We are witnessing numerous reports right from day 1 wherein a Pixel device is unable to establish a successful Bluetooth connection with another device. While it gets patched in the subsequent OTA update, a new one seems to make its way with that new update. And that has indeed been the case this time around as well.
Numerous Pixel 7/Pro users have voiced their concern that they are no longer able to connect their devices to the car’s Bluetooth after installing the latest January 2023 Android 13 update. If you are also in the same boat, then this guide will make you aware of some nifty workarounds to effectively address this bug. Follow along.
Fix Pixel 7/Pro cannot connect to car Bluetooth on Android 13
It is recommended that you try out each of the below-mentioned workarounds and then see which one spells out success for you. So with that in mind, let’s get started.
FIX 1: Toggle Bluetooth
Let’s start with the most basic fix of disabling and then re-enabling the Bluetooth. This will establish a new connection from scratch and might help you rectify the underlying issue as well. so proceed with the below instructions to try it out:
FIX 2: Forget and Re-Pair Device with Car
Your next course of action should be to forget the connected device (your car’s Bluetooth) and then re-establish a new connection. Here’s how it could be done:
FIX 3: Use Driving Mode
Your smartphone makes use of the motion and the Bluetooth connection to determine when you are in the car. After that, the Driving Mode kicks in automatically (when enabled) and makes sure that the connection remains established without any roadblocks. So if you haven’t enabled it till now, then do so right away and then check out the results.
FIX 4: Verify Bluetooth Permissions
For some users, they are able to establish a successful Bluetooth connection between their smartphone and the car, but that is the only thing that they are able to do. Be it for placing or receiving calls or playing music, all these tasks are being failed. One reason why this might be happening could be due to the permission request relating to these aspects. So you should double-check that the calls, media, and other related permissions have been enabled. here’s how it could be done:
FIX 5: Change Bluetooth AVRCP Version on Android 13
An Audio/Video Remote Control Profile is a protocol that allows for the remote control of media playback on other connected devices. So the actions such as play, pause, stop, next, and previous on your car’s stereo display are governed by its profile itself. In this regard, the default AVRCP value is set to 1.5, but users were able to achieve success after lowering it down to 1.4. Here’s how:
FIX 6: Toggle Bluetooth A2DP on Android 13
The Advanced Audio Distribution Profile is a Bluetooth functionality that is used to enable multimedia audio communication. When you stream any music via Bluetooth to your car’s stereo, then everything is taken care of by this A2DP only. Another nifty feature of this profile is its ability to lower down the streaming music when there is an incoming call. In case of any issues with A2DP, the repercussions will be faced by both the connected devices. Therefore, you should refresh its settings, using the instructions given below:
FIX 7: Change Bluetooth MAP Version on Android 13
Message Access Profile is yet another Bluetooth profile that provides a platform for the exchange of messages between connected devices. It mostly comes in handy in automotive handsfree use and its default value is set to 1.2 However, picking up a higher value (either 1.3 or 1.4) seems to have spelled success for many users. So let’s give it a try using the instructions given below:
FIX 8: Switch to a Different Bluetooth Audio Codec on Android 13
A codec governs how Bluetooth is transmitted from the source device to the other paired devices. Apart from that, it also encodes and decodes digital audio data into a specific file format. In this regard, there are quite a few different audio codecs that you could choose from. These include the likes of SBC, AAC, Qualcomm aptX audio, Qualcomm aptX HD audio, and LDAC. So if a particular codec isn’t working out, then you could consider switching over to a different one, using the below-listed steps.
FIX 9: Reset Bluetooth
In case of a misconfiguration issue with the Bluetooth, or if its stored metadata has got corrupted, then the only way to rectify it is by resetting it to its factory default state. However, doing so will also reset your WiFi and Mobile Data. So make sure to sync the WiFi passwords with your Google account beforehand. Once done, you may refer to the below instructions steps:
FIX 10: Reset Device
If none of the aforementioned methods managed to spell out success, then you will have to take the nuclear route of resetting your device back to the factory default state. It is definitely quite a hefty price to pay, but this might be the sole way forward. So take a complete device backup beforehand and then proceed with the below instructions steps to perform a reset:
FIX 11: Downgrade to Earlier OS
In some instances, such as the one that we are currently dealing with, the issue could also arise due to a buggy software update rolled out by Google for its devices. In such cases, your best bet will be to downgrade the device to the earlier OS build that was free from this issue. However, do note that doing so will reset your device and might nullify its warranty. If that’s well and good, then do check out our guides on How to Downgrade Pixel Devices via Fastboot Commands OR How to Downgrade Pixel Devices via Android Flash Tool.
That’s it. These were the various methods to fix the issue of Pixel 7/Pro cannot connect to car Bluetooth on Android 13.. We have listed ten different fixes for the same. Do let us know in the comments section which one spelled out success for you. Likewise, all your queries are welcomed in the comments below.
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