If you're having trouble pairing a new Bluetooth device, or staying connected to one you've already paired with, it might mean the Bluetooth cache on your device has been corrupted.
Luckily, clearing the Bluetooth cache is easy to do, and should solve common connectivity issues. Here's how to do it on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device.
How to clear the Bluetooth cache on an iPhone or iPad
1. Open the Settings app and tap Bluetooth.
2. If you're having trouble with a specific device that's already paired, find it in the My Devices list and tap the "i" icon to its right, then tap Forget This Device.
3. If your problem with Bluetooth is more general — for example, you can't pair any new devices — forget every Bluetooth device in the My Devices list. (You'll need to re-pair them again later.)
4. Restart your iPhone or iPad to clear the associated cache.
After your iPhone or iPad restarts, the Bluetooth cache will be cleared and you can re-pair your devices to use them again.
How to clear the Bluetooth cache on an Android phone or tablet
1. Start the Settings app.
2. Tap Connections and then tap Bluetooth.
3. If you're having trouble with a specific device that's already paired, find it in the Paired Devices list and tap the gear icon to its right, then tap Unpair.
4. If your problem with Bluetooth is more general — for example, you can't pair any new devices — unpair every Bluetooth device in the Paired Devices list. (You'll need to re-pair them again later.)
There's also a more thorough way of clearing the Bluetooth cache by going through the Apps menu.
1. Open the Settings app, or go back to the main settings page.
2. Tap Apps.
3. Tap the menu icon and then choose Show system apps.
4. In the list of apps, tap Bluetooth.
5. Tap Storage.
6. Tap Clear cache.
Now, restart your Android device to pair your devices to use Bluetooth again.
