Can't connect Microbit to bluetooth

micro:bit
1

I feel like I’ve tried everything but cannot pair microbit via bluetooth!
-disabled radio functions
-dropped hex file instead of pair
-put microbit in bluetooth pair mode and verified via display
-tried many micro bits and many chromebooks, iphones…can never see the microbit over bluetooth

Please help! Poor students getting frustrated but i dont want them to give up on their amazing ideas!

1 Like
2

Which version Micro:bits do you own? It could be an issue of interference, like too many on at once, though I doubt it. I did find this: https://makecode.microbit.org/v0/reference/bluetooth/bluetooth-pairing
And it does look like some things won’t see the micro:bit without a special program running. Specifically non-Windows/Android devices. That’s probably your issue! I hope you find a solution, and of course connecting them with USB is always an option.

3

My Chromebook does not see the micro:bit. However, my Android phone does. Pairs just fine.

I was not surprised by this because Bluetooth is generally used to send code to the micro:bit from a phone or tablet. I was able to connect my micro:bit to my Chromebook using the Android app. If your Chromebook can run Android apps you can get it from the store.

4

ok thanks I’ll try that! I also couldn’t get it connected to my iphone so was wondering… :slight_smile:

5

I tried loading the Scratch link program which apparently assists the microbit-bluetooth connection but that didnt work either and just gave me the 504 :frowning: error code on the microbit…hmmmm

I tried it on my windows machine and iphone too - no joy :frowning:

6

One common problem is that bluetooth devices are “remembered” by many operating systems (Windows, macOS, etc.). It’s common to be able to pair once, then update the micro:bit’s program in a way that makes the micro:bit lose the settings, and then the computer will then try to use the prior pairing settings and be unable to connect. In such cases you need to go to the Bluetooth settings on the computer and remove the micro:bit device that had been paired and go through the pairing process again.

Often it is easier to connect to the micro:bit if you put it in “No Pairing Required” mode. You can do that by:

  1. Open a program in Makecode with Bluetooth blocks
  2. Be sure you are starting at least one Bluetooth service (in the OnStart)
  3. Select the gear icon in the upper right of the MakeCode editor window.
  4. Select “Project Settings” from the menu
  5. Select the switch by “No Pairing Required”
    This is a project setting, so if you have another project, you’ll have to go through this process again.

Here’s an example project with pairing disabled: https://makecode.microbit.org/S26729-29567-10573-36178