How to pair Bluetooth headphones with an Android phone

With headphone jacks now a relic of the past, chances are your next headphones/earbuds will connect to your phone wirelessly instead of with an ancient cable. A lot of you have probably already moved on to Bluetooth gear by now, but for those that haven’t, getting used to Bluetooth and all of its quirks can be a bit confusing at first. If you just bought a pair of Bluetooth headphones but can’t figure out how to get them paired with your phone, here’s what you need to know.

Products used in this guide

• Pure Android: Google Pixel 3a ($350 at Best Buy)
• Block out the chaos: TaoTronics ANC Headphones ($50 at Amazon)

How to turn on Bluetooth on your phone

Before you can pair anything with your phone, you need to make sure that its Bluetooth connection is turned on. That may sound like a daunting task if you’ve never messed with your Bluetooth settings, but thankfully, doing so is quite easy.

1. Swipe down from the top of your screen to see your notification panel.
2. Swipe down again to see your Quick Settings.

3. If it’s not illuminated, tap the Bluetooth icon to turn it on.

   

You can turn off your phone’s Bluetooth at any time using this same method, and you’re free to turn it on and off as much as you’d like.

How to pair Bluetooth headphones with your phone

With Bluetooth now enabled on your phone, it’s time to pair your headphones to it! This requires a few more steps, so pay attention.

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Tap Connected devices.
3. Tap Pair new device.
4. Make sure your headphones are in pairing mode (see the owner manual on how to do this).

5. Tap the headphones under the list of available devices.

   

6. Tap the checkbox to allow access to your contacts and call history.

7. Tap Pair.

   

Just like that, your Bluetooth headphones are now paired to your Android phone! If you start playing music, a podcast, or YouTube video from your phone, the audio will now play through the headphones instead of your phone’s speakers.

When you’re done using your Bluetooth headphones, turning them off will disengage them from your phone. Turn them back on, and they’ll automatically reconnect. Once that initial pairing process is complete, Bluetooth headphones are super convenient.

How to unpair Bluetooth headphones from your phone

Should the time come when you’re ready to sell your current Bluetooth headphones and move on to something else, it’s a good idea to unpair the old set from your phone if you’re no longer going to be using it. Here’s what that process looks like.

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Tap Connected devices.
3. Tap the gear icon next to your headphones.

4. Tap Forget.

   

5. Tap Forget device.

   

Again, you only need to do this if you’re getting rid of your existing Bluetooth headphones. If you are simply done using them for the day and when to disconnect them from your phone, all you need to do is turn them off.

Our top equipment picks

Pure Android

Google Pixel 3a

• $350 at Best Buy
• $363 at Amazon

Clean software and excellent price

The Pixel 3a is arguably one of the best values in the Android space. It takes outstanding pictures, the AMOLED display looks great, and you’re guaranteed to receive software updates through May 2022.

Block out the chaos

TaoTronics ANC Headphones

Leave distractions and wires behind

These Bluetooth headphones are wonderful for several reasons — they use the same USB-C cable as your phone or laptop and the battery can last 40 hours on a single charge — but the one you’ll be most grateful for when you need a reprieve from the madness of the world is active noise cancelling.

$50 at Amazon