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.
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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.
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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.
Dave Johnson
Freelance Writer
Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.
