How to delete a Bluetooth device from your phone or computer
To remove a Bluetooth device, you go into your system settings, find the paired device in your Bluetooth list, and select the option to forget or unpair it. The exact steps depend on whether you're using a phone, tablet, or computer, and which operating system it runs. Once you forget the device, your phone or computer will no longer connect to it automatically — you'll have to pair it again if you want to use it later.
Deleting a Bluetooth device is useful when you want to stop a device from connecting, when you're selling or giving away a phone, or when a device is acting up and you need to start fresh. It takes less than a minute on most devices.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhones and iPads, go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the information icon next to the device name, and select Forget This Device.
- On Android phones, open Settings > Connected devices > Bluetooth, press and hold the device name, and tap Unpair or Forget.
- On Windows computers, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices, find the device, click the three dots, and select Remove device.
- On Mac computers, open System Settings > Bluetooth, find the device, click the X or Remove button next to it, and confirm.
- After you delete a device, it will not reconnect automatically, but you can pair it again at any time by putting it in pairing mode.
Deleting a Bluetooth device on iPhone or iPad
Open the Settings app and tap Bluetooth. Find the device you want to remove in the list of paired devices. Tap the information icon (a small circle with an "i" inside) next to the device name.
On the next screen, tap Forget This Device, then tap Forget again to confirm. The device will be removed from your paired list immediately. If the device was connected at the time, the connection will drop.
Deleting a Bluetooth device on Android
Open Settings and look for Connected devices, Bluetooth, or Device connection — the exact name varies by phone maker and Android version. Tap Bluetooth to see your paired devices.
Find the device you want to remove. Press and hold the device name until a menu appears. Tap Unpair, Forget, or Remove (the wording depends on your phone). Confirm if prompted. The device will be deleted from your paired list.
If you don't see a press-and-hold menu, try tapping the settings icon or three-dot menu next to the device name instead.
Deleting a Bluetooth device on Windows
Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then click the Settings app. Go to Bluetooth & devices, then click Devices.
Scroll down to find your Bluetooth device in the list. Click the three dots (more options menu) next to it, then click Remove device. Click Remove again to confirm. The device will be deleted and will no longer connect automatically.
Deleting a Bluetooth device on Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings. Click Bluetooth in the sidebar.
Find the device you want to remove in the list. Click the X button or Remove button next to the device name. Click Remove to confirm. The device will be unpaired and removed from your system.
What happens after you delete a Bluetooth device
Once you delete a device, your phone or computer will forget it completely. The device will not reconnect automatically, even if it's nearby and in pairing mode. If you want to use that device again later, you'll need to pair it from scratch — put the device into pairing mode and go through the pairing process one more time.
Deleting a device does not affect the device itself. A wireless speaker, headphones, or keyboard will work normally with other phones or computers. You're only removing it from that one device's memory.
Why you might want to delete a Bluetooth device
You might delete a device because you no longer use it, because you're selling or giving away your phone, or because you want to pair it with a different device instead. Some people delete devices when they're having connection problems — unpairing and re-pairing can fix glitches that happen over time.
If you're concerned about privacy or security, deleting old Bluetooth devices you no longer use is a good habit. It reduces the number of devices your phone or computer will try to connect to automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the other device know I deleted it?
No. Deleting a device from your phone or computer only removes it from that device's memory. The Bluetooth device itself has no way to know it was deleted. If you bring them close together again and try to pair them, they will connect normally.
Can I delete a Bluetooth device that's currently connected?
Yes. You can delete a device while it's connected, and the connection will drop immediately. You don't have to disconnect it first.
What if I accidentally delete a device I still use?
You can pair it again at any time. Put the device into pairing mode (usually by holding a button for a few seconds — check the device manual for how), then go to your Bluetooth settings and pair it as if it were new. It will work exactly as before.
Does deleting a Bluetooth device free up storage space?
Not meaningfully. Bluetooth pairing information takes up only a tiny amount of space on your device — usually less than a kilobyte per device. Deleting devices will not noticeably improve your phone or computer's performance or storage.
Can I delete multiple Bluetooth devices at once?
Most phones and computers require you to delete devices one at a time. There is no bulk delete option in standard Bluetooth settings. If you need to clear many devices, you'll have to go through the delete process for each one.