Earbuds always try to connect to the last paired device with Bluetooth turned on. This can make it seem like they are “not working” when in fact they are connecting correctly, just not to the device you have in hand.
Your earbuds act like this:
- You take the earbuds out of the case, but they don’t show up on your phone
- You later discover they connected to your laptop or tablet instead
Why this happens
When you take your earbuds out of the case, they first look for the last device they were connected to. If that device’s Bluetooth is on, they will connect to it automatically — even if your phone is closer. This is normal behavior.
How to take control
- Turn off Bluetooth on devices you don’t want to connect to (e.g., laptop)
- Wait a few seconds until the earbuds are searching for a new connection
- Turn Bluetooth on for the device you want to use (e.g., your phone)
- The earbuds will now connect to the right device
Using Multipoint
If your earbuds support Multipoint, they can stay connected to two devices at the same time. This means you can connect to your laptop and your phone simultaneously. For more information, see our Multipoint guide.
