Some Samsung Galaxy S21 users have reported on the Samsung community their device fails to connect to their car via Bluetooth. This can be quite frustrating. Especially when you want to enjoy your favorite music on a long drive or need to make hands-free calls without using your phone. 

This issue typically arises when there’s a problem with the Bluetooth connection on either the device or the car. Therefore you can do the fixes on your own to get the problem fixed easily.

In this guide, we will walk you through these fixes to troubleshoot and connect your Samsung Galaxy S21 to your car without any hiccups. So, let’s get started!

Note: Solutions in this guide will work on any Samsung Galaxy S21 model (S21, S21 Plus, S21 Fe, and S21 Ultra models.)

Editor’s note: We created these instructions using a Samsung Galaxy S21 running Android 13. Depending on your device’s software version, some steps and menu positions may look slightly different.

Fix 01: Clear Bluetooth App Cache

The Bluetooth cache holds temporary data for quicker access. Over time, this cache can become cluttered with old or corrupted data, which can interfere with the device’s Bluetooth connections, in this case, your car.

Clearing this Bluetooth cache will fix the problem, as it forces the device to build fresh data the next time it tries to connect. Here’s how to do it:

Clearing the cache will not delete any important data from your device. It only removes temporary files that can be safely deleted. 

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap on Apps.
3. Switch on Show system apps from the app filter.

4. Then find and tap on Bluetooth.
5. Go to Storage.
6. Tap on Clear cache.

Fix 02: Unpair Your Car and Pair It Again

Your Samsung Galaxy S21 might not be connecting to your car’s Bluetooth due to a glitch or error in the pairing process. This is where the trick of unpairing and re-pairing comes in as the solution. 

Unpairing means deleting the connection between your Galaxy S21 and your car’s Bluetooth system. Once you have them unpaired, you can then re-establish the connection by pairing the devices again. This will fix any errors that have occurred during the initial pairing.

Follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap on Connections.
3. Tap on Bluetooth.

4. You will see a list of paired devices. Find your car’s Bluetooth name in this list and tap on it.
5. Tap on Unpair to remove the connection.

6. Once unpaired, you can pair again your device by scanning your car’s Bluetooth name.

Fix 03: Clear Bluetooth App Data

Unlike the cache, Bluetooth app data includes all the information related to the Bluetooth connections your device has made. This includes the list of paired devices, connection history, and other relevant data. 

If this data is corrupted or outdated, then clearing the cache won’t work. Instead, you need to clear the app data of the Bluetooth service.

Here’s how you can do it:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap on Apps.
3. Tap on Bluetooth.
4. Go to Storage.
5. Tap on Clear data.

Fix 04: Restart Both Devices

Restarting both your Samsung Galaxy S21 and your car’s Bluetooth system is another effective solution to connection issues. This is because restarting your devices refreshes the Android system and eliminates any temporary glitches causing the problem.

To restart your Galaxy S21:

1. Press and hold the power key and volume down key together until you get the power menu.

2. Tap on the Restart button.

3. Confirm by tapping on the restarting button again.
4. For your car’s Bluetooth system, the steps may vary depending on the brand and model of your car. Generally, you can try turning off your car completely, waiting for a few minutes, and then starting it again to restart the Bluetooth system.

Fix 05: Fix Android Auto Issues

Android Auto is a mobile app developed by Google that allows you to mirror features from your Android device to your car’s compatible in-dash entertainment unit. 

If you’re using Android Auto to connect your Galaxy S21 to your car, Android Auto can be the culprit behind your Galaxy S21 not connecting to your car’s Bluetooth.

Here are the steps to clear the cache of Android Auto:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Scroll down and tap on Apps.
3. Find and tap on Android Auto.

4. Now, tap on Storage.
5. Tap on Clear Cache.

After clearing the cache, it’s also a good idea to check if there’s an update available for Android Auto. To update Android Auto:

1. open the Google Play Store app, search for Android Auto, and tap Update if it’s available.

Wrapping Up

We hope this guide has helped you to resolve the problem and you’re now able to connect your Galaxy S21 to your car via Bluetooth without any issues.

If you have any questions or need help regarding this guide, feel free to leave a comment below. We will be there to assist you.