Fix Samsung Bluetooth Disconnecting After the One UI 8 Update
Bluetooth keeps dropping on your Galaxy since the One UI 8 (Android 16) update? Reset network settings, re-pair, and clear the cache — here's the fix.
If your Samsung Galaxy started dropping Bluetooth — earbuds cutting out, the car losing the phone — right after the One UI 8 (Android 16) update, it is a known Bluetooth-stack regression that also hit Pixel phones. Until Samsung’s patch lands, resetting the connections and re-pairing clears most of it.
Reset the connection first
The quickest reliable fix is to clear the stale Bluetooth state. Forget the device (Settings, Connections, Bluetooth, tap the gear next to the device, Unpair), then pair it again fresh. If several devices drop, reset all radios at once with Settings, General management, Reset, Reset network settings — this clears Wi-Fi, mobile, and Bluetooth without touching your photos or apps.
| Step | What it clears |
|---|---|
| Unpair and re-pair the device | One device’s stale bond |
| Reset network settings | All Wi-Fi/mobile/Bluetooth state |
| Clear Bluetooth app storage | The Bluetooth service’s cache |
Clear the Bluetooth cache
If re-pairing does not hold, clear the Bluetooth service data: Settings, Apps, tap the three-dot menu, Show system apps, open Bluetooth, Storage, and Clear cache (then Clear data if needed). Reboot and pair again. Removing any battery restriction on the Bluetooth process can also stop background drops.
While you wait for the patch
This is a platform bug Samsung is fixing over the air, so keep the phone updated (Settings, Software update) and install the next One UI 8 patch when it arrives. In the meantime, if the earbuds themselves seem at fault, Bluetooth won’t connect on Android isolates device-side problems, and if the phone is also sluggish or draining fast since the update, a frozen Android phone and fast battery drain cover those post-update symptoms.
Common questions
Why did Bluetooth start dropping after One UI 8?
The One UI 8 / Android 16 update introduced a Bluetooth-stack regression affecting Samsung and Pixel phones. It is a software bug, not your earbuds — resetting network settings and re-pairing is the interim fix until Samsung patches it.
Will a factory reset fix it?
It sometimes helps by clearing corrupt settings, but since this is a platform bug a full reset is overkill; try resetting network settings and clearing the Bluetooth cache first, and wait for the update.
My car or earbuds keep reconnecting every few seconds — what helps?
Unpair and re-pair that device, and disable battery optimization for the Bluetooth service. If it persists across several devices, reset network settings.
How do I know a patch has fixed it?
Check Settings, Software update for the latest One UI 8 build; Samsung notes Bluetooth fixes in the update changelog, and drops should stop once you are on the patched version.