Technician helping fix eero Bluetooth setup and pairing issues

Steve H.

Reviewed for technical accuracy

Specialities: eero mesh Wi-Fi setup (eero, eero Pro, eero Beacon, eero 6/6+, eero Pro 6/6E), eero app Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) pairing & onboarding, “No eero was found” errors, stuck on “looking for devices”

Eero Bluetooth not working — eero app pairing, BLE setup, permissions, and “looking for devices” fixes

Technician avatar Technician
Hey! We’ll fix your Eero Bluetooth not working issue fast. When the eero app can’t find your eero (or you’re stuck on “looking for devices”), it’s almost always one of these:

1) Phone permissions / toggles: Bluetooth is ON, but the eero app doesn’t have Bluetooth permission (iOS), or Android needs Location Services / Nearby devices enabled for Bluetooth LE (BLE) scanning.
2) The “wrong setup path”: Some setups auto-add an eero when it’s wired (Simple Setup behavior), then Bluetooth setup fails and the app shows “No eero was found” because it expects BLE discovery.
3) Device state / distance: The new eero isn’t in pairing mode, is too far away, or needs a soft reset to re-enter setup mode.

Quick questions so we choose the right fix (and avoid unnecessary factory resets):
• Which phone are you using: iPhone (iOS) or Android? What version, if you know it?
• Which eero model: eero 6 / 6+, eero Pro 6 / Pro 6E, older eero, or Beacon? Is this the gateway (wired to modem) or an add-on node?
• What does the app say exactly: “No eero was found”, stuck on “looking for devices”, or Bluetooth pairing keeps failing?
• What’s the LED doing on the eero (solid white, flashing blue, flashing yellow, flashing red)?

Reply with those and I’ll give you a step-by-step fast recovery plan that usually works in under 10 minutes.
Customer
I’m on Android (Pixel). I’m trying to add a new eero 6+ node to my existing eero mesh Wi-Fi. The app gets stuck on looking for devices and sometimes says No eero was found. Bluetooth is on. I also have Location turned on sometimes, but I’m not sure if the eero app has all permissions. The new eero is powered on near me.
Technician avatar Technician
Perfect — that’s a classic BLE scan + permission combo. On Android, you can have Bluetooth “on” and still fail discovery if the system blocks scanning in the background or if the right permissions aren’t granted.

Here’s what we’ll do (fastest order):
A) Make Android allow BLE discovery (Bluetooth + Location + Nearby devices permission).
B) Make the eero 6+ actually present itself for setup (correct LED state / pairing mode).
C) Remove the common blockers: VPN, battery optimization, stale app cache, or pairing conflicts.

Also quick note: if you accidentally plugged the new eero into Ethernet during the flow (even briefly), some setups auto-add it via the wired path and then the app’s Bluetooth step can throw “No eero was found”. We’ll avoid that trap.
Customer
Got it. I did plug it into Ethernet once to test, but right now it’s only powered and sitting next to my phone. What are the exact steps? I just want the eero app pairing to work and finish setup. Also I have a VPN app installed and battery saver sometimes turns on.
Technician avatar Technician
Awesome — we’ll do a clean “known good” setup run. Do these in order (it’s quick):

Step 1 — Fix Android permissions for eero Bluetooth LE setup
1) Turn Bluetooth ON (quick settings).
2) Turn Location ON (yes, even if you’re indoors). This often affects BLE discovery and “looking for devices.”
3) Go to Android Settings > Apps > eero (or “eero wifi system”) and verify permissions:
• Nearby devices (or Bluetooth) = Allow
• Location = Allow while using (or Allow) — this helps BLE scanning on many Android builds
4) Disable any battery saver / battery optimization for the eero app (set it to “Unrestricted” / “Don’t optimize”). BLE discovery can fail if Android throttles the app in the background.

Step 2 — Remove common blockers
• Temporarily pause your VPN (some VPNs interfere with onboarding steps even if Bluetooth is fine).
• Close the eero app completely, then re-open it (fresh scan).

Step 3 — Put the eero 6+ in the best position for pairing
• Keep the new eero within 1–2 feet of your phone for the first discovery step.
• Make sure it’s powered and has been on for at least a minute. If the LED looks “stuck,” we’ll soft reset it next.
Customer
I enabled Bluetooth and Location, and I allowed Nearby devices + Location permissions for the eero app. I also turned off VPN and battery saver. The app still sits on looking for devices. The LED on the eero 6+ is solid white right now.
Technician avatar Technician
Solid white usually means it’s already configured/online — which explains why Bluetooth setup isn’t finding it as a “new device.” If it was previously added (even briefly) during that Ethernet test, it may not be advertising itself for onboarding.

