Bluetooth disconnect

[bushpilot]

My Bluetooth disconnects upon making or receiving phone calls; no issues while listening to music or other things. I've tried various things to no avail. Any suggestions? 

[maird]

The best I can guess from the information is that since (phone) calls are treated as an independent source from (music) audio playback/record then the bluetooth device is attached for audio only, not calls so is automatically disconnected when a call is received or made. In the Settings app's Connections->Bluetooth view then each connected device should report what methods they are connected for (you'd want the Bluetooth device to be connected for "calls" and "audio") Each connected device should have a Settings button (gear wheel) where there should be a switch for "Calls", "Audio" and probably also "LE Audio" (low energy). You'd want the calls to be set ON to use device as a Bluetooth device for calls.

There might also be some settings that affect it in any dedicated app for each Bluetooth device, e.g. a headphone or earbuds app might have settings that have an effect.

If that combination still means no Calls switch in the general Bluetooth settings for it then the device probably doesn't support calls. I sometimes get strange states close to that when I have two Bluetooth audio devices connected at the same time to the same device.

[bushpilot]

I've had the my phone for 10 years and my current hearing aids for 5+ years with absolutely no problems until this a couple of months ago. So yes, the device supports calls and audio.

[maird]

That doesn't guarantee it will stay a feature or even stay enabled. Although the OS probably no longer gets updates the apps might and any necessary app as well as the Settings->Connections->Blutooth view for the device and the settings there for the specific device should be checked. I also recommend not having more than one audio device attached while you check. It shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes.

[bushpilot]

The tech person deleted all other devices from my Bluetooth queue and the problem persists. It seems to me that Samsung may have disabled my phone Bluetooth connection so I'll be forced to update my phone.

[maird]

I'm only a consumer like you but I think they know the potential legal risks to the company if they made such a change just to force an upgrade, so I doubt that is what happened to you. Since you've never addressed two points of configuration I've offered then there's nothing more I can do to help. I wish you luck solving the problem, honestly.

[requa]

Ah, hearing aids. They definitely behave differently from other BT devices. My Oticon aids continue to work normally for media and calls, but I've seen people post about issues with Phonak. Have you already completely un-paired your aids and started from fresh? 

[bushpilot]

Yes that has been done several times, one of those was actually when I had Samsung tech on the phone. The tech exhausted every possible fix.