Lately, my phone really wants me to turn on Bluetooth. I only own one Bluetooth gadget (a UE Boom 2 I keep around my apartment) and I typically turn the antenna off when I’m not actively using it, but lately it’s been popping back on when I’m not looking. It’s a deliberate move by Apple: under iOS 11, turning Bluetooth off from the control center simply puts Bluetooth on time out until the next morning instead of disabling it permanently. Even when it’s off, the antenna stays on, looking for new devices. You can turn it all the way off by digging into the settings menu, but as soon as you turn it on for any reason, the cycle starts again. The assumption is that, between Apple’s AirPods, the Pencil, and other wireless gadgets, the average person uses Bluetooth enough that a permanent off switch just doesn’t make sense.
That logic might hold true for a lot of Apple users, but it’s not how Bluetooth works for me. After enough creepy tracking stories, I think of Bluetooth more as a liability than a feature. Bluetooth beacons are everywhere, and as long as your antenna is live, there’s a good chance one of your apps is using them to pin down your location. The signal’s short range makes it ideal for identifying someone’s location, which can be used to target ads or even be presented as evidence by police. This is true for every kind of connectivity to some extent, from Wi-Fi down to the cell tower itself. But I’m willing to keep Wi-Fi on because I need Wi-Fi. I don’t need Bluetooth (at least not yet), and as long as I’m not actively using it, I’d rather leave it off. Thanks to a string of sneaky design decisions, that’s getting harder and harder to arrange.
I think of Bluetooth more as a liability than a feature
Before you blame Apple, I should say that Android is just as bad. Even after you turn off Bluetooth connections, most updated Android phones will keep your Bluetooth antenna live to collect location data. To turn it off on a Google Pixel running the latest version of Android, you have to dig five levels deep: in Settings > Security & Location > scroll to Privacy > Location > Scanning. I suspect most Android users have no idea the setting even exists. If any Android users were turning off Bluetooth for privacy reasons, they may have been sharing data without even knowing.
This data thirst isn’t just about greed. Maps and ride-sharing services need to be able to pin down your location, and there’s a real consumer benefit to making that data more accurate and consistent. But it’s also valuable information, particularly for companies like Google that already have an ad network to feed it into. Turning on Bluetooth is a way of sucking up more data and making more money — something companies surely knew when they decided to focus on location-dependent services and Bluetooth-dependent hardware.
In some ways, this is the same deal web services have offered from the beginning: a free product, paid for with some quiet data collection. By now, we barely think about it. But as Bluetooth defaults get more aggressive, that deal is getting worse and most users don’t even realize it’s happening. With so much data pouring through so many avenues, surely an accessible off switch isn’t too much to ask.
FAQs
To turn off Bluetooth, open Settings, locate Bluetooth, swipe to turn Bluetooth off. Bluetooth is now turned off.
Why is my Bluetooth not turning off? ›
I have the latest version of android updated. If you go into settings, location, WI- FI and Bluetooth Scanning and turn off Bluetooth Scanning that should solve the problem. Yeah, I had to ask as airplane mode does no mean what it used to.
Why does Control Center not turn off Bluetooth? ›
If you turn off Bluetooth on an iPhone through the Control Center interface, it doesn't actually turn Bluetooth off. The Bluetooth and Wi-Fi controls in CC only disconnect devices from those services. The services are still on. To really turn them off, you need to go into the Settings app directly.
Why doesn't my iPhone turn off Bluetooth? ›
Why does Apple not actually disable WiFi and Bluetooth when you turn them off in the new iOS Control Center? Almost entirely to preserve a bunch of other features that depend on Bluetooth/Wi-Fi, including AirPlay, AirDrop, Apple Watch, Apple Pencil, and Handoff.
Why can't I disconnect a Bluetooth device? ›
If you're having trouble removing a Bluetooth device, it's possible that Windows won't "let go" of the device because it thinks there's an active Bluetooth connection. To remedy that, open Settings in Windows 11 and click Bluetooth & devices. Then turn off Bluetooth by swiping the button to the left.
How do I physically disable Bluetooth? ›
Open the Start menu, type “Bluetooth Settings”, and select Bluetooth Settings from the search results. Under the 'Manage Bluetooth Devices” section, click the toggle switch to enable Bluetooth capabilities. Click the toggle switch again to disable Bluetooth capabilities.
What happens if Bluetooth stays on? ›
While Bluetooth is beneficial for many applications, be careful how you use it. My advice: Turn off Bluetooth when you're not using it. Keeping it active all the time makes your device more discoverable. As a bonus, keeping Bluetooth off will increase your device's battery life.
How to remove Bluetooth cache? ›
Clear Your Android Device's Bluetooth Cache
- Open Settings, and then tap Apps.
- Tap the Sort icon (the down arrow with three vertical bars), then tap Show system apps.
- Tap OK and all the system apps will appear in the list.
- Tap Bluetooth > Storage > Clear data.
- Tap OK to confirm.
First things first, reboot your Android phone as well as the other phone you're trying to connect to. This is the fastest way to get rid of any temporary bug in your phone that is hindering the Bluetooth connection. Once you have rebooted the device, turn on the Bluetooth from the Control Center or Settings.
How to permanently turn off Bluetooth on iPhone? ›
If you want to completely disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for all networks and devices, follow these steps:
- To turn off Wi-Fi, go to Settings > Wi-Fi and turn off Wi-Fi.
- To turn off Bluetooth, go to Settings > Bluetooth and turn off Bluetooth.
Disabling Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when not in use can help prevent these security risks. By turning off these wireless communication technologies, you can reduce the chances of unauthorized access and protect your device and data from potential cyber threats.
How do I force Bluetooth to stay off? ›
On Android: Go to Settings > Connected Devices > Connection Preferences > Bluetooth. Toggle Bluetooth off.
Why is my iPhone Bluetooth misbehaving? ›
Make sure that your Bluetooth accessory and iOS or iPadOS device are close to each other. Turn your Bluetooth accessory off and back on again. Make sure that your Bluetooth accessory is on and fully charged or connected to power. If your accessory uses batteries, see if they need to be replaced.
Why is iPhone Bluetooth always on? ›
Why does your Bluetooth keep turning on? Your Bluetooth might be turning on because it's on an automatic mode. If you don't turn off your Bluetooth in the Settings, it'll likely turn back on the next day. To disable or turn off your Bluetooth, open "Settings," select "Bluetooth," then toggle off "Bluetooth."
How do I force a Bluetooth device to disconnect? ›
Delete Paired Bluetooth Connection - Android
- From a Home screen, do one of the following to ensure Bluetooth® is turned on from your Android™ device: Navigate: Settings. Connected devices. Connection preferences. Bluetooth. . Navigate: ...
- Tap the appropriate device name or the. Settings icon. (right).
- Tap 'Forget' or 'Unpair'.
Reset Bluetooth settings on your Galaxy phone
- 1 Navigate to and tap Settings.
- 2 Tap Connections.
- 3 Tap the Bluetooth switch to turn it off.
- 4 Wait a few seconds and tap the switch again to turn the Bluetooth back on.
Why does your Bluetooth keep turning on? Your Bluetooth might be turning on because it's on an automatic mode. If you don't turn off your Bluetooth in the Settings, it'll likely turn back on the next day. To disable or turn off your Bluetooth, open "Settings," select "Bluetooth," then toggle off "Bluetooth."
Can Bluetooth turn off by itself? ›
Your phone's Bluetooth may be turning off by itself due to several reasons: Battery saving features, software glitches, interference, App conflict, hardware issue.
