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Why does my Galaxy A7 won’t pair or connect to other Bluetooth devices and how to fix it (easy steps)

ByGrace November 7, 2019September 4, 2023 September 4, 2023

When it comes to connectivity issues, Bluetooth is always showing in the list of widely raised concerns from users of Samsung Galaxy devices including the Galaxy A7. What causes the problem and what must users do in order to get the Galaxy A7 to work with a Bluetooth accessory? If you have the same questions in mind that needed answer for, then keep reading to find out.

Something is preventing the Galaxy A7 or the Bluetooth device from establishing proper connection thus they cannot communicate with each other using the current Bluetooth protocol. That “something” is what you should determine first in order to fix the Bluetooth problem on your Galaxy handset once and for all.

Bluetooth problems can be attributed to various factors including network errors, proximity issues, device protocol incompatibility, incorrect settings, and software glitches. Generally, the problem is more likely related to the software. Although there are some people who have had issues with Bluetooth pairing due to a faulty hardware on either the phone or the Bluetooth device. Physical or liquid damage that is present on either devices can bar Bluetooth connection between them. For hardware-related problems on Bluetooth, service is often required so as to make Bluetooth functions work properly or as intended on your Galaxy A7.

On the other hand, Bluetooth problems that are tied to software malfunctions can be rectified by some workarounds and applicable generic solutions. To help you determine and resolve the underlying cause, I have created a rundown of all possible solutions to Bluetooth issues on the Galaxy A7. Feel free to include these methods in your own lined up solutions then try to see if any of them works in your case.

Before we move on to our troubleshooting, if you are looking for a solution to a different issue, make sure you drop by our Galaxy A7 troubleshooting page as we’ve already addressed some of the most common problems reported by our readers. Find issues that are similar with yours and use the solutions we suggested. If you still need our help after that, then feel free to contact us by filling up our Android issues questionnaire.

Standard solutions to fix Bluetooth connectivity issues on Samsung Galaxy A7

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Before you start troubleshooting, there are few things that you shouldn’t miss doing. And they are as follow:

Bluetooth protocol. Verify and ensure that the other device supports the same Bluetooth protocols are your Samsung Galaxy A7. You may refer to the user manual of the Bluetooth device for compatibility.
Proximity. Make sure that the Bluetooth device is within range. For most devices including your Samsung Galaxy A7, the Bluetooth communication range is about 30 feet. Be sure your devices are in range.
Power. Check and ensure that the Bluetooth device you are trying to pair with or connect to is turned on.

First workaround: Turn Bluetooth off and on.

Check and ensure that Bluetooth is enabled on both devices. Many people tend to forget doing this so they ended up wasting time and effort in performing a series of troubleshooting procedures only to find out that Bluetooth is not turned on or enabled on the device. Typically, you’ll the Bluetooth icon shown in the status bar if the feature is active or enabled on your Galaxy A7. So if you don’t see this icon, then you should go ahead and check your Bluetooth settings.

To do so, navigate to Apps-> Settings-> Bluetooth menu, then tap the Bluetooth switch to turn on if necessary.

Alternatively, you can access Bluetooth from the notification panel of your Galaxy A7. Here’s how to access the notification panel on your phone:

Touch and hold on the notification bar at the top of the Home screen then drag it down to show the notification panel.

Locate and tap the Bluetooth icon to enable the feature. If it’s already enabled, tap on the Bluetooth icon to disable the feature then after a few seconds tap the icon again to re-enable Bluetooth on your phone.

Second workaround: Reboot your Galaxy A7 (soft reset).

If toggling the Bluetooth icon off or on doesn’t yield positive results, try performing a soft reset or reboot your Galaxy A7. Any temporary files or corrupt data causing the issue can be resolved by a soft reset. If ever you’ve done it already, then you should give it another try and see what happens.

To do so, press and hold the Power button for about 10 seconds or until the Samsung logo appears.
Wait for your phone to boot up completely then try to pair it with your Bluetooth device again.

