Bluetooth issue fix on latest Samsung /android devices
It is incredibly frustrating, and honestly, annoying when you have issue with blutooth while connecting to your car. The whole point of modern tech is for it to work seamlessly, and when an update breaks a core function you use daily, it completely undermines the experience.
Hope you've already done all the standard troubleshooting steps that are usually suggested (clearing cache, re-pairing, even a full phone reset), we can skip the basics and move on to some more advanced checks and potential workarounds. The issue is almost certainly a software bug or a change within the new One UI update that has created an incompatibility with your car's specific Bluetooth system
Hope you've already done all the standard troubleshooting steps that are usually suggested (clearing cache, re-pairing, even a full phone reset), we can skip the basics and move on to some more advanced checks and potential workarounds. The issue is almost certainly a software bug or a change within the new One UI update that has created an incompatibility with your car's specific Bluetooth system
1. Disable Battery Optimization for Bluetooth
New Android versions often get more aggressive with battery-saving features, which can sometimes interfere with background processes. It's possible the system is "sleeping" a part of the Bluetooth service to save power.
• Go to Settings > Apps.
• Tap the three dots in the top-right corner and select "Show system apps". (You may need to tap the filter icon next to "Your apps").
• Scroll down and find the app simply called "Bluetooth". Tap on it.
• Go to "Battery" or "App battery usage".
• Set it to "Unrestricted".
• Restart your phone and test it in the car.
2. Check Developer Options for Bluetooth Settings
This is a more technical step, but it's often where post-update Bluetooth issues can be solved. First, you'll need to enable Developer Options if you haven't already:
• Go to Settings > About phone > Software information.
• Tap on the "Build number" seven times in a row. You'll see a countdown and then a message saying "Developer mode has been turned on."
Now, go back to the main Settings menu and you'll see a new option at the bottom called "Developer options".
• Go into Developer options.
• Scroll down to the "Networking" section.
• Find "Bluetooth AVRCP Version". This setting controls how your phone and car remote-control each other's media playback. Your car might be expecting an older version. The default is likely 1.5 or 1.6. Try changing it to 1.4 or even 1.3, restarting your phone after each change, and testing in the car. This is a very common fix for this exact issue.
3. Create a Bixby Routine as a Workaround
While this doesn't fix the root cause, it can restore the automatic functionality you're missing and remove the daily annoyance. You can create a simple routine that forces the media to play when it connects to your car.
• Open the Bixby Routines app (or find it in Settings > Modes and Routines).
• Go to the "Routines" tab and tap the "+" icon to create a new one.
• For the "If" condition:
• Tap "+" and select "Bluetooth device".
• Choose your car's Bluetooth from the list and select "Connected".
• For the "Then" condition:
• Tap "+" and select "Music" or "Apps".
• You can set it to "Play music" (which will usually resume your last-played app) or choose a specific app like Spotify or YouTube Music and select "Open app and play music".
This routine will automatically trigger your music to play as soon as the phone connects to the car's Bluetooth, effectively bypassing the manual step you're currently having to do.
4. Report the Bug (for Samsung users)
This is almost certainly a bug in the new software. The more people who report it, the more likely Samsung is to fix it in the next patch.
• Open the Samsung Members app.
• Tap the "Support" or "Get help" tab at the bottom.
• Select "Error reports" or "Send feedback".
• Describe the issue in detail, explaining that it started immediately after the One UI update and that the media audio profile does not connect automatically. The system can send diagnostic data along with your report, which helps developers pinpoint the problem.
I would strongly suggest trying the Bluetooth AVRCP Version change in Developer Options first, as that has the highest chance of being a direct fix. If that doesn't work, setting up the Bixby Routine should at least make your daily commute much less frustrating while you wait for a software patch.