’ll also want to make sure Bluetooth is enabled on the other device you are trying to connect to. For example, if you are trying to connect to a Bluetooth speaker, ensure the speaker is powered on and Bluetooth is enabled on it. Check the other device’s manual if you are unsure.
In addition, when making a new Bluetooth connection between devices, you typically need to make the devices “discoverable” or “visible” to allow pairing. On your Android, go into the Bluetooth settings and ensure the “Visible to all nearby Bluetooth devices” option is checked. Refer to the other device’s instructions as well. Both devices need to be made discoverable for successful new connections.
Checking these basic Bluetooth settings is the first troubleshooting step for any Bluetooth connection issues. Simply enabling and making the devices discoverable can often resolve problems with devices not pairing.
Sources:
Fix Bluetooth problems on Android
Update Android Bluetooth Drivers
Outdated Bluetooth drivers can sometimes be the cause of Bluetooth connection issues on Android devices. Bluetooth drivers act as the interface between the Bluetooth hardware chipset and the operating system. If the drivers are outdated, they may not be fully compatible with the latest Bluetooth protocols and profiles needed for stable connections.
The easiest way to update your Android Bluetooth drivers is through your device’s system settings. Open Settings and go to System > System update to check for any available driver and firmware updates from your device manufacturer. Tap Download and install to update to the latest drivers. This requires an internet connection and sufficient storage space on your device.
You can also try checking your device manufacturer’s website for the latest driver downloads specifically for your model. However, getting it directly through system updates is usually more convenient. Keeping your drivers up-to-date ensures maximum Bluetooth compatibility and performance.
Source: https://support.google.com/android/answer/9769184?hl=en
Disable Battery Optimization
Android’s battery saving features can sometimes interfere with Bluetooth connectivity. Battery optimization restricts background activity for apps in order to preserve battery life. This can cause issues with media apps being unable to maintain a Bluetooth connection (source).
To fix this, you need to disable battery optimization for apps that use Bluetooth like music or podcast players. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Optimization and tap “All Apps”. Locate media apps such as Spotify, YouTube Music etc. and select “Don’t Optimize” (source). This will allow the apps to run properly in the background and stream audio via Bluetooth.
Reset Network Settings
Resetting your Android device’s network settings can often fix bugs related to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. When you reset network settings, it clears any problematic cached data that could be causing issues with Bluetooth music playback.
To reset network settings on your Android device:
- Go to Settings > System > Reset options
- Tap Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth
- Confirm that you want to reset settings
After resetting network settings, you’ll have to re-enter any custom Wi-Fi network names and passwords you had saved. But resetting often solves pesky connectivity issues like problems with Bluetooth music streaming.
Check Paired Device Volume
One of the most common issues with Android not playing music through Bluetooth is that the volume on your paired device may be muted or set too low. The volume on the Bluetooth headphones, speakers, or car audio system itself needs to be high enough for the audio to be heard.
To troubleshoot this, carefully raise the volume on your paired Bluetooth device using any controls or buttons on the device itself. For headphones, this is usually a plus/minus button or slider on the earcup or in-line remote. For speakers, there may be volume buttons directly on the device or on its charging dock. Be sure to raise the volume to a reasonable level – start low and gradually increase.
In addition, check your Bluetooth device to confirm any mute or audio controls are enabled. For example, headphones may have a mute toggle, and speakers could have specific Bluetooth or media audio controls. Turn off any muting and ensure audio playback is enabled on the device itself if these types of controls are available.
Once you’ve verified and raised the volume on the paired Bluetooth device itself, try playing audio or music from your Android device again to see if that resolved the no sound issue.
Remove and Re-pair Devices
Failed or improper pairing can sometimes prevent Bluetooth connections from working properly. When troubleshooting connection issues, it can help to completely remove the pairing for the Android device and the Bluetooth headphones/speakers.
From the Bluetooth settings on your Android device, find the paired Bluetooth device and select “Unpair” or “Forget This Device.” This will completely remove the saved pairing information.
Then, place the Bluetooth headphones/speakers into pairing mode and go back into Bluetooth settings on your Android device and select to add/pair a new device. Follow the prompts to pair to your Bluetooth device again from scratch, entering any passcodes as needed 1.
This often resolves issues caused by unsuccessful initial pairing attempts. Afterwards, try playing audio again over the newly paired Bluetooth connection.
Update Media Apps
Outdated app versions can sometimes cause Bluetooth connectivity issues on Android devices. Check that any media apps you use to play music (such as Spotify, Google Play Music, YouTube Music etc.) are up-to-date by opening the Google Play Store and checking for updates:
- Open the Play Store app.
- Tap the profile icon in the top right corner.
- Scroll down and tap “Manage apps & devices” then “Manage”.
- Under the “Updates” tab, check if there are any updates available for your media apps.
- Tap “Update” next to the app to install the latest version.
Upgrading to the newest version of your music and audio apps can help resolve software bugs that affect Bluetooth connectivity. Try playing music over Bluetooth again after updating to see if the issue is fixed.
Toggle Airplane Mode
One common attempt to fix Bluetooth audio issues on Android is toggling Airplane mode on and off. This turns off all wireless connections on the device, including Bluetooth, and then enables them again when Airplane mode is disabled. The idea behind this is that it essentially forces the device to reconnect and can reset buggy connections.
According to Google’s Android support page, enabling Airplane mode does initially turn off Bluetooth. However, you can re-enable Bluetooth (and Wi-Fi) individually in the Airplane mode settings while keeping data and other connections off. So you can use this to reset Bluetooth without fully losing wireless connectivity.
The process of toggling Airplane mode essentially forces the device to forget all Bluetooth pairings and initiate new connections from scratch once Airplane mode is disabled again. This cycling on and off can fix bugs that occur when connections get stuck. Just remember to re-pair your Bluetooth headphones, speakers or car system after resetting. Going through the pairing process again may clear up underlying software glitches.
Factory Reset Bluetooth
Resetting Bluetooth can fix persistent issues with audio playback over Bluetooth. Based on this source, you can reset Bluetooth by going to Settings > Bluetooth and selecting Reset. This will clear any paired devices and reset settings to default which may resolve connectivity problems.
According to another source, you can also clear the Bluetooth cache by going to Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Bluetooth. Tap the settings icon for a paired device and select Forget or Unpair to remove it. Clearing paired devices forces your phone to repair which can fix issues.
Factory Reset Device
If you have tried all other troubleshooting steps and Bluetooth audio still does not work properly, you may need to reset your Android device to factory settings as a last resort. Be aware that this will erase all data, settings and content from your device, so it is important to backup anything you want to keep first.
Resetting the device to factory default settings often fixes software issues that can prevent Bluetooth from working correctly, by restoring your phone or tablet to its original condition. This clears out any problematic app data, system files, cached memory or incorrect settings that may be interfering with Bluetooth functionality.
To backup your device data such as photos, videos, contacts and music, you can transfer files to a computer or use a cloud backup service. You’ll also want to make sure you know any passwords or PINs saved on the device.
Once your data is backed up, access your device settings menu and navigate to “Backup & reset” or a similarly named reset option. Follow the prompts to perform a complete factory data reset. You will lose all unsaved data during this process. After the reset is complete, set up your device again, reinstall apps and restore your data backup.
With software issues cleared and a fresh install of Android, try connecting your Bluetooth headphones, speakers or car kit again. In most cases, performing a factory reset will get Bluetooth audio streaming properly once more.