Let’s do the quickest safe reset step (not a full factory wipe yet):

Step 4 — Soft reset the eero (fast way to re-enter setup mode)
1) On the bottom of the eero 6+, locate the reset button.
2) Press and hold until the LED flashes yellow (about 7 seconds), then release.
3) Wait: it will reboot, then it should be ready to be discovered again in the app.

Why this helps: a soft reset clears the “stuck state” but usually avoids the pain of rebuilding everything from scratch. After it comes back, start the add-device flow again in the eero app and keep the node close to your phone for discovery.
Customer
I did the soft reset. It rebooted and I saw the LED change during startup. Now the app sometimes detects something, but then it fails and shows No eero was found again. Also, I’m on Android 13 if that matters.
Technician avatar Technician
Android 13 absolutely matters — there have been known cases where Android 13 changes Bluetooth behavior and you can get stuck on looking for devices or bounce between detection and failure during eero BLE setup.

Let’s tighten the process and remove two sneaky Android 13 culprits: background scanning restrictions and stale app state.

Step 5 — Android 13 “Bluetooth scan” stability fixes (fast)
1) Force stop the eero app: Settings > Apps > eero > Force stop.
2) Clear cache (not storage): Storage & cache > Clear cache.
3) Toggle Bluetooth OFF/ON (quick settings). Toggle Location OFF/ON too.
4) Re-open the eero app and immediately go into Add an eero device (don’t let the phone idle/lock). Keep the screen awake during discovery.

Step 6 — Confirm you’re adding the right way
Since you’re adding a wireless node, do NOT plug the new eero into Ethernet while the app is in the Bluetooth discovery step. If it sees wired behavior, the app may switch paths and then BLE pairing can fail with No eero was found.

If this still fails, we’ll do a clean “hard reset to setup mode” on just that new node (still fast), then retry.
Customer
I followed Step 5 and Step 6. It’s a bit better, but still fails about halfway through. I’m okay doing a stronger reset if it won’t wipe my whole network. I just need eero Bluetooth pairing to finish. What’s next?
Technician avatar Technician
Totally reasonable — we’ll reset only the new node (not your whole mesh). This is the step that most reliably fixes “can’t find eero” loops when the device is in a weird partially-configured state.

Step 7 — Hard reset the new eero to full setup mode (only that one device)
1) Press and hold the reset button until the LED flashes red (about 15 seconds), then release.
2) Wait for it to reboot and show that it’s ready to be set up again in the app (it may indicate readiness with its LED behavior while it initializes).
3) Keep the eero 6+ close to your phone and run Add an eero again in the eero app.

Step 8 — If Android 13 keeps acting up, use a “second device” trick (optional but very effective)
If you have access to an iPhone or another Android phone/tablet for 5 minutes, install the eero app there and do the onboarding on that device. Once the node is added, you can manage it from your main phone again. This bypasses certain Android 13 BLE quirks without changing your network settings.

We’re still staying inside safe troubleshooting: no hardware opening, no risky changes — just putting the device back into a clean setup state.
Customer
Hard reset did it! The eero 6+ finally showed up instantly and added to my eero mesh Wi-Fi. Setup completed. One more thing though: earlier I saw a message about Bluetooth access. If this happens again on my phone, what should I check first?
Technician avatar Technician
Nice — that’s the best outcome. For preventing Eero Bluetooth not working from coming back, think “phone permission + scanning + app state” first, before touching the network.

Best-practice checklist (quick)
• Bluetooth ON and the phone is close to the eero during onboarding (BLE range matters).
• Location Services ON on Android during setup, plus the eero app has Nearby devices / Bluetooth permission and Location permission.
• Disable Battery Saver and set eero app battery to “Unrestricted” while adding a node (Android can throttle BLE scanning).
• Temporarily pause VPN or “private DNS” apps during the onboarding flow if setup stalls.
• Force stop + clear cache if you get stuck on looking for devices (it refreshes discovery).
• Avoid plugging the node into Ethernet mid-flow if you’re doing a wireless add — it can flip setup modes and trigger No eero was found errors.

If you ever switch to iOS: check that the eero app is allowed in the phone’s Bluetooth privacy settings (iOS can block app-level Bluetooth access).
Customer
Great. If adding a node fails again in the future, should I start with app cache/permissions, or do the soft reset first? I don’t want to waste time.
Technician avatar Technician
Do it in this “fast ladder” so you solve eero app not finding eero without nuking anything:

Fast ladder (least disruptive → most)
1) Phone-side first (60–90 seconds): Bluetooth ON, Location ON, eero app permissions (Nearby devices + Location), disable Battery Saver, pause VPN, force stop + clear cache.
2) Retry discovery with the eero within 1–2 feet, screen awake.
3) Soft reset the eero node (yellow flash) if the LED looks “already configured” or stuck.
4) Only if you still bounce on looking for devices or No eero was found: hard reset just that node (red flash) to put it into a clean setup state.

