Pixel 4a 5G bluetooth issues

[randyoaks187]

I got my new 4a 5G a month ago and have been having a lot of trouble with bluetooth. Devices won't stay connected. Mainly it's fitbit and car kits and pixel buds. They all lose connection after a while. Not sure how long that actually is. Sometimes it's a few minutes other times its hours. Double annoying is that the only way to reconnect is by restarting the phone. At first I thought it seemed to be fine for the first week or two and then one day my fitbit ionic would not sync. I reset the phone and it cane back, but then it persisted, so I ended up trying to factory reset the ionic, which sadly bricked it (so my wife got me a fitbit sense for Christmas to replace the Ionic... Same problem, only now I'm cursing on Christmas at the gift she gave me *). I then did a factory reset on the phone, still same issues. I contacted Google support and their answer was to exchange the phone once I told them that I had done s factory reset. I was surprised they didn't ask a single question about any permissions or other software things that could be the problem it was just "oh, you did a factory reset and that didn't fix it? ok then we'll send you a replacement" Google message boards are littered with similar comments about the 4a, 4a 5G, and 5 having bluetooth connection issues, some claim to be fixed with software updates while others don't. Anyway I figured I'd try here to see if anyone had any issues. Hopefully one of you knows more about it than Google support!

 

[qphone]

I got my new 4a 5G a month ago and have been having a lot of trouble with bluetooth. Devices won't stay connected. Mainly it's fitbit and car kits and pixel buds. They all lose connection after a while. Not sure how long that actually is. Sometimes it's a few minutes other times its hours. Double annoying is that the only way to reconnect is by restarting the phone. At first I thought it seemed to be fine for the first week or two and then one day my fitbit ionic would not sync. I reset the phone and it cane back, but then it persisted, so I ended up trying to factory reset the ionic, which sadly bricked it (so my wife got me a fitbit sense for Christmas to replace the Ionic... Same problem, only now I'm cursing on Christmas at the gift she gave me *). I then did a factory reset on the phone, still same issues. I contacted Google support and their answer was to exchange the phone once I told them that I had done s factory reset. I was surprised they didn't ask a single question about any permissions or other software things that could be the problem it was just "oh, you did a factory reset and that didn't fix it? ok then we'll send you a replacement" Google message boards are littered with similar comments about the 4a, 4a 5G, and 5 having bluetooth connection issues, some claim to be fixed with software updates while others don't. Anyway I figured I'd try here to see if anyone had any issues. Hopefully one of you knows more about it than Google support!

Good to know! I'll definitely be monitoring mine or my family's as we all have (5 total) 4a 5Gs and so far so good with regards to Bluetooth issues.

Use mine everyday in my car, company car and my Fitbit with NO Bluetooth issues. All working well with no disconnects.

 

[gebco]

No issues on our trio of Pixel 4, 4a or 5 in our household. I would exchange the phone.

 

[randyoaks187]

Was hoping that the latest update would fix the issues, alas no. It's so bizarre at what will pair (and stay paired) and what won't. Hard to believe that it is a hardware problem and not a software/settings problem. But if Google insists I guess I will just have to try a new phone from Google now

 

[Stanley Kubrick]

Is there not several blue tooth settings in the developers settings that can be adjusted? Maybe one of those needs to be altered. Maybe you can ask someone using the phone without issue to tell you what their setting currently is???

 

[randyoaks187]

Magically of course now all my bluetooth devices seem to now work, now of course that my replacement is on its way. Now the dilemma is it just temporary???

 

[randyoaks187]

Wondering what you all might think. So my problem has disappeared, but my replacement from Google is on its way. Should I keep the replacement device and return my current phone? I am kind of leaning that way, but hopefully I won't have the same issue again. Also, do you have guys recommend copying over? I have always started fresh, but with things working well FINALLY I'm not sure if I want to risk starting from scratch.

 

[randyoaks187]

Looks like I should have done the return. Bluetooth issues came back with a vengeance. Main problems are it won't stay connected to my fitbit and Bluetooth headsets don't stay paired for calling. Seems that headsets stay paired for music though. Anyway replacement phone 2.0 is on its way. Wish me luck.

