How To Stop Bluetooth Headphones From Disconnecting

Bluetooth technology is amazing and has revolutionized the way we connect devices in the modern world. Everything from games controllers to mobile phones come equipped with the technology making information and data transfer sync.

Headphones are one such device and wireless headsets are now common in most households. But along with the conveniences that Bluetooth brings, the technology also presents a few issues and there’s nothing worse than stuttering or dropped connection when you are busy listening to your tunes.

Never fear, however, because we are going to guide you through how these problems can be fixed as well as giving you advice on what you can do to prevent Bluetooth headphones from disconnecting in the first place.

You can often stop Bluetooth headphones from disconnecting by doing the following:

• Keep your headphones close to your device
• Avoid interference
• Make sure the devices are compatible
• Make sure there are enough battery power
• re-pair your devices
• Limit the number of running apps

While Bluetooth is a relatively new technology it is also pretty robust. That doesn’t mean it is fool proof, however, and it can misbehave from time to time depending on the conditions. Here are a few of the most common problems that can cause disconnections:

Distance between devices

It’s important to note with any Bluetooth devices that there is a limit on the distance that they can talk to each other. The current maximum distance for Bluetooth transmission is 32 feet but this can be reduced in certain situations, for example when there are walls in the way or other electronic devices that cause interference (more on this later). 

Solution

If you think the problem with your dropped Bluetooth connection is down to the distance between your headset and the device it is streaming from, then you can try one of the following steps

• Move closer to your streaming device. If the connection stays solid, then distance is likely to be the problem and you will have to stay closer to it when streaming in the future.
• Make sure that there are no walls or other objects between your headphones and the streaming device. If there are, try moving closer or moving the obstacles out of the way to see if the connection stabilizes.

Interference of the Bluetooth signal

As with any wireless connection, the Bluetooth signal is susceptible to interference from other devices and wireless technologies. At any given moment you are surrounded by electronic equipment and any one of these devices can cause interference. 

All electronic devices emit an electromagnetic field that can disrupt Bluetooth connections. Things like laptops, PCs, tablets, mobile phones, TVs, tumble dryers, washing machines, tumble dryers, (the list goes on and on) can cause major issues with the Bluetooth signal. 

But electronic devices aren’t the only thing that can cause interference and connections can drop if the Bluetooth signal has to pass through too many metal objects or walls.

Solution

If you think interference is the reason for your headphones to drop their Bluetooth connection, then you could try some or all of the following steps:

• If the device you are streaming from is portable, try moving to a different location where there are no other electronic devices. If the connection becomes stable, then you have found your problem.
• If you cannot move your streaming device (if it is a non-portable Hi-Fi or TV for instance) then try removing the other electronic devices in the same location. Do this one at a time and test your headphones after each. This will give you the opportunity to see which of the devices is causing the problem.
• Try not to stream audio through walls and if there are any large objects (especially if they are made out of metal), move them to a different location. Again, test the headphones to see if this has corrected the issue.

Compatibility issues

Drops in connection can also be caused by a lack of compatibility between your headphones and the device you are trying to connect them to. Although Bluetooth is a relatively new format, it has already gone through a variety of different versions (five at the last count) and devices will vary depending on which version it is supporting. A lot of time dropped connections happen when an older Bluetooth device tries to connect with a newer one.

https://youtu.be/QnMKa5tCi8s

Solution

If you think there is a compatibility issues between your headphones and the device you are streaming from, then there is little you can do to fix it other than purchasing new products that talk nicely with each other (headphones or streaming device). 

Our tip with this one is to do your homework before you buy a new Bluetooth device and make sure it will work well with the technology you already own. Check the manufacturer’s guidance or ask the experts in the store. And if it doesn’t work satisfactorily after taking their advice, take it back for a refund.

Low battery

If the battery in either your Bluetooth headphones or the device you are streaming from is running out, it is likely you will experience connection dropouts. Keep an eye on battery levels before long sessions and make sure you know exactly how long it takes to fully charge your devices.

Wondering how long the battery life is on Bluetooth headphones? Check out this article!

Another problem with batteries is that over time they will lose capacity and the performance of the device will suffer as a result. If you can, replace any failing batteries once they start to deteriorate. 

Solution

If you think the battery level of your headphones or the device they are streaming from is the problem, here are a few solutions to try out:

• Make sure you charge your headset and streaming device to full before any listening session and keep tabs on how quickly it is discharging.
• Plan ahead. If you are planning a long listening session, make sure everything is fully charged beforehand.
• When the battery of the headphones or streaming device starts to fail, replace it immediately. If this means taking the device to a qualified technician, then do so. Don’t put it off until the problem becomes too much to bear. 

Too many software apps running on your streaming device

If you stream music from a device like a smart phone, tablet, laptop, PC, or Mac, then dropped connections can sometimes be a result of the number of apps you are running on the device. 

In the modern world there is a need to multitask in everything we do and completing more than one task at a time with the technology we use is commonplace. For example, we might be writing an email or sending a text while listening to our favourite tunes.

But too many apps running at the same time on any device can cause stutters, jumps, and drops in Bluetooth connections.

Solution 

If you generally listen to music while doing other tasks on your streaming devices, here are a few things you can do to prevent connection dropouts:

• Close any background apps or pieces of software you are not using while streaming music over Bluetooth.
• If you have to use an app while listening to music on your streaming device, think! Do you have another device you could stream your music from? If you do use that instead. 

Issues with pairing

Sometimes a dropped connection can be the result of a pairing issue between the headphones and the device you are trying to stream from. This can happen as a result of updating your device or because you’ve paired either the headset or the streaming device to something else recently. 

It’s important to remember that most modern Bluetooth headsets will keep one device in their memory as a priority connection and will favour this over all others. This is generally the last one they were paired to. 

Solution

If you think that your headphones are dropping Bluetooth connection because of a pairing issue, here are the steps to correct the problem:

• Head into the settings of your device and unpair the headphones if they appear in the Bluetooth settings. If they don’t skip to the next step.
• Click the button to pair a device and wait for your headphones to appear in the list that appears.
• Click on your headphones and follow whatever instructions your device gives you to pair them together.
• Check that the headphones appear in the paired devices section.
• Test the headphones again and make sure that the connection stays strong and does not drop.

In Conclusion

Connection dropouts when listening to music over a Bluetooth connection can be infuriating and figuring out how to fix the problem a real chore. But by following some of the tips and advice above the next time a problem arises, you should be well armed to fix it quickly and with little fuss.

For more quality headphone guides, check out some of the other articles on our website.