Stop Bluetooth Pairing Requests on iPhone and Android
To stop Bluetooth pairing requests that come as Fast Pair notifications on an Android phone, turn off Scan for nearby devices. Google’s Fast Pair page says “If you don’t want to receive Fast Pair notifications for pairing, you can opt out of Fast Pair scanning.”
If the prompt names a device you paired before, you can forget that device on your phone. Apple’s iPhone User Guide page “Connect iPhone to Bluetooth accessories” and Google’s Android Bluetooth page do not say that forgetting stops pairing prompts.
When you want no Bluetooth at all for a while, turn it off in Settings. On an iPhone, the Control Center button disconnects your accessories, and Apple says Bluetooth “will continue to be available” after that tap.
Android pop ups: turn off Fast Pair scanning
Fast Pair is the Android feature that offers to pair accessories through notifications. Google says your other connected devices “can recognize newly added accessories and prompt you to pair with the accessories automatically.”
Those prompts are on unless you change them. Google’s Fast Pair page says “By default, you’ll receive notifications for nearby devices that you can set up.”
Google’s steps to opt out of Fast Pair scanning:
- Open your device’s Settings app.
- Tap your profile, then tap All services.
- Under Connected devices & sharing, tap Devices.
- Turn off Scan for nearby devices.
Nearby accessories still show up when you look for them. The same page says “If you turn off notifications, you can still find devices near you when you open your phone’s Settings app.”
Forget a device you paired before
Google’s Android Bluetooth page says “Your devices stay paired until you unpair them.”
On an Android phone
Google’s page carries two notes for these steps: “Some of these steps work only on Android 15 and up.” and “Some of these steps only work on devices with supporting hardware.”
- From the top of the screen, swipe down.
- Touch and hold Bluetooth.
- If your accessory is listed under Media devices, tap Settings next to your device’s name. If no accessories are listed under Saved devices, tap See all, then tap Settings next to your accessory’s name.
- Tap Forget to remove the device from your phone completely.
On an iPhone
Apple’s iPhone User Guide lists these steps to unpair a Bluetooth accessory:
- Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap Bluetooth, tap the Info button next to the accessory you want to unpair, then tap Forget This Device.
- Tap Forget Device to confirm.
If the list of devices is missing, Apple says to “make sure Bluetooth is turned on.” Apple’s iPhone User Guide notes: “If you unpair AirPods, they’re automatically unpaired from other devices where you’re signed in to your Apple Account.”
To set them up again afterward, see our guide to unpairing and pairing AirPods again. If you forget the wrong device, our guide to getting a forgotten Bluetooth device back covers reconnecting it.
Turn Bluetooth off when you don’t need it
On an iPhone, use Settings for a full off
The Bluetooth button in Control Center drops your connections and keeps Bluetooth available. Apple’s Control Center article says “When you toggle the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth buttons in Control Center, your device immediately disconnects from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth accessories.”
It goes on: “Both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth will continue to be available, so you can still use these features:” The iPhone User Guide adds that after that tap, “Your Bluetooth accessories and devices disconnect from your iPhone until the next day.”
Settings is where Apple turns Bluetooth fully off. For anyone who wants to “completely disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for all networks and devices,” Apple’s step is “Open the Settings app, tap Bluetooth, and turn off Bluetooth.”
Turn it back on when you need your accessories. Apple’s same article says “For the best experience on your iOS or iPadOS device, try to keep Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on.”
On an Android phone
Google’s Bluetooth page suggests switching it off to save power: “To save battery, turn off Bluetooth when not in use. Bluetooth is off in Airplane mode.”
From the top of the screen, swipe down, then tap Bluetooth. Google’s page notes: “Some of these steps work only on Android 15 and up.” and “Some of these steps only work on devices with supporting hardware.”
If the trouble is other people connecting to your own speaker, our guide on stopping someone from connecting to your Bluetooth speaker covers that side.