The most common reason Beats disconnect is that Bluetooth pairing has been lost or interrupted
When your Beats headphones won't connect, the problem is almost always one of three things: the pairing information has been erased or corrupted, Bluetooth is turned off on your phone, or your Beats are already paired to a different device and won't switch over. Unlike a wired connection, Bluetooth pairing requires both devices to "remember" each other, and that memory can break if the headphones are reset, if your phone's Bluetooth settings get confused, or if you've paired the same Beats to multiple devices.
The good news is that fixing this does not require technical knowledge — it means walking through a specific sequence of steps to clear the pairing and start fresh. Most people solve this in under five minutes.
Key Takeaways
- Bluetooth pairing is a two-way memory between your phone and headphones, and that memory can break if either device forgets the other or if the headphones are paired to a different device.
- The fastest fix is to forget the Beats in your phone's Bluetooth settings, then put the headphones into pairing mode and reconnect them from scratch.
- If your Beats are currently connected to another device (a laptop, tablet, or different phone), they will not connect to your phone until you disconnect them from that device first.
- Restarting both your phone and your Beats clears temporary glitches that prevent pairing, and should be your first step if forgetting and reconnecting does not work.
- If none of these steps work, your Beats may need a factory reset, which erases all pairing information and returns them to the state they were in when new.
Check whether your Beats are already connected to another device
Beats headphones can only maintain an active connection to one device at a time. If you recently used them with a laptop, tablet, or a different phone, they are still paired to that device and will not connect to your phone until you disconnect them.
Look at the device you used the Beats with last. Open its Bluetooth settings and look for your Beats in the list of connected devices. Tap or click the option to disconnect or forget them. Once you have done that, your Beats will be available to connect to your phone.
If you do not remember which device you used them with, or if you no longer have access to that device, you will need to perform a factory reset on the Beats themselves (see the section below on factory reset).
Forget the Beats in your phone's Bluetooth settings, then reconnect
This is the most reliable fix for connection problems. You are telling your phone to erase its memory of the Beats, then pairing them fresh as if they were new.
On iPhone: Open Settings, tap Bluetooth, find your Beats in the list, tap the information icon (the small "i" in a circle), and tap Forget This Device. Then put your Beats into pairing mode by pressing and holding the power button for about 15 seconds until the LED light flashes white. Your Beats will appear in the Bluetooth list as available. Tap them to reconnect.
On Android: Open Settings, go to Connected Devices or Bluetooth (the exact name varies by phone brand), find your Beats, and tap the settings icon or the option to unpair or forget. Then put your Beats into pairing mode the same way — press and hold the power button for about 15 seconds until the light flashes white. Your Beats will appear in the list. Tap them to reconnect.
Wait for the connection to complete. You will see a confirmation message or a checkmark next to the Beats name. This usually takes 10 to 20 seconds.
Restart both your phone and your Beats
Temporary software glitches can prevent pairing even when the devices are not damaged. Restarting clears these glitches and often solves the problem without any other action.
Restart your phone the normal way — power it off completely, wait 10 seconds, and power it back on. While your phone is restarting, restart your Beats by pressing and holding the power button for 10 seconds until the LED light turns off, then release and press it again to turn them back on.
Once both devices have finished restarting, try connecting again. Go to your phone's Bluetooth settings, put your Beats into pairing mode (press and hold the power button for 15 seconds until the light flashes white), and tap them in the list to connect.
Perform a factory reset on your Beats if other steps do not work
A factory reset erases all pairing information and returns your Beats to the state they were in when new. This is a last resort, but it solves almost every connection problem that the steps above do not.
The exact method depends on which Beats model you have. For most models, press and hold the power button and the volume down button at the same time for about 10 to 15 seconds. The LED light will flash red and white, which signals that the reset is in progress. Release the buttons and wait for the light to turn off.
If you are not sure which Beats model you have, check the Apple Support website or the documentation that came with your headphones — the reset button combination varies slightly between models. Once the reset is complete, your Beats will be in pairing mode automatically. Go to your phone's Bluetooth settings and connect them as if they were new.
Check that Bluetooth is actually turned on
This sounds obvious, but it is worth confirming. If Bluetooth is off on your phone, your Beats will not appear in the list of available devices, and you will think there is a bigger problem than there is.
Open your phone's Bluetooth settings. On iPhone, this is in Settings under Bluetooth. On Android, it is usually under Settings, then Connected Devices or Bluetooth. Make sure the toggle or switch is turned on. You should see the word "On" or a blue toggle switch.
If Bluetooth was off, turn it on, wait a few seconds for it to fully set up, then put your Beats into pairing mode and try connecting again.
What to do if your Beats still will not connect after these steps
If you have worked through all the steps above and your Beats still will not connect, the problem is likely a hardware issue rather than a pairing problem. This could mean the Bluetooth chip in the headphones is damaged, the battery is too low to power Bluetooth, or there is a problem with your phone's Bluetooth hardware.
Charge your Beats fully — a low battery can sometimes prevent pairing even if the headphones still turn on. Leave them charging for at least two hours, then try again. If they still will not connect after a full charge, contact Apple Support or the retailer where you bought the Beats. They can test the headphones and determine whether they need repair or replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my Beats keep disconnecting even after I connect them?
Disconnections usually happen because your phone and Beats are too far apart (Bluetooth typically works within 30 feet), because another device is trying to connect to the Beats at the same time, or because the battery in the Beats is running low. Move closer to your phone, make sure the Beats are not paired to another device, and charge them fully. If disconnections continue, try forgetting and reconnecting as described above.
Can I use the same Beats with multiple phones?
Yes, but only one at a time. Your Beats can be paired to multiple phones, but they will only maintain an active connection to one device. To switch to a different phone, disconnect them from the current phone's Bluetooth settings, then connect them to the new phone. You do not need to forget and re-pair unless you are having connection problems.
What does the LED light color mean on my Beats?
A white flashing light means the Beats are in pairing mode and ready to connect. A solid white or blue light means they are connected. A red light usually indicates a low battery. If the light is off, the Beats are powered off or the battery is completely dead.
Do I need to unpair my Beats from my old phone before using them with a new phone?
You do not have to, but it is a good idea. If you forget the Beats in your old phone's Bluetooth settings before setting up the new phone, you avoid the situation where the Beats try to connect to both phones at once. If you did not do this, just disconnect them from the old phone's Bluetooth settings and they will connect to the new one.
Why does my phone say my Beats are connected but I cannot hear anything?
Check the volume on both your Beats and your phone — the volume on one or both may be turned all the way down. Also check that the audio is actually playing through the Beats and not through your phone's speaker. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom to open Control Center and look at the audio output. On Android, check your sound settings. If volume is not the problem, try disconnecting and reconnecting the Beats.