When you want to enjoy the convenience of wireless connection, you set up a Bluetooth device by pairing it to another device. However, you can disconnect and forget the device for various reasons.
So what happened when you want to reconnect to a Bluetooth device that you told your device to forget? In this article, we will show you how to undo the “forget this device” action. Read on for ways you can unforget your Bluetooth device with ease and more.
Can You Reconnect a Forgotten Device On Bluetooth?
Yes, you can reconnect a forgotten device on Bluetooth. You start by unforgetting it. After that, you follow the standard connection procedures.
So, if you don’t need to keep a connection, you shouldn’t fear disconnecting and forgetting the device. Let’s say you suspect that criminals can take advantage of the connection to access your network. You can use this trick to minimize the security threat.
Moreover, if there are issues with your Bluetooth connection, you can also disconnect and forget the device to fix the problem.
There are also times when you can accidentally click “Forget,” but you can still reconnect.
So, whichever the reason your Bluetooth device has been forgotten, you can reestablish the connection and continue enjoying the convenience that comes with it.
Of course, the type of device you have will determine the steps you should follow to do this.
How to Unforget Your Bluetooth Device on My iPhone?
iPhone devices don’t have the “Unforget” button. This means that the easiest way you can reestablish the connection is to reset the network settings.
Here are the simple steps you need to unforget it:
- Open “Settings.”
- Go to “General.”
- Navigate to the “Reset” tab.
- Choose “Reset network settings.”
- When prompted, confirm that you need to reset all network settings.
That’s all you need to do for the reset process to start officially. Be sure you wait until the phone shows your home screen. It’ll take a few minutes.
When you see the home screen, that’s the perfect indication that the reset process is complete. You can now check whether you’ve successfully retrieved the forgotten Bluetooth device.
If you want to check whether the device is back, you should follow the steps below:
- Press your phone’s “Home” button.
- Open “Settings.”
- Choose “Bluetooth.”
You’ll see a list of Bluetooth-enabled devices you previously paired your device with, including the ones you forgot. If you don’t see any of them, scan for available devices.
How Can I Unforget a Bluetooth Device on My Android?
Android devices don’t have the “Unforget” button too. So, the easiest way to unforget a device on your Android is to reset the network settings. To do that, you should do the following:
- Open your Android device’s “Settings.”
- Scroll to “System.”
- Proceed to “Reset Options.”
- From the multiple choices you see, click on “Reset WiFi, Mobile, and Bluetooth.”
- Confirm your choice.
- When prompted, enter your device’s password to initiate the reset process.
- Look out for an instant notification indicating that the process is complete.
After receiving the notification, you can scan for available devices and then reestablish the connection.
If you’ve reset your device network settings without success, don’t worry. You can power recycle it in a few minutes.
How to Power Cycle Your Bluetooth Device.
Resetting network settings is the easiest and most effective way to unforget a Bluetooth device. However, you might fail if some software issues are hindering you from re-establishing the connection. If you power cycles the device, you’ll most likely fix the problem.
Please note that you must reset the network setting by following the steps we’ve discussed in the above sections before attempting to power cycle it. Otherwise, you won’t be able to unforget the device.
The exact power cycling process depends on your device. If you are using an iPhone, you should follow the steps below.
- Long press the power button and slide the switch on the screen to power off the device.
- After the device turns off, wait for at least 30 seconds.
- Press the power button to power it on.
Now you can check whether you’ve retrieved the forgotten devices. If you can see them, go ahead and make the connection.
If you’re using an Android device, you should do this:
- Long press the power button and swipe the screen up.
- Wait as the device switches off and on.
- Enter your password to power it on.
After that, you can toggle the Bluetooth’s On /Off button. It would help if you then tried reestablishing the connection.
Get your Device Back to Factory Settings
If everything else fails, try factory resetting your device. This process will delete all the data in the device.
So, you need to back up all your valuable data before starting the process. Unless you are a victim of hardware issues, this method will help you to fix them.
For an Android device, you should follow the steps below to factory reset it.
- Open “Settings.”
- Go to “System.”
- Proceed to “Reset Options.”
- Click on “Factory Data Reset.”
- When asked, provide your device password.
This process will take a few minutes to complete. From there, you’ll be able to reconnect your device.
If you have an iPhone, you can get the same result by conducting a Device Firmware Update restore, also known as DFU restore. Like in the above case, you need to start by backing up your data. Here are the steps you should follow:
- Connect your iPhone to your personal computer.
- Suppose you have a macOS Mojave 10.14 or PC, open iTunes. Open Finder if you have a macOS Catalin 10.15 or newer.
- If you have an iPhone 6s or a lower version, press the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button concurrently. Press the volume down button and the Sleep/Wake button simultaneously if you have iPhone 7.
- Once the phone appears on iTunes or Finder on your computer, release the buttons.
- After the screen has turned black, you should restore your device through iTunes or Finder.
If you have difficulties placing your iPhone in DFU mode, you can consult your user manual. Remember that the steps you should follow largely depend on the model of your device. So, you should expect minor variations if you have a different iPhone version.
How Do I Unforget A Bluetooth Device In Windows 10?
- Firstly, open and access your settings.
- In your settings app, click on Devices.
- Under Device manager, click View/ Show hidden devices.
- Under the Devices screen, click on Connected devices.
- Identify your Bluetooth device, then click Uninstall.
What Happens When You Forget A Device On Bluetooth?
When a Bluetooth device gets forgotten, it loses the ability to connect and needs to be repaired. The device has to be made discoverable before it can connect again.
How Do I Reconnect A Bluetooth Device After Forgetting It on Mac?
If you happen to be using a Mac, some Bluetooth devices get forgotten automatically. When this situation arises, Mac users are advised to try running an SMC or PRAM reset before pairing again.
Make sure the Bluetooth is turned on in your Mac, set the device to pairing mode, and pick it up when it pops up on your Bluetooth menu.
How Come My Bluetooth Won’t Turn On?
When Bluetooth devices don’t connect, it is usually due to the proximity of the devices, often times it is due to them being out of range. Other times, it might be because the devices aren’t in pairing mode.
How Do You Fix Bluetooth Windows Has Stopped This Device Code 43?
The error code 43 typically appears when a device driver crashes. The code error message means “Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43) ”.
The error can be fixed by reinstalling the device driver.
Summing Up
There are many reasons you may want to disconnect your Bluetooth device. Maybe you believe your Bluetooth is using your data for example. If you want to unforget a Bluetooth device, you now have the tips you need to do so successfully. You can see that the steps are simple. If everything else fails, you can factory reset the device, which is the best way to make it as good as new.