Why do my Bluetooth headphones keep disconnecting from my phone?

Bluetooth devices are not perfect and have issues of their own. In fact, one common problem that you may be encountering is that your headset keeps on disconnecting from your phone or device. This can spoil your entire experience, especially if you can’t figure out what the problem is.

Fret not! This problem with your Bluetooth headset has an easy fix that you can read about in this article. I’m going to answer all the most common queries users have. 

“My Bluetooth keeps disconnecting.” What are the causes?

The first step to fixing your problem is figuring out the underlying cause. Once you know why your Bluetooth device keeps disconnecting, you can take the appropriate steps to rectify the issue.

• Interference

One advantage wired headphones seem to have over Bluetooth headphones is that they do not disconnect. In fact, wired headphones carry the audio signal without loss or interruptions. This reliability is because the signal in wired headphones travels through a wire. Thus the headphone faces no interference. 

In comparison, Bluetooth headphones rely on radio waves sent through the air to carry the audio signals. An advantage of this system is that there is no need for a physical connection or annoying wires between your headphones and your device. One disadvantage, however, is that interference and other radio noise frequently creates connection issues for Bluetooth headphones. 

• Compatibility

Moreover, your Bluetooth headset can keep disconnecting for other reasons too. Some Bluetooth headphones are not compatible with all phones and devices. As a result, these Bluetooth headsets will frequently disconnect; or even not connect at all!

• Range

Although Bluetooth headphones send their signals through the air, they still have a limited range. The more you separate the Bluetooth headset and your phone, the weaker the connection will become. Eventually, when you move far enough, the Bluetooth device will disconnect. 

This happens because the radio waves connecting your Bluetooth headphones and your device cannot travel long distances. The maximum range of most Bluetooth devices is 30 feet. Hence, you should ensure that your phone and Bluetooth headset are not separated by more than 30 feet.  

• Too Many Background Apps

Often, we leave dozens of apps running in the background of our phones. Not only do these apps reduce your phone’s performance, but they also affect the Bluetooth headsets and devices connected to your phone. 

Too many apps in the background end up confusing Bluetooth headsets. Thus, they cause interference in the connection between the phone and the Bluetooth headphone. Eventually, because of this, you will experience a loss of connection between your phone and the headset.

 Luckily, this is a simple problem to solve; keep your apps organized and your background clear! 

• Contact Duplicates

Many of us have duplicate contacts on our phone. Duplicate contacts are made when syncing accounts or changing phones and are harmless for the most part. Unfortunately, however, having duplicate contacts in your phone can negatively affect Bluetooth connections. 

Have you ever picked up a call while your Bluetooth headset is connected only for the call to drop? If so, then having duplicate contacts in your phone is the likely culprit. Multiple contacts with the same name or phone number can confuse your Bluetooth headset. This is because the Bluetooth headset cannot figure out which one of the contacts the call is connected to.

The task might prove a little tedious; however, you should go through your contacts and delete all duplicates. By doing this, you will have reduced the chances of a disconnection during a call. 

My Bluetooth keeps disconnecting. How can I fix it?

Now that you know why your Bluetooth keeps disconnecting, fixing it will be simple. You can follow a series of steps to ensure that all the mentioned problems are solved. 

• Distance

The first you should ensure is that your Bluetooth headphones and phone are not too far apart. Although the maximum range of Bluetooth devices is 30 feet, you should not use them more than 3-4 feet apart. 

Moreover, the main Bluetooth antenna is always located in the inline remote of your headphones. Hence, if your inline remote is on the right side, you should keep your phone in your right hand or pocket. Conversely, if the inline remote is on the left side, then keep your device on your left. 

• Restarting

https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-cordless-headphones-815494/

If, despite these changes, you still face issues, then you should try restarting your devices. 

First, restart your Bluetooth headset. After it has turned on, try pairing it to your phone or device again. Often, this will be enough to fix the issue.

However, if restarting the Bluetooth headset does not fix the issue, then restart your phone as well and try connecting again. 

• Reducing Interference

As discussed earlier, Bluetooth signals travel through the air. Thus they can be subject to interference. One common source of interference is wifi routers. 

Wifi routers emit radio waves similar to the radio waves emitted by Bluetooth devices. Hence you can try turning off your Wifi router or moving further away from it. By increasing the distance between your Bluetooth headset and the wifi router, you will be able to decrease interference.

Moreover, USB 3.0 ports can also cause interference between the Bluetooth headset and your phone. If your laptop or desktop has a USB 3.0 port, then you should use your Bluetooth device at a distance from the computer. 

By taking these actions, you can ensure that there is less interference in the Bluetooth connection of your headphones and mobile device. Less interference will lead to a stronger connection between your Bluetooth headset and your phone. Hence your devices will not disconnect as frequently. 

I have tried these fixes, yet still, my Bluetooth keeps disconnecting. What should I do?

Although it is unlikely that your Bluetooth headset will still face issues after trying all the solutions mentioned above, there is still one more trick that you can try; updating firmware.

• Firmware and Drivers

Just like any other piece of hardware, Bluetooth uses a type of software to run on your phone called firmware. Firmware is also sometimes known as the ‘driver’ of the device. Firmware is called this because it functions as a link between the hardware and the software of the devices.

For example, if you are running a music app on your phone, the music signals will need to be converted into radio waves through Bluetooth and sent to your headset. The firmware handles this task by acting as a bridge between the musical signals and the Bluetooth headset. 

Sometimes, however, your device’s firmware may have become corrupted or out of date. Corruption is a natural degradation of software that takes place over time. This can make the software unable to function correctly.

Moreover, the firmware of mainstream services such as Bluetooth is frequently updated. These updates generally add new features or fix bugs in the previous version of the software. Sometimes, however, the firmware is not updated automatically, and thus issues are created. 

Because of out-of-date or corrupted firmware, your Bluetooth headset may function improperly and develop glitches. Issues like difficulties connecting the Bluetooth Headset and phone or frequent disconnections can be part of these glitches.  

To remedy this issue, all you need to do is update your firmware to the latest version. Depending on your phone and Operating System, however, you will need to follow a set of steps to do this. Each device’s steps are different. Thus, you should search online for how to update your device’s Bluetooth firmware. 

Conclusion

Even if, sometimes, your Bluetooth keeps disconnecting, it is a remarkable technology. Wireless Bluetooth headsets will only increase in popularity as time progresses; hence this is a technology worth using. After all, Bluetooth removes the problem of tangled headphones and messy cables permanently. 

Although you may run into issues connecting your Bluetooth device to your phone, these can be overcome. You should try to diagnose the specific problem with your Bluetooth headset and then fix it.

Think about the problems mentioned. Does your home have multiple wifi routers? Do you tend to leave apps open in the background? Or have you not updated your firmware in a long time?
Once you find why your Bluetooth keeps disconnecting, you can apply suitable corrective suggestions for the problem at hand. Whether it be as easy as restarting your device or as cumbersome as deleting duplicate contacts, your Bluetooth device will soon be in working order.