Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 will not pair or stay connected over Bluetooth

The checks in more detail

Samsung's recommended fix is to reset network settings under Settings, General management, Reset, which clears all Bluetooth connections, after you have tried the usual steps: forget the device, pair it again, restart and update. Use the Galaxy Wearable app for Galaxy Buds and Watch. Check Call audio and Media audio for the device. A case with a metal plate or a magnet near the hinge weakens the antennas. Move away from 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi congestion. A cache partition wipe after an update helps. If the fault is limited to one accessory, update its firmware.

A Galaxy Z Fold5 owner who uses it with a car often finds the connection drops when the phone is moved from the cover screen to the inner screen, because the app handling the call changes, so keep the phone in one state during a call. Samsung's Continue apps on cover screen setting controls the move, and turning it off for the call app avoids the handover. If you wear Galaxy Buds with the Fold5, the Buds' own automatic switching between devices can pull them to another phone or a tablet in range, which shows as disconnections;

open Galaxy Wearable and the earbuds' settings and turn off Switch automatically between devices to test. This helps a household with several Samsung devices that share an account. Bluetooth also runs your Fold5's connection to the S Pen Fold Edition, if you use one, and the pen's own connection can compete with an audio device when many are active. If the audio stutters while the pen is in use, switch off the pen's Bluetooth connection or move the headset closer, and check the pen's battery.