Bluetooth on the Galaxy S22+ shares the 2.4 GHz band with Wi-Fi, so a Bluetooth problem can show up as a Wi-Fi problem and the reverse. For a device that will not connect, turn Bluetooth off and on, forget the device and pair it again, charge the accessory and put it in pairing mode, and disconnect it from other phones. For a car, delete the phone from the car's list.
The checks in more detail
If audio stutters, move away from busy 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, use the 5 GHz band for Wi-Fi, and keep line of sight. Samsung's Dual audio and multi-device features can send sound to the wrong place, so check the output in the media panel. Restart the phone and, after an update, wipe the cache partition. Samsung Members has a Bluetooth diagnostic that tests the radio, and Android Authority lists Bluetooth among the S22's known problems.
As a last step, reset network settings. An S22+ can show Bluetooth as connected while sound still comes from the speaker, so look at the media output button in the notification panel to confirm where the audio is going. Wireless earbuds from Samsung have their own app and automatic switching, which can send a call to the wrong device, so open the Galaxy Wearable app and check the earbuds' settings. Owners of older S22 phones also report that Bluetooth audio quality changes with the codec the phone negotiates, and that a headset with Samsung's own Seamless codec only works at full quality with Samsung phones.
If sound is fine but delayed in video, the delay is the codec and the headset's buffering, and a game mode on the headset reduces it.
Differential
Likely causes of “Samsung Galaxy S22+ will not pair or stay connected over Bluetooth”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A stale pairing
What separates it The device shows but will not connect
How to confirm Forget and pair again
- 2
Interference on 2.4 GHz
What separates it Audio stutters
How to confirm Use 5 GHz Wi-Fi and keep line of sight
- 3
The wrong audio output
What separates it Sound plays on another device
How to confirm Choose the output in the media panel
- 4
A full car list
What separates it Pairing fails
How to confirm Delete old phones from the car
- 5
A software fault
What separates it Dropping after an update
How to confirm Restart, wipe the cache and reset network settings
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The accessory
- Whether Wi-Fi also struggles
- Whether it began after an update
- The diagnostic result
Try in this order
0 of 11 completedToggle Bluetooth
ReversibleOff and on.
Forget and pair again
ReversibleSettings, Connections, Bluetooth.
Check the audio output
ReversibleIn the media panel.
Run the Samsung diagnostic
ReversibleSamsung Members, Phone diagnostics, Bluetooth.
Use 5 GHz Wi-Fi
ReversibleTo reduce interference.
Reset network settings
ReversibleLast.
Check the media output button
ReversibleOpen the notification panel, tap the media card and see which device is selected as the output.
Check the Galaxy Wearable app
ReversibleFor Galaxy Buds or a Watch, open Galaxy Wearable and check automatic switching and the connection.
Delete saved devices you no longer use
ReversibleRemove old devices from the Bluetooth list so the phone does not try to connect to them.
Check the headset's mode
ReversibleIf video lags behind the sound, switch the headset to its low-latency or game mode, if it has one.
Check for a firmware update for the headset
ReversibleUse the maker's app, since fixes for new Samsung software are released there.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Shared band
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compete on 2.4 GHz.
- Diagnostics
- Samsung Members can test the radio.
- Where the sound goes
- The media output card shows it.
- Auto switching
- Buds can steal a call from another device.
- Old devices
- The phone may try to reconnect to devices you no longer own.
- Codec and delay
- Different codecs add different amounts of delay.
- Samsung-only features
- Some headset features work only with Samsung phones.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the Samsung Members diagnostic fails the radio, contact Samsung
- !If only one accessory fails, ask its maker
- !A car may need its own reset
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Why does my S22+ Bluetooth stutter?+
2.4 GHz interference.
Is there a Bluetooth test?+
Yes, in Samsung Members.
Does it share the band with Wi-Fi?+
Yes.
Should I forget the device?+
Yes.
Why does sound play from the speaker while connected?+
The output is not set to the headset.
What is auto switching?+
Buds moving between devices automatically.
Why is my video out of sync with Bluetooth headphones?+
The codec adds delay; try a low-latency mode.