Samsung keeps on giving with its incredible line of flagship devices. While we’re awaiting the S9 to hit the global market, let’s not forget about the S8 and how well-developed the handset it is. However, even though S8 checks all the boxes, there are some issues we can’t neglect. Today, we’ll try to address the Bluetooth issue which is, surprisingly, quite common.
Namely, a hefty number of users reported a variety of Bluetooth errors — starting with the connection breaking and reaching a complete inability to connect in the first place. In order to address this, we provided a list of the most common solutions. If you’re a proud S8 user but Bluetooth aches won’t stop, make sure to check the steps we provided below.
Solution 1 – Update your device
First things first. Reset your phone? Did that to no avail? Ok, moving on. Even the manufacturer claims that the majority of seemingly hardware issues are rather software bugs, and you can resolve them by simply updating your firmware. Now, we know that these updates are sometimes more of a problem than a solution, but there’s so much you can do with outdated devices nowadays.
In the Bluetooth case, we can say that the Bluetooth 5 data transfer protocol is a novelty and that older devices will have a hard time pairing with it. Nonetheless, that doesn’t mean that, by adjusting the software, you won’t be able to connect your S8 to your car, headphones or PC.
Follow these instructions to update your firmware on Samsung Galaxy S8:
- Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network.
- Open Settings.
- Tap System Update and check for updates.
- If there’s an update available, make sure to install it as soon as possible.
Solution 2 – Make sure that the pairing device can connect with S8
This is the second side of the same coin. When it comes to Bluetooth, it’s important that both devices are compatible for pairing. Some older stereo systems or wireless speakers can have a hard time pairing with S8, just due to the incompatibility with the newer standard S8 enforces.
Therefore, make sure that the other device is compatible with S8 and, once you’re certain that it can, update its firmware, as well. Since this procedure is digressing from the smartphone area, we advise you to look it up and find out how to do it on your system/device.
Solution 3 – Forget all pairings and restart the Bluetooth service
Let’s move to a sphere of our common understanding. As you already know, there’s no limitation on devices you can pair with. You can pair with one, a few, or dozens — it’ll give you the same result. However, since Android stores the data of every paired device, this can, in some sense, invoke Bluetooth issues.
In order to address this, we advise you to completely remove all pairings and restart Bluetooth’s system service. If you’re unsure how to do it, please follow these instructions:
- Open Settings.
- Choose Bluetooth.
- Tap Paired devices.
- Tap the cog-like settings icon and choose Unpair/Forget.
- Now, get back to Settings and open Application manager.
- Click on the upper-right menu and Show system processes.
- Open Bluetooth Application Manager and clear cache and data.
- Restart your S8 and look for changes.
Solution 4 – Disable NFC and Wi-Fi
This is a commonly recommended step for fixing Bluetooth issues. Namely, the premise is that the frequencies of other wireless data transfer methods affect Bluetooth. In this case, those are NFC and Wi-Fi.
It’s still a long shot, but you can at least try. So, before you enable Bluetooth radio on your S8, disable both NFC and Wireless. This can simply be done by swiping down the panel and tapping both NFC and Wi-Fi, respectively. Once you’ve done it, try reconnecting with Bluetooth and look for improvements.
Solution 5 – Reset Network settings
Even though there’s only so much it can wrong concerning network settings — Bluetooth settings in this particular case — you can try and reset them to factory settings. Namely, we are trying to avoid a complete factory restore, and this is a good way to resolve connectivity issues while keeping your data intact.
In case you can’t find your way on your own, these steps should show you how to reset network settings on Samsung Galaxy S8:
- Open Backup and reset.
- Locate Reset Network settings.
- Tap on Reset Network settings to confirm the selection and restart your device.
Solution 6 – Wipe the cache partition
If you run into any kind of issue with your handset and looked up solutions, there’s a good chance that someone recommended wiping the cache partition. As you might have heard, the internal storage has a special partition that deals with temporary cache files. These files speed up the loading time and enable your Android OS to load faster.
However, they might as well, after some time, pile up and cause issues with various services. In this scenario, the abundance or corruption of cache in the dedicated partition might have broken Bluetooth.
By wiping the cache partition on your S8, you should be able to resolve the error. Also, don’t worry about losing your data. Only the Factory reset will relieve you of everything you stored on your device.
If you’re not sure how to wipe the cache partition on Galaxy S8, follow the instructions provided below:
- Power off the device.
- Press and hold continually Power button + Home button + Volume Down key until the Logo screen appears.
- Use the Volume keys to locate the Wipe cache partition in the Recovery menu.
- Press the Power button to confirm the selection.
- Choose ”Yes” and press the Power button again.
- Your device will restart and start the procedure.
- Once the cache partition is wiped, try connecting via Bluetooth again.
Solution 7 – Run the device in the Safe mode
Finally, if none of the previous solutions failed to satisfy, we can recommend trying running your device in Safe Mode. This way you’ll basically eliminate the handset’s software from the equation. Basically, if you’re still unable to pair with other devices via Bluetooth, it’s safe to say that either that opposite device is the culprit or the hardware is the one that needs a thorough inspection.
Follow these steps to boot Samsung Galaxy S8 in Safe Mode:
- Turn off your S8.
- Press and hold the Power button past the initial screen, until it reaches the Samsung logo.
- Immediately after you release the Power button, press and hold the Volume Down key until the device restarts in Safe mode. You should see the ”Safe mode” inscription.
- Try using Bluetooth in Safe mode. If it works, uninstall lately installed Bluetooth-dependant apps. If it doesn’t work, make sure to call your handset vendor or carrier.
That’s it. In case you have questions or suggestions of some kind, make sure to tell us in the comments section below.
