Can I turn my phone into a Bluetooth speaker?
A Bluetooth speaker is a portable audio playback device that uses Bluetooth wireless technology to stream audio from a Bluetooth-enabled source device like a smartphone, tablet, or computer. Bluetooth speakers allow you to play music or other audio from your phone’s music library or streaming apps without being tethered to your device with wires.
Turning your phone into a Bluetooth speaker utilizes the phone’s built-in speakers to play audio and broadcast it via Bluetooth. This allows you to use your phone as a portable wireless speaker system. Reasons why someone may want to turn their phone into a Bluetooth speaker include:
- Convenience – no need to carry around a separate Bluetooth speaker device
- Portability – your phone is likely already with you, acts as an all-in-one streaming and speaker solution
- Cost – takes advantage of hardware you already own rather than purchasing a separate speaker
- Sharing music/audio – ability to easily stream audio to other devices from your phone
What You Need
To turn your phone into a Bluetooth speaker, there are two main requirements:
First, you’ll need a smartphone with Bluetooth connectivity. Bluetooth allows your phone to wirelessly pair with external speakers and audio devices. Most modern smartphones have built-in Bluetooth capability.
Second, you’ll need a speaker app or built-in capability on your smartphone. Many Android and iOS devices come with apps like Google Cast or AirPlay that allow you to stream audio over WiFi to compatible speakers. Alternatively, some apps like SoundSeeder can turn your phone into a Bluetooth speaker.
Optionally, you may also want an external Bluetooth speaker. By pairing your phone with a portable speaker, you can play audio from your smartphone through the external speaker. Just make sure your speaker is Bluetooth compatible. High quality Bluetooth speakers can be found from brands like Bose, JBL, Anker, and Ultimate Ears.
Enable Bluetooth
The first step is to enable Bluetooth on your phone. This allows your phone to discover and connect with other Bluetooth devices.
On an iPhone, open the Settings app and ensure the Bluetooth toggle is turned on (green). The toggle is normally located near the top of the Settings menu.
On an Android phone, open Settings and tap Connections > Bluetooth. Turn on the Bluetooth toggle at the top to enable Bluetooth on your device. You can also swipe down from the top of your screen to open Quick Settings and tap the Bluetooth icon to enable it.
Enabling Bluetooth allows your phone to broadcast its availability to pair with headphones, speakers, cars, and other devices. With Bluetooth activated, you can now connect your phone to an external speaker.
Sources:
[1] https://www.wikihow.com/Turn-on-Bluetooth-on-Your-Phone
Install App
To turn your Android device into a Bluetooth speaker, you’ll need to download and install a third-party app. Some of the most popular apps for this include:
Woofie – Woofie allows you to turn your phone into a Bluetooth speaker and stream audio from your computer or another phone. It has over 1 million downloads and works even when your screen is off.
SoundAbout – SoundAbout turns your Android into a WiFi or Bluetooth loudspeaker. You can stream audio from your PC, tablet, Chromecast, Apple devices and more. It’s one of the top rated speaker apps with over 500,000 downloads.
Other options include AmpMe, Sound Booster, and Bluetooth Speaker Booster. Look for apps with lots of downloads and positive reviews. The best apps will be easy to set up, offer good sound quality, and work seamlessly in the background.
Pair Devices
To connect your phone to an external Bluetooth speaker, you first need to put the speaker into pairing mode so your phone can find it. The steps for this will vary by speaker model, but generally involve pressing and holding a Bluetooth or Pair button on the speaker itself until an indicator light begins flashing. Consult your speaker’s instruction manual for exact directions.
For example, on many JBL speakers you press and hold the Bluetooth button for 2 seconds until the speaker emits a tone and the LED starts flashing. Some speakers may require you to press a certain button combination or hold the Pair button down for 5+ seconds instead.
Once your speaker is in discoverable pairing mode, you can pair it to your phone using your device’s Bluetooth settings:
https://support.google.com/android/answer/9075925?hl=en
On your Android phone, open the Settings app and select Connected Devices > Connection Preferences > Bluetooth. Your speaker should show up in the list of Available Devices. Tap on its name to connect.
The process is very similar on an iPhone:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204091
Go to Settings > Bluetooth and make sure Bluetooth is turned on. Select your speaker from the list of devices to pair it. You may have to verify the connection on both devices.
Once successfully paired, your phone and Bluetooth speaker will connect automatically in the future when Bluetooth is enabled on both.
Configure App
Once you have installed and paired your app, you will need to allow it to access your phone’s Bluetooth to connect with the speaker. Check your app permissions and enable Bluetooth access. The app may ask you to confirm this as well during the setup process.
Most speaker apps include various settings and options to customize your listening experience. You can tweak things like audio quality, EQ presets, output volume, or stereo/mono modes. The JBL Portable app, for example, has adjustable bass levels, preset EQ modes, and the ability to toggle between stereo and party modes.
Take some time to explore your app’s settings to optimize the audio performance. You may be able to save preset configurations for different listening scenarios. Getting the right sound balance for your room acoustics or music genres can elevate the speaker performance through your phone.
Start Streaming
Once your phone