Third workaround: Remove pairing (unpair) and then pair your devices again.

Remove pairing and then pairing both devices again will help refresh and update your Bluetooth connection. Here’s how it’s done:

Go to your phone Settings->Bluetooth-> and make sure Bluetooth is enabled.
Set your Bluetooth device to discoverable or pairing mode.
Allow your Galaxy A7 to search for available Bluetooth devices in range automatically. Once it’s done scanning, tap to select the Bluetooth device you want to pair with your phone.
If the device is not found, tap Scan to carry out another search round.
Also care to check the Bluetooth user manual for specific pairing instructions and requirements.
If prompted with a Bluetooth pairing request, verify the passkey for both devices, make sure it’s the same and then tap OK.
The default passkey for most Bluetooth device is 0000 or 1234. So try entering any of them to see which of these two works.

Your Galaxy A7 is now paired with the Bluetooth device.

Fourth workaround: Reset network settings on your Galaxy A7.

Performing a network settings reset can help clears cache on your phone’s Bluetooth services and eliminates any existing glitches that might have caused trouble with Bluetooth connectivity feature on your device. And here’s how it’s done:

Tap Apps from the Home screen.
Tap Settings.
Scroll to and tap to select Mobile networks.
Tap Access Point Names.
Tap More.
Then select the Reset to default option.
Tap Reset to confirm settings reset.

After the reset, your Galaxy A7 usually reboots automatically. But if it’s not, then restart your phone manually instead.

Fifth workaround: Update software on your Galaxy A7.

To check for available software updates, go to Apps-> Settings-> Software Updates or be then Software updates. Menu items may vary depending on the Android version your phone runs on. If an update is available, backup your phone data and consider installing the new update. Software updates are not only packed with new and enhanced features and services but also offer bug fixes to the receiving device.

Sixth workaround: Wipe cache partition on your Galaxy A7.

Wiping the cache partition on your Galaxy A7 can help eradicate temporary files and corrupted data from the system cache partition. Doing so can likewise erase the Bluetooth cache files and data. To do a wipe cache partition on your Galaxy A7, follow these steps:

Charge your phone up to 50 percent.
Turn your phone off by pressing the Power button for a few seconds until the device powers off.
Press and hold the Volume Up, Home, and Power buttons simultaneously for a few seconds.
Press the Volume buttons to select Wipe Cache Partition from the menu options.
Then press the Power button to confirm selection.
Highlight Yes by pressing the Power button.

Wait until your phone reboots then try to pair it again with your Bluetooth device and see if it’s now able to connect.

Last option: Master reset (optional).

A factory reset or master reset can be considered your last option if none of the prior methods is able to fix the Bluetooth problem on your Galaxy A7. The problem might be due to a more complex glitch affecting the system functions including the Bluetooth functions of your phone.

Press the Power button until your phone shuts down.
With your phone turned off, press and hold the Volume Up, Home, and Power buttons simultaneously until the Samsung logo appears.
From the recovery menu, select the option to Wipe data/factory reset by pressing the Volume buttons to navigate.
Then press the Power button to confirm selection.
Press the Volume button to highlight Reboot system now option.

Your phone will then restart. Check if it’s already able to connect to your Bluetooth device as intended.

Alternatively, you can do a factory reset through the Settings menu on your device. Here’s how:

Go to Menu-> Settings from the Home screen.
Tap Backup & Reset.
Tap Reset device.
Select the option to Erase everything. That should confirm the master reset.

Seek more help

If none of these methods is able to fix the Bluetooth problem on your Galaxy A7, then you may opt to escalate the problem to Samsung Support or your carrier. At this point, you can say that the problem is most likely due to a faulty hardware component on your phone that needs to be fixed beforehand.

Or you may also contact the manufacturer of your Bluetooth device, to verify and ensure how it works, or if it’s compatible with the Bluetooth protocol used on your Samsung Galaxy 7. You should likewise consider the possibility about the root cause isn’t your phone but rather the Bluetooth accessory you are trying to pair with.

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