 

[randyoaks187]

Wow, I'm beyond disappointed with Google. So I have now gone through 2 phones with the same Bluetooth issues. Google sent a third and this time I got a refurbished phone. I contacted support and told them that they have said they would be sending a NEW phone not a refurbished one. The support person said that it's their digression on what to send. I told them at this point I was ready to return the phone if they were going to continue to send me lemons. But this is the kicker. They said my return window is now closed. It is only 15 days. So this is their bait and switch. Give you a lemon, tell you to exchange it, then exchange it again, when you are then fed up wit the lemons and you just want your money back, too bad return window is now closed. I will NEVER be buying another Google device. This was the kick I needed to go to iPhone. There are a few things I'll miss (fingerprint sensor) but other than that I'm actually looking forward to a lot of the features Google is missing.

 

[StevenOptimusV]

Looks like I should have done the return. Bluetooth issues came back with a vengeance. Main problems are it won't stay connected to my fitbit and Bluetooth headsets don't stay paired for calling. Seems that headsets stay paired for music though. Anyway replacement phone 2.0 is on its way. Wish me luck.

A thought, where are you carrying your phone? If it is in a location where your body is between your phone and your fitbit that could cause the disconnect, especially if you are a big person (like me).

 

[randyoaks187]

A thought, where are you carrying your phone? If it is in a location where your body is between your phone and your fitbit that could cause the disconnect, especially if you are a big person (like me).

It is anywhere. The devices can be right next to each other, and it's not just fitbit it's any bluetooth device. They will stay paired for a while after rebooting the phone but eventually lose the connection and the only way to get them to reconnect is to reboot. So I don't want to be rebooting 10 times a day.

 

[randyoaks187]

I'm 3 for 3 in phones having bluetooth issues maintaining a pairing... I'm going back to my original thoughts that it HAS to be a settings thing, I can't be this unlucky. Worst is that Google won't allow me to just return the phone now. Anyone have any ideas here?

 

[J Dubbs]

I'm 3 for 3 in phones having bluetooth issues maintaining a pairing... I'm going back to my original thoughts that it HAS to be a settings thing, I can't be this unlucky. Worst is that Google won't allow me to just return the phone now. Anyone have any ideas here?

If it's just a couple of bluetooth devices, the devices might be suspect. Fitbit has a bad reputation for bluetooth connectivity issues... I've experienced more than my share, enough that I'll never own another Fitbit device. I've also had issues on multiple phones with high end bluetooth earpieces.

Bluetooth can be a problematic feature to use.... always has been and I think always will be unfortunately :-\ One thing you can try is resetting your bluetooth settings, rebooting your phone, then re-pairing your bluetooth devices. I would probably reset your Fitbit as well before pairing it again. Also be sure you don't accidentally have your bluetooth devices connected to multiple phones/pc's/tablets etc which are on at the same time.

 

[randyoaks187]

If it's just a couple of bluetooth devices, the devices might be suspect. Fitbit has a bad reputation for bluetooth connectivity issues... I've experienced more than my share, enough that I'll never own another Fitbit device. I've also had issues on multiple phones with high end bluetooth earpieces.

Bluetooth can be a problematic feature to use.... always has been and I think always will be unfortunately :-\ One thing you can try is resetting your bluetooth settings, rebooting your phone, then re-pairing your bluetooth devices. I would probably reset your Fitbit as well before pairing it again. Also be sure you don't accidentally have your bluetooth devices connected to multiple phones/pc's/tablets etc which are on at the same time.

Thanks for the thought. It's all my devices, a fitbit (now 2 after my old ionic died when I tried factory resetting it when first troubleshooting the issue ), two car kits, a pair pixel buds, a pair of Sony neck buds, a set of logitech speakers and 2 tile trackers. Nothing seems to work after an hour or so from rebooting the phone. Do you have a "method" for resetting the Bluetooth settings? I've tried to do it but maybe I'm still doing something wrong.

 

[Trees]

Maybe Google Support can run diagnostics or review the details in "Settings/About phone/Send feedback about this device". When you click on the "Send feedback about this device", a new window will appear, with the "System Logs View" dialog box selected with a checkmark. Click on the "System Logs View" dialog box and that will bring up a new "System information" window. Scroll down that page and dialogs for "Running apps", "System Log" and "Event Log" will be present. This is what I see on my Pixel 3, and am assuming it will be the same for the Pixel 4a/4a 5G.

If your phone were a Linux system, this is where a Linux System Administrator would look for details. For example, the administrator could check the logs listed above for things like bluetooth errors in /var/log/ or with "dmesg | grep bluetooth" or similar. They might also be able to determine if the bluetooth driver is running or having issues with "lsmod drivername" where drivername is for the bluetooth driver used by the device(s) in question. The last example is for when a Linux system is running, however, the Android 11 "Running apps", "System Log", and "Event Log" should have similar information at the time the reports were generated, similar to what a Linux "sosreport" might generate; or are available by copying/compressing everything in /var/log and then analyzing offline from a different system. The logs can be searched "offline" and analyzed separately from the system on which they were generated.

