---
title: "Bluetooth"
description: "How to play music from your phone, tablet or computer to your Volumio device over Bluetooth, and what to do if there's no sound."
url: https://help.volumio.com/en/articles/186-bluetooth
collection: "Getting started"
updated: 2026-11-13
language: en
---

# Bluetooth

How to play music from your phone, tablet or computer to your Volumio device over Bluetooth, and what to do if there's no sound.

Your Volumio device can receive music over Bluetooth from a phone, tablet or computer, like a Bluetooth speaker. It can't send music to Bluetooth headphones or speakers.

Bluetooth is a Premium feature: it's included on Volumio devices, and needs a Premium plan on Raspberry Pi. On Raspberry Pi, you also need a model with Bluetooth, or a USB Bluetooth adapter.

## Connect your phone

1.  On your phone, open the Bluetooth settings and turn Bluetooth on.
    
2.  Choose your Volumio device from the list of devices found.
    
3.  Start playing music in any app on your phone.
    

The device shows what's playing, and you can use its controls to play, pause and skip songs.

## Bluetooth settings

Go to `Settings` → `Sources` → `My music` → `Music sources` and press the settings button next to `Bluetooth input playback`:

-   `Enable party mode`: when on, the last phone that starts playing takes over from the previous one. When off, only one phone can play, and the others are ignored until it stops.
    
-   `Start Bluetooth on demand`: when on, Bluetooth only starts when you turn it on from the device. When off, it's always on.
    

## Troubleshooting

### The phone is connected, but there's no sound

1.  Check the volume on your phone and on the device.
    
2.  Check that the music is actually playing on the phone, and not on another speaker or on headphones.
    
3.  Turn Bluetooth off and on again on your phone, then choose the device again.
    
4.  Go to `Settings` → `Sources` → `My music` → `Music sources` and check that `Bluetooth input playback` and `Multiroom playback` are on: Bluetooth needs both.
    
5.  Restart the device.
    

### Your device doesn't show up on your phone

1.  Go to `Settings` → `Sources` → `My music` → `Music sources` and check that `Bluetooth input playback` is on.
    
2.  Move the phone closer to the device.
    
3.  If the device was paired before, remove it from your phone's Bluetooth settings and pair it again.
    

### Another phone can't play

Only one phone plays at a time. Stop the music on the first phone, or turn on `Enable party mode` so that the last phone that starts playing takes over.

### The sound drops or stutters

1.  Move the phone closer to the device, with nothing in between.
    
2.  Keep the phone away from Wi-Fi routers, microwaves and other wireless devices.

## Related

- [Nova and Volumio 4](https://help.volumio.com/en/articles/172-nova-and-volumio-4.md)
- [Volumio app](https://help.volumio.com/en/articles/173-volumio-app.md)
- [Volumio in a browser](https://help.volumio.com/en/articles/174-volumio-in-a-browser.md)
- [Inputs and outputs](https://help.volumio.com/en/articles/175-inputs-and-outputs.md)
- [Power and standby](https://help.volumio.com/en/articles/176-power-and-standby.md)