7 Effective Ways to Prevent Bluetooth from Turning On Automatically on Android

ByJim Miller

All of us rely on Bluetooth to connect to a host of wireless devices. Be it your earphones, smart speakers, or a car's infotainment system, Bluetooth helps us connect to those devices wirelessly. However, there can be times when Bluetooth starts acting up and keeps turning on by itself on your Android. This not only drains your phone's battery life but also connects it to nearby devices unnecessarily. In this article, we will discuss the possible reasons behind this issue and provide you with effective ways to prevent your Android from turning Bluetooth on automatically. Let's dive in.

Why Does Android Keep Turning Bluetooth On Automatically?

There can be several reasons why Bluetooth turns on automatically on Android, ranging from system glitches to misconfigured settings. Additionally, third-party apps that have permission to make system-level changes can also turn on Bluetooth without asking. Whatever the cause may be, the solutions below will help you resolve this issue. Let's explore them.

1. Restart Your Phone

If your Android device keeps turning on Bluetooth for no reason, try rebooting it first. Restarting your device can resolve minor glitches or background processes that force Android to repeatedly turn on Bluetooth.

2. Disable Location Accuracy

Apps and services often use nearby Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections to calculate your location accurately. Disabling Bluetooth scanning can help with the issue. Here's how:

  1. Open Settings on your phone and navigate to Location.
  2. Tap on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning.
  3. Turn off the Bluetooth Scanning option.

3. Tweak Connection Preference

Some users have reported success in disabling Bluetooth completely by making changes to the connection preference on Android. Give it a try:

  1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
  2. Go to Connected device > Connection preferences > Driving Mode.
  3. Tap on Turn on automatically.
  4. Expand Advanced and disable the Turn on Bluetooth automatically option.

4. Disable Bluetooth Tethering

If you regularly use Bluetooth Tethering to share your phone's mobile data connection with another device, it may be the reason why Bluetooth turns on automatically. Disable Bluetooth Tethering temporarily to see if it helps:

  1. Launch the Settings app on your phone.
  2. Go to Network and Internet > Hotspot and tethering.
  3. Toggle off the switch next to Bluetooth tethering.

5. Prevent Apps from Changing System Settings

Third-party apps can sometimes turn on Bluetooth without asking, causing it to keep turning on. To prevent this, follow these steps:

  1. Open Settings on your phone and go to Apps and Notifications.
  2. Select the app for which you want to disable the permission.
  3. Under Advanced, tap on Modify system settings and toggle off the Allow modifying system settings option.

6. Reset Bluetooth Settings

If the issue persists, you can try resetting the Bluetooth settings on your phone. This will remove all paired devices and restore your Bluetooth preferences to default values. This can also help if you notice a Bluetooth audio delay in your Android. Note that this will also reset your Wi-Fi and mobile data settings.

  1. Open Settings on your phone and go to System > Reset options.
  2. Select Reset Wi-Fi, mobile, and Bluetooth.
  3. Tap on Reset settings to begin the restoration process.

7. Try Safe Mode

Safe Mode on Android can help identify any irregularities with your device by disabling all third-party apps and services. This makes it easier to identify the root cause behind the Bluetooth issue.

To enter Safe Mode:

  1. Power off your phone.
  2. Press and hold the power button until the logo appears.
  3. Press the Volume down button on the side of the device.

If the Bluetooth doesn't turn on automatically in Safe Mode, it indicates that a third-party app is causing the issue. Try uninstalling recently installed apps to resolve the problem.

Wrap Up

By following these effective solutions, you can prevent Bluetooth from turning on automatically on your Android device. Hopefully, this article has helped you regain control over Bluetooth functionality. If you want to learn more about managing your Android device, check out our article on how to turn off mobile data and Wi-Fi on Android 12.