How to Find a Lost Bluetooth Device

Use your smartphone to find your Bluetooth tech

By
Andy O'Donnell
Andy )'Donnell
Andy O'Donnell
Writer
  • Auburn University
Andy O'Donnell, MA, is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire and a senior security engineer who is active in internet and network security.
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Updated on February 6, 2022
Reviewed by
Lisa Mildon
Lisa Mildon
Reviewed by Lisa Mildon
  • Southern New Hampshire University
Lisa Mildon is a Lifewire writer and an IT professional with 30 years of experience. Her writing has appeared in Geekisphere and other publications.
lifewire's editorial guidelines

What to Know

  • Make sure Bluetooth is on. Download and then open a Bluetooth scanner app and start scanning.
  • When found, move around to measure the proximity of the device.
  • If you lost Bluetooth headphones or another audio device, send some loud music to it using a music app.

When you set up a Bluetooth device on a PC or mobile device, you usually pair it to another device. For example, you can pair a Bluetooth device with a car audio system or wireless speaker. This pairing mechanism is critical to helping you find a lost Bluetooth device. Learn how to find a lost Bluetooth device using phones and tablets with iOS or Android.

Finding a Lost Bluetooth Device

As long as your headphones, earbuds, or another Bluetooth-enabled device has some battery life and was turned on when you lost it, the odds are good that you can find it using a smartphone and a Bluetooth scanning app. Several of these apps are available for both iOS and Android-based phones and tablets.

  1. Make sure Bluetooth is active on the phone. Your phone can't pick up the signal from the lost Bluetooth device if the phone's Bluetooth radio is off.

    On Android, access Quick Settings. If the Bluetooth icon is gray, tap it to turn it on. (You may have to swipe left to find Bluetooth.) It's also easy to turn on Bluetooth on an iPhone in the Settings app.

  2. Download a Bluetooth scanner app. For example, download LightBlue for iPhone, or get LightBlue for Android. This kind of app detects and lists all Bluetooth devices broadcasting nearby.

  3. Open the Bluetooth scanner app and start scanning. Locate the missing Bluetooth item in the list of found devices and note its signal strength. (Be sure to enable location services.) If it doesn't show up, move around in the location where you think you might have left it until it shows up on the list.​

  4. When the item shows up on the list, try to locate it. If the signal strength drops (for example, goes from -200 dBm to -10 dBm), you've moved away from the device. If the signal strength improves (for example, goes from -10 dBm to -1 dBm), you're getting warmer. Keep playing this game of Hot or Cold until you find the phone.

    LightBlue app on Android.

  5. Play some music. If you lost Bluetooth headphones or another audio device, send some loud music to it using the phone's music app. Chances are, you can control the volume of the Bluetooth headset on the phone, so crank up the volume and listen for music coming from the headset.

FAQ
  • How do I rename a Bluetooth device?

    On most Android devices, to change the Bluetooth name, go to Settings > Connected Devices > Connection preferences > Bluetooth > Device name. To rename on iOS devices, go to Settings > Bluetooth > Choose connected Bluetooth accessory > Name.

  • How do I unpair a Bluetooth device on my Android?

    First, make sure Bluetooth is turned on. Next, go to Settings > Connections > Bluetooth. Select the cogwheel next to the device you want to unpair > Unpair.

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