Android · Devices
Manage all paired and nearby devices
Connected devices is the hub screen for every accessory linked to your phone, including Bluetooth headphones, watches, car systems, and USB or NFC connections, plus shortcuts to Cast and Nearby Share preferences.
How to open Connected Devices
- Open Settings > Connected devices.
- Tap 'Pair new device' to search for and connect a new accessory.
- Tap any device already in the list to view or change its options.
- Open 'Connection preferences' to adjust Bluetooth, Cast, NFC, or printing defaults.
What you should know
- Shows a list of currently connected and previously paired Bluetooth devices.
- 'Pair new device' scans for nearby Bluetooth accessories.
- Connection preferences holds Bluetooth, Cast, NFC, driving mode, and printing settings.
- Tapping a paired device opens per-device options like unpairing or renaming.
Some settings shown here (like NFC or Cast) are just shortcuts to their own dedicated settings screens, not unique controls.
Why it matters
Keeping this list tidy prevents old or lost devices from auto-reconnecting or draining battery searching for a signal, and makes it much faster to find and troubleshoot a misbehaving accessory.
Best practices
- Remove ('forget') devices you no longer own so your phone stops trying to reconnect to them.
- Rename devices with descriptive names if you pair several similar accessories.
- Check Connection preferences after unboxing any new accessory to confirm its category-specific settings.
Common problems and fixes
- A Bluetooth device shows as paired but won't connect.
- Unpair (forget) it from both the phone and the accessory, then pair again from scratch.
- A device that's turned off still appears at the top of the list.
- This is normal — Android keeps prior pairings until you manually remove them.
Tips and tricks
- Tap the gear icon next to a paired device for quick access to things like call/media audio routing without leaving the list.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between 'paired' and 'connected'?
Paired means the device is remembered and trusted; connected means it's actively linked and exchanging data right now.
Can I see battery level for connected accessories here?
Many Bluetooth accessories (earbuds, styluses) show battery percentage next to their name if they support that feature.
Related settings
- Bluetooth DevicesBluetooth settings let you pair headphones, speakers, watches, and other accessories, and manage previously connected devices.
- Nearby ShareNearby Share — recently rebranded Quick Share — lets you send photos, videos, links, and files directly to another nearby Android device, Chromebook, or Windows PC using a mix of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, without needing cellular data or a shared internet connection. Visibility settings control exactly who can discover your device and send you something.
- USB PreferencesUSB Preferences controls what happens when your phone is plugged into a computer or other USB device — whether it charges only, transfers files, shares a network connection, or acts as a MIDI/audio device.
More Devices guides for Android
- PrintingPrinting settings let Android discover printers on your Wi-Fi network or connect to manufacturer print services, so you can print documents, photos, and web pages directly from apps using the system Print option.
- CastCast lets you send audio, video, or your entire phone screen wirelessly to a Chromecast-built-in TV, Chromecast device, or other Cast-enabled speaker on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Android AutoAndroid Auto projects a simplified, driving-friendly interface — navigation, calls, messaging, and media — onto your car's built-in display, either over a USB cable or wirelessly on supported vehicles.
- Fast PairFast Pair detects nearby supported Bluetooth accessories, such as earbuds or speakers, in pairing mode and shows a one-tap notification to connect instantly, skipping the usual manual Bluetooth pairing menu.
- Previously Connected DevicesThis screen lists every Bluetooth accessory, Chromecast, or other device the phone has connected to in the past, even if currently disconnected or out of range, so you can reconnect, rename, or permanently forget them.
- Phone Hub / Cross-Device ServicesCross-device services link an Android phone to a Chromebook or other trusted devices signed into the same Google Account, enabling features like viewing phone notifications, texting, checking battery level, and instantly tethering internet access from the Chromebook's Phone Hub panel.