I am assuming that Google Support has checked the logs mentioned above, if not then perhaps it may help to send the logs to them for analysis. Maybe there is a way for Google Support to run remote diagnostics (via the examples listed above, and other similar methods) when your phone is on and the problematic devices are connected. The "Send feedback about this device" window has a text field where you could type in the problems you are having, and I imagine even include the previous Support Case number(s) and RMA (device exchange) numbers for your previous phones. This way Google Support could have a "holistic view" around the problems you've experienced.

 

[randyoaks187]

Maybe Google Support can run diagnostics or review the details in "Settings/About phone/Send feedback about this device". When you click on the "Send feedback about this device", a new window will appear, with the "System Logs View" dialog box selected with a checkmark. Click on the "System Logs View" dialog box and that will bring up a new "System information" window. Scroll down that page and dialogs for "Running apps", "System Log" and "Event Log" will be present. This is what I see on my Pixel 3, and am assuming it will be the same for the Pixel 4a/4a 5G.

If your phone were a Linux system, this is where a Linux System Administrator would look for details. For example, the administrator could check the logs listed above for things like bluetooth errors in /var/log/messages or with "dmsg | grep bluetooth" or similar. They might also be able to determine if the bluetooth driver is running or having issues with "lsmod drivername" where drivername is for the bluetooth driver used by the device(s) in question. The last example is for when a Linux system is running, however, the Android 11 "Running apps", "System Log", and "Event Log" should have similar information at the time the reports were generated, similar to what a Linux "sosreport" might generate; or are available by copying/compressing everything in /var/log and then analyzing offline from a different system. The logs can be searched "offline" and analyzed separately from the system on which they were generated.

I am assuming that Google Support has checked the logs mentioned above, if not then perhaps it may help to send the logs to them for analysis. Maybe there is a way for Google Support to run remote diagnostics (via the examples listed above, and other similar methods) when your phone is on and the problematic devices are connected. The "Send feedback about this device" window has a text field where you could type in the problems you are having, and I imagine even include the previous Support Case number(s) and RMA (device exchange) numbers for your previous phones. This way Google Support could have a "holistic view" around the problems you've experienced.

WOW now that is SUPPORT! I wish Google had done 1/10th this effort. Their support is SO limited. They tell don't do anything other than to tell you to factory reset the phone. If that doesn't work they offer to replace it. I'm tired of getting replacements. I'm still thinking it's likely a software thing. But they spend zero time on the issues. They figure it's just cheaper to send you a new one. I'll try to contact support and see what they say about your suggestions.
Thank you so much!

 

[J Dubbs]

Thanks for the thought. It's all my devices, a fitbit (now 2 after my old ionic died when I tried factory resetting it when first troubleshooting the issue ??????), two car kits, a pair pixel buds, a pair of Sony neck buds, a set of logitech speakers and 2 tile trackers. Nothing seems to work after an hour or so from rebooting the phone. Do you have a "method" for resetting the Bluetooth settings? I've tried to do it but maybe I'm still doing something wrong.

I'll look at my pixel running Android 10 tomorrow and see where the reset feature for bluetooth is If you're running 11 it might be different.... but you want to find the options to reset your network settings, the option to reset bluetooth settings should be there as well.

 

[bkdodger2]

It's under settings/ system/ reset options

 

[J Dubbs]

It's under settings/ system/ reset options //uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210201/b59d2d22b772bb1c5e2ae6073ea0a52a.jpg

You are The Man bk, thanks for the assistance

 

[randyoaks187]

So I think I finally have some resolution. nothing worked untill I didn't factory reset (on my original device) and did NOT restore from backup AND I installed no apps besides Fitbit and Pandora. From there I've been in the clear with Bluetooth. Slowly I've been adding my apps back one by one. I'm about halfway through. I have yet to install tile, I'm kind of holding out as that is the only thing besides my pixel buds and fitbit that I paired so far. I won't waste anyone's time with my nightmare dealing with Google support more than what I already described only to say it got MUCH worse. this incident has convinced me to take a bite of the Apple if/when this phone acts up again. It all just makes me miss my windows phones even more. I never had any trouble like this with them :'(