Fix Google Pixel 5a Bluetooth Pairing and Not Detecting issues

Google Pixel 5a comes with Bluetooth 5.0. If you’re having trouble pairing your Google Pixel 5a with a Bluetooth device or the device is not detected by the phone, you can try a few things to fix the issue. First, ensure that the phone and Bluetooth are turned on and in pairing mode. If they are, try restarting the phone and the device and then pairing them again. Additionally, you can try clearing the cache and data of the Bluetooth app on your phone or resetting the phone’s network settings. If none of these steps work, You can go through the following Advanced steps.

Even if it doesn’t have apt-X HD, You won’t notice any lag. But when you face any issues connecting your mobile Bluetooth to other devices, you can fix your mobile using one of the below methods.

Reasons for Google Pixel 5a Bluetooth connectivity issues

These reasons will give you an idea of how Bluetooth works and its criteria for making the connection. So, based on the grounds, you can try the exact solution instead of all.

Version Compatibility

Bluetooth devices are backward compatible. Even if you have the latest version, 5.0 and above, It can connect with the older versions like 4.0 and 2.1. In rare situations, old devices like featured phones may not connect with your new mobile. Unless your mobile is too old, you don’t have to worry about the version. You can quickly get the version info in the specifications of your device information.

Bluetooth Range

Even if you have the latest version, When your destination device has an old version, it has limited range capacity. So, try to connect in close range. The range depends on the Class of Bluetooth. But, In the theoretical stage, we can tell that Version 2.1, 4.0 can make connections up to 100 meters. Where 5.0 can go up to 400 meters. In real life, 2.1 and 4.0 can connect devices within 5-25 meters, whereas the 5.0 version can connect with the device within 50 meters. This range is for mobiles without barriers. If there are many barriers, the coverage area may affect. When you consider high-performing machines, the content may vary.

Poor Hardware

Yes, Not all devices use genuine internal parts. The performance of the same Bluetooth version with Reputable manufacturers and low-budget variant devices may vary. Example- You have Bluetooth 4.1 on popular mobile devices, and the same version low-budget Bluetooth speaker may not give you a wide coverage area.

Fix Google Pixel 5a Bluetooth issues

You can resolve most of the Bluetooth issues unless the hardware fails. I will start from the entry-level fix to advanced techniques. Start when it does not work, then you can move to other steps. Below I will mention Android mobiles and Bluetooth devices. The Bluetooth devices can be headphones, Speakers, TVs, PCs, USB keyboards, and Mouse and Game controllers. The fix steps will work on all devices when you connect the particular device with Android mobile.

1. Restart both Google Pixel 5a Mobile and Bluetooth devices

This step may look simple. If you have the experience, you will agree. There may be some glitches or software issues that can happen. But, You can resolve most of the electronic problems by a restart. So, By Restarting your mobile and the Bluetooth device, you can fix the problem. This method may work when you suddenly face challenges with regular working devices.

2. Check Bluetooth Power on Both devices

It is a necessary step. When one of the device’s Bluetooth is off-stage, and you don’t notice, you try other methods, and none of them will work. So, First of all, check the Bluetooth status on both devices.

• In Android Mobiles, you can check this in a notification or  Go to Settings> Connected devices> Bluetooth>Turn on and allow the Discoverable option.

• For other devices like Bluetooth headphones, press the power button for a few seconds. You can check the status by the LED indicator provided on the mobile.

When confident about the power source, move to the steps below.

3. Remove/Forget and Pair again with saved Bluetooth devices

Sometimes the paired Bluetooth devices may not connect again. It can happen due to you changing the name of the mobile. So, based on the device type, unpair/remove the particular device from your Android mobile and try to pair it again. To do this, follow the below steps.

• Go to Settings> Connected devices> Bluetooth> Select the gear icon or more options near the paired devices. Select Remove/Forget.

• After Forgetting the connected device, turn on both Bluetooth and try to pair again.