This ladder is fastest because most failures are permissions/scanning, not hardware faults. Factory resets across the whole network are rarely needed for a simple add-node Bluetooth pairing issue.
Customer
Perfect. The Eero Bluetooth not working problem is solved and the new node is online. Thanks for the clear steps — especially the Android permissions and reset ladder.
Technician avatar Technician
Summary: when Eero Bluetooth is not working, fix the discovery chain first: Bluetooth + Location/Nearby Devices permissions (Android), keep the phone close, disable VPN/battery restrictions, and refresh the app state. If the eero shows as already configured (solid white), a soft reset often restores setup mode; if it’s partially configured and keeps failing, a hard reset on that node gives you the cleanest “setup-ready” state for the eero app BLE pairing flow. Want help tuning placement for the best mesh performance after setup? Open the chat and an expert will guide you in real time.

Quick answer: the accepted fix

Accepted first fix for Eero Bluetooth not working: on your phone, enable Bluetooth and (on Android) turn Location Services on, then allow the eero app Nearby devices/Bluetooth and Location permissions. Disable VPN and battery saver, force stop the eero app and clear cache, then retry discovery with the eero within 1–2 feet. If the eero LED is solid white or setup keeps failing with “No eero was found”, perform a soft reset (yellow flash). If it still fails, do a hard reset (red flash) on the new node to return it to a clean setup-ready state and re-run the eero app Bluetooth LE pairing flow.

Why Eero Bluetooth stops working during setup

Most Eero Bluetooth not working complaints aren’t a “bad router” — they’re a discovery problem. The eero app uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) during onboarding, and Android can block BLE scanning unless Location Services (and the right permissions like Nearby devices) are enabled. App-level blockers like VPNs, battery optimization, or stale cache can make the eero app get stuck on looking for devices. If a node was partially added (for example, briefly wired by Ethernet), it may show solid white and stop advertising for setup, which triggers No eero was found until a reset returns it to setup mode.

How to confirm your eero pairing issue is actually fixed

After the node is added, verify stability: open the eero app and confirm the new eero shows online, then place it in its intended location and check it stays connected for 10–15 minutes. If you ever see “offline” after moving it, that’s usually placement/signal (mesh range), not Bluetooth. Bluetooth is mainly a setup step — once the node is onboarded, performance depends on placement, interference, and backhaul quality.

Eero Bluetooth not working — quick troubleshooting tips

Most cases are fixed by permissions (Android), app refresh, and the right reset step.

Quick path: enable Bluetooth, enable Location Services on Android, grant the eero app Nearby devices + Location permissions, pause VPN and battery saver, force stop the app and clear cache, then retry eero app pairing with the node close to your phone. If discovery still fails, do a soft reset (yellow flash) to re-enter setup mode; if it keeps bouncing on looking for devices or No eero was found, do a hard reset (red flash) on just that node to start clean.

Disclaimer: This information is AI-generated and intended for general guidance only. Do not open devices or attempt unsafe electrical work. For advice specific to your eero model and phone OS version, please consult a verified expert on Whizz-Tech or the manufacturer’s support before making decisions.

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FAQ

Why is my eero Bluetooth not working in the app?

Eero Bluetooth not working is usually a discovery issue: the eero app uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and on Android it can require Location Services plus permissions (Nearby devices/Bluetooth and Location). VPNs, battery optimization, or stale app cache can also cause the app to get stuck on looking for devices or show No eero was found.

How do I fix “No eero was found” during setup?

Confirm Bluetooth and Location are enabled (Android), grant permissions, pause VPN/battery saver, and force stop + clear cache for the eero app. Keep the eero within 1–2 feet of the phone. If the LED is solid white or the device was partially configured, do a soft reset first; if it still fails, do a hard reset on the new node to return it to a clean setup state.

What’s the difference between a soft reset and hard reset on eero?

A soft reset is a quick reset step that can recover a stuck device and help it re-enter setup mode. A hard reset returns that eero unit to full setup-ready mode so you can add it again from scratch in the eero app. Use the reset ladder: phone permissions/app refresh → soft reset → hard reset (only if needed).

Why does Android 13/14 sometimes get stuck on “looking for devices”?

Some Android versions can change Bluetooth behavior and background scanning rules, which may break or slow down BLE discovery. Keeping the screen awake, granting permissions, turning on Location Services, disabling battery restrictions, and refreshing the app state (force stop + clear cache) typically fixes it. If discovery still fails, a hard reset on the new node often resolves partial-config issues.

Sources

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