Connecting Cricut to Bluetooth: The Basic Steps
To connect your Cricut machine to Bluetooth, you need the Cricut Design Space app on your phone or tablet, your machine turned on and within 30 feet of your device, and Bluetooth enabled on both. The connection happens inside the app itself — you do not pair through your phone's settings the way you would with headphones. Open Design Space, tap the machine icon, select "Add a Machine," choose your machine model, and the app will find it and connect automatically if Bluetooth is on.
The entire process takes about two minutes once you have the app installed. If your machine does not appear in the list, the most common reason is that Bluetooth is off on your phone or the machine is too far away. Cricut machines with Bluetooth built in include the Cricut Maker, Cricut Explore 3, and Cricut Joy — older models like the original Cricut Explore do not have this feature and cannot connect wirelessly.
Key Takeaways
- Cricut Design Space app handles the Bluetooth connection, not your phone's settings — open the app and use the machine icon to add your device.
- Your machine must be turned on, within 30 feet of your phone or tablet, and have Bluetooth enabled for the connection to work.
- Only newer Cricut models (Maker, Explore 3, Joy) have Bluetooth; older machines require a USB cable or do not connect to the app at all.
- If your machine does not show up, restart both your phone and the machine, then try adding it again from the Design Space app.
Turning On Bluetooth on Your Cricut Machine
Most Cricut machines with Bluetooth have a power button on the front or side. Press and hold it for three seconds — the machine will beep and a light will turn on. Bluetooth is enabled by default on these models once the machine is powered on, so you do not need to flip a separate switch or navigate a menu.
If your machine has a small screen (like the Cricut Joy), you may see a Bluetooth icon appear on the display once it powers up. This icon confirms that Bluetooth is active and the machine is ready to pair. If you do not see any light or hear a beep, the machine may not have power — check that it is plugged in and the outlet works by testing it with another device.
Making Sure Bluetooth Is On Your Phone or Tablet
On an iPhone, swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Center, then tap the Bluetooth icon — it should turn blue when active. On Android, swipe down twice from the top to open Quick Settings, find Bluetooth, and tap it to turn it on. The icon will change color or show as active once Bluetooth is enabled.
Bluetooth must stay on while you use Design Space to send designs to your machine. If you turn Bluetooth off after connecting, the app will lose contact with your machine and you will not be able to cut. You can turn Bluetooth back on at any time and reconnect by opening Design Space again — the app remembers your machine and reconnects automatically.
What to Do If Your Machine Does Not Appear in Design Space
If you tap "Add a Machine" and your Cricut does not show up in the list, first check that the machine is powered on and Bluetooth is enabled on both devices. Then restart your phone or tablet completely — turn it off, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. This clears temporary connection problems that prevent the app from seeing nearby devices.
Next, restart the Cricut machine itself by turning it off, waiting 10 seconds, and turning it back on. Once both devices have restarted, open Design Space again and try adding the machine. If it still does not appear, move the machine closer to your phone — Bluetooth works best within 10 to 15 feet, and walls or metal objects can block the signal. If the machine is more than 30 feet away, move it closer and try again.
If your machine still does not appear after restarting both devices and moving closer, uninstall and reinstall the Design Space app. Open your phone's app store, search for Cricut Design Space, and delete the app, then read it fresh. Log back in with your Cricut account and try adding the machine again. This fixes problems where the app's connection settings become corrupted.
Connecting Multiple Cricut Machines to One Account
You can add more than one Cricut machine to your Design Space account, and the app will remember all of them. When you open Design Space, tap the machine icon and you will see a list of every machine you have added. Tap the one you want to use, and the app will connect to it via Bluetooth.
If you have two machines in the same room, make sure only one is powered on when you are adding a new machine to your account. If both are on, the app may connect to the wrong one. Once both machines are added to your account, you can turn them both on and select which one you want to use from the machine list each time you open the app.
Switching Between Bluetooth and USB Connection
Some Cricut machines can connect either by Bluetooth or by USB cable. If you prefer to use a USB cable instead of Bluetooth, plug the cable into your machine and your computer, then open Design Space on that computer. The app will detect the machine through the cable and you can use it that way without Bluetooth.
You do not need to do anything special to switch — just use whichever connection method you have set up. If you have both Bluetooth and a USB cable connected at the same time, Design Space will use the USB connection. Bluetooth is useful when you want to cut from your phone or tablet without being tethered to a computer, while USB is more stable if you are working at a desk.
Troubleshooting Connection Drops and Reconnecting
If your machine disconnects during a project, the cut will stop but your design will remain in the app. Check that Bluetooth is still on on your phone and the machine is still powered on. Move closer to the machine if you have walked away, then tap the machine icon in Design Space and select your machine again to reconnect.
Connection drops are usually caused by Bluetooth interference from other devices, the phone going to sleep, or moving too far away. To prevent drops, keep your phone near the machine while cutting, do not let your phone screen lock (you can disable auto-lock in your phone's settings while using Design Space), and keep other Bluetooth devices like headphones or smartwatches away from the area. If drops happen frequently, try using a USB cable instead, which provides a more stable connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need WiFi to use Bluetooth with my Cricut?
No. Bluetooth and WiFi are separate — Bluetooth connects your phone directly to the machine without using the internet. You do need WiFi or mobile data to log into Design Space and read designs, but once you are logged in and have designs ready, Bluetooth works without any internet connection.
Can I use Cricut Design Space on my computer with Bluetooth?
Most computers do not have Bluetooth built in, so you would need a USB cable to connect a Cricut to a computer version of Design Space. Phones and tablets have Bluetooth built in, which is why Bluetooth connection works smoothly on those devices. If your computer has Bluetooth, you can try connecting, but USB is the standard method for computers.
Why does my Cricut keep disconnecting from Bluetooth?
The most common causes are your phone going to sleep, moving too far from the machine, or Bluetooth interference from other devices nearby. Keep your phone awake while cutting by disabling auto-lock in your settings, stay within 15 feet of the machine, and move other Bluetooth devices away. If drops continue, restart both devices and try again.
What if my Cricut machine is too old to have Bluetooth?
Older Cricut models like the original Explore and Explore Air do not have Bluetooth and cannot connect wirelessly. These machines can only connect to Design Space through a USB cable plugged into a computer. If you have an older machine, you will need to use a computer with Design Space rather than a phone or tablet.
Can I control my Cricut from across the house using Bluetooth?
Bluetooth has a range of about 30 feet in open space, but walls and metal objects reduce that range significantly. You can usually control your machine from another room if there is only one wall between you, but thick walls or multiple walls will break the connection. For reliable control, stay within 10 to 15 feet of the machine.