4. Check connection with other Bluetooth devices

Check with other Bluetooth devices when you can’t connect your Google Pixel 5a with a particular device. By doing this, we can discover whether our mobile has issues or the device is. The connecting device probably has problems when there is no issue with your mobile. Also, Do this with the method as an alternative. Connect a particular device with other mobiles. There is a chance that sometimes, both devices independently work great. But, If you try to pair one with others, you may face issues. It may be due to the version or pair issue. In that situation, try to unpair and pair again.

5. Check compatibility between the devices

Most Bluetooth connection equipment will work with the Google Pixel 5a. But, Not all will work. Sometimes, devices like Keyboards, mice, and Game controllers may not work. So, Check the manual before connecting.

6. Activate supportive Bluetooth Codecs in your Google Pixel 5a

If your Android device runs on the Android Oreo (8.0 or 8.1) OS system or any later versions, it supports aptX HD, and you can activate it quite easily. Remember, your Google Pixel 5a mobile and Audio devices should keep the same technology.

• Turn on Bluetooth and connect the device to your mobile.

• On your Android Device, open the Settings page and scroll to the “About Phone” option or “About Device” option, depending on the one you see.

• When you open the About page, look for Build Number; if you didn’t see it, look for Software Information and tap on it.

• Tap on the “Build Number” option seven times when you see the “Build Number” option. You will see a notification that reads, “you are now a developer.”

• Go to the Settings main page and look for “Developer Options.” Tap on the option and then tap on “Audio Codec.” You should see the list of all codecs supported on your device – most apparently, you’d also find aptX HD in the list.

• From the list of codecs available/supported on your device, tap on aptX HD to activate it. Once activated, if you have an aptX HD-enabled Bluetooth device, you can enjoy 24-bit Audio when you stream from your device.

If your device does not support aptX HD, you can choose LDAC or AAC – they are still suitable codecs that transmit good audio quality.

7. Clear Cache and Data in Bluetooth App

Bluetooth connection happens via a system In-Built app. There is a chance of a Bluetooth address registered on your mobile. As a result, you can’t connect the device again. We can pair the device with a fresh start by removing Data and Cache. Even if we remove the paired device, follow the below steps to remove Cache data in Bluetooth.

• Turn off Bluetooth.

• Go to Settings> Applications> More> Show System Apps> Select Bluetooth Share. If you didn’t enable the System apps, You can’t find the Bluetooth app. Don’t change other app settings. It may affect your mobile.

• After selecting the Bluetooth Share app, Go to Storage and Clear cache and data. Turn on Bluetooth again and try to pair it with the device. It will not affect your mobile. But, when the Unfortunately app stops working, you can fix the issue.

8. Install the latest software

You may need to check out a newer software update available for your device. The bug is likely causing your device connectivity issues, and there may be a fix in a newer software version, thus upgrading to your device’s most recent version. To check out this, follow the steps below.

• Go to your mobile device settings.

• Scroll down to the About Section and click on the “Software update” option

• Tap the “Download and install” option

• Wait for the search to complete to see if any new updates are available.

• If there’s an updated version, click on the download option to update your device software.

However, kindly try other solutions below if this method doesn’t work.

9. Try with Google Pixel 5a Safe Mode

We can do a lot of things in Safe mode. When your mobile is usually working up, you can boot into safe mode and debug the issues. It will remove the third-party app’s influence over System apps. Based on the manufacturers, the method to boot into safe mode differs.

In Google mobiles, Switch off your mobile. In Google Pixel 5a, Long press the power button and select boot into safe mode. Press the power button when the logo appears, release the power button and press the Volume Up button. After booting into safe mode, try to pair again. When you can connect successfully, check with the recently installed apps.

10. Change Bluetooth AVRCP protocol Version

AVRCP is an Audio/Video Remote Control Profile. It is always set up based on mobile default. But sometimes, by changing the version, we can rectify the issue. To do this, you have to enable the Developer Options. After enabling Developer options, follow the below steps.

• Enable Developer Options. To do this, go to settings >>> about >>> Tap on the “Build Number” 7-10 times consistently to enable “Developer Options.”

• Then go to Settings>System>Advanced>Developer Options and choose the “AVRCP version.”

• You will get the versions based on your mobile; try different versions. One of the AVRCP versions must work with the other Bluetooth device.

