A user's Android phone suddenly refuses to pair with any Bluetooth devices. Toggling Bluetooth, restarting the handset, and putting several headsets into pairing mode all result in the same on-screen message: "Couldn't pair-incorrect PIN or passkey." Before recommending a factory reset, which troubleshooting step should the technician try next?
Clear the Bluetooth service's cache/data and then reboot the phone.
Disable Wi-Fi scanning under Location settings.
Replace the SIM card to refresh carrier provisioning.
When Android cannot complete any new Bluetooth pairings, a corrupted Bluetooth service cache is a common culprit. Clearing the Bluetooth (and Bluetooth Share) app's cache/data forces the service to rebuild its pairing database, often resolving persistent PIN or passkey errors. Disabling Wi-Fi options, switching radio bands, or replacing the SIM card will not affect the Bluetooth stack and are unlikely to fix the pairing problem.
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Why does clearing the Bluetooth service cache/data help resolve pairing issues?
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What is the Bluetooth stack, and how does it affect device connectivity?
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Why are other options, like disabling Wi-Fi scanning or replacing the SIM card, not effective for fixing this issue?