My Samsung Galaxy S7 Flat (G930F) does not get along with my Jaybird Bluebuds X Bluetooth headphones since updating to Android 7.0 (Nougat). I’ve tried the common fix lists, re-paired Bluetooth devices, cleared the “Bluetooth share” App data, reset network settings, even nuked the cache partition from recovery. Same issue, less than 30 seconds of Spotify playing to my Bluetooth wireless headphones then nothing, silence, not even a “command received” tone when using the media controls on my headphones, nothing then after a while it decides to play before again giving me the silent treatment.
Here’s how to fix the Bluetooth audio connectivity issue affecting the Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 Flat, there are three components as well as a list of common troubleshooting steps at the bottom. I found Bluetooth scanning was the culprit for me but suspect both Samsung Connect and Trusted devices were involved.
Update: After a brief period of stability the dropouts returned, I suspect the Android 7.1 release will fix this as it is a widely known issue with Android 7.0.
Uninstall Android Wear
The Android Wear App is known to conflict with some Bluetooth headphones (Jaybird Bluebuds X), I don’t understand whether it’s the App or the Bluetooth device at this point.
- Open the Apps menu
- Drag Android Wear into the bin
- Restart the phone
Turn off Bluetooth scanning in Location screen
- Open the Apps menu
- Open Settings > Connections > Location > Improve accuracy
- Turn off Bluetooth scanning
- Jump back to the Home screen
Turn off the Samsung Connect panel
- Open the Apps menu
- Open Samsung Connect (a new App that has been installed by Samsung alongside the Android Nougat release)
- Open Settings from the top-right menu (three dots)
- Ensure Samsung Connect Panel is set to On
- Turn your Bluetooth headphones on and wait for your Samsung Galaxy S7 to establish the connection
- Pull down the status menu by sliding from the top of the screen
- You should see a “Samsung Connect” listing below the device feature icons, click the Settings icon within that panel listing (looks like two circles with horizontal lines attached)
- From the Samsung Connect Panel screen first untick your Bluetooth devices and “Audio output”, finally change the first option from On to Off
- Jump back to the Home screen
Turn off Trusted Devices
If you have configured your Bluetooth device as a Trusted device to bypass the lock screen try removing it.
- Open the Apps menu
- Open Settings > Lock screen and security > Secure lock settings > Smart lock
- Enter your device PIN and press Next
- Open Trusted devices
- Remove your Bluetooth audio device
- Jump back to the Home screen
Common Bluetooth troubleshooting tips
- Delete the Bluetooth connection and re-pair with the Bluetooth device
- Clear the Bluetooth App cache via Settings > Apps > Show system apps (via three dots menu) > Bluetooth share > Clear cache
- Open Settings > General management > Reset > Reset settings
- Open Settings > General management > Reset > Reset network settings
- Clear the system cache from Recovery mode
Try establishing a connection from your Samsung Galaxy S7 if it has been disconnected and playing audio. That’s it! 🙂