11. Change the limit of Bluetooth Connectivity devices

You can limit the number of devices that connect with your Android mobile. In most mobiles, it is always set to high value. But, some manufacturers determine this value to save the battery. You may wonder, I connect only one device; what is the issue? Sometimes the mobile itself considers one device. Your fit devices may always connect with your mobile. So, By maximizing the value, we can resolve the problem. When you have Fit devices like Fitbit, you can stream Spotify.

• Enable Developer Options. To do this, go to settings >>> about >>> Tap on the “Build Number” 7-10 times consistently to enable “Developer Options.”

• Then go to Settings>System>Advanced>Developer Options and choose “Maximum connected Bluetooth.”

• You will get the numbers based on your mobile; choose the maximum value. After the setting, try to connect your device.

12. Check Bluetooth hardware status

In rare situations, your Bluetooth hardware may fail. To test Bluetooth hardware, you can use any hardware test app. Here I am using the Test Your Android app. After the installation, Go to Device Information and select Bluetooth. If the app can connect to Bluetooth, you are good to go. When you face issues, There may be a chance of hardware failure. Contact your nearby mobile service center.

13. Reset Your Google Pixel 5a Mobile

It should be your final choice. You can do this Reset process when you are confident that there are no hardware issues, have tried all methods, and can’t connect with the other Bluetooth devices.

Take complBackupckup on your mobile. You can do a soft reset or hard reset. To Reset your mobile, Go to settings> System>Reset Options> Reset app preferences/ Factory Reset.

• Soft Reset/App Preference Reset– This option will remove all the custom settings we made and return to the default settings. It will not delete user data.

• Hard Reset/Factory Reset– It will remove all user data. Your mobile OS will become new, like when you purchased it, and you have to set up everything from the beginning.

Initially, start with the Soft Reset. When you can’t connect again, You can do the Hard reset.

Stock Recovery method

• Switch off your device. It will boot your mobile into Recovery mode. To do this, press and hold down the Volume Up + Power buttons simultaneously for some time. Then, enter into the Stock Recovery mode.

• If you don’t use Rooted mobiles, you have Stock Recovery, which your official mobile manufacturer provides most of the time. If you have stock recovery, you have the direct option of “Wipe Data/Factory Reset.” Navigate to this option and confirm it using the essential power button. Remember, It will delete your entire mobile data. Backupckup first before the process.

TWRP Recovery method

When using Rooted mobiles, you use Stock Recovery or TWRP custom recovery. If you have Stock Recovery, you can use the above process. When you install TWRP on your mobile, follow the steps below.

• The Keycombinations will boot your mobile into TWRP Recovery mode.

• On the Home screen, you can find the option “Wipe.” Select the wipe option; you will receive further details. Select “Dalvik, Data, and Internal Storage.” Don’t select the System, and it will wipe your OS. After selecting other choices, swipe to erase the data. When the process completes, return to home and boot into OS.

14. Flash Complete Google Pixel 5a Firmware

In this method, we are going full flash firmware in your boot logo stuck Google Pixel 5a mobile. It is a Data loss process. So when you don’t have any choice, and none of the above methods don’t work for you, you can use them. Refer- Flash Google Pixel 5a Firmware.

Wrap Up

We are ahead in most of the technologies. A Bluetooth connection is an excellent affordable choice for the transmitter and receiver. But When it comes to the relationship between cross-platform devices, Bluetooth is the only choice that works well. Yes, there are other technologies like Wi-Fi Direct. But, You need a third-device Internet connection for that. It would help if you always were careful when third-party apps ask you for hardware-level permissions like location and connectivity. As I mentioned earlier, we can resolve any issues with the Bluetooth connection unless you have a hardware failure. Did you fix your Bluetooth problem on your Google Pixel 5a? Comment below.

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Selva Ganesh

Selva Ganesh is the Chief Editor of this Blog. He is a Computer Science Engineer, An experienced Android Developer, Professional Blogger with 8+ years in the field. He completed courses about Google News Initiative. He runs Android Infotech which offers Problem Solving Articles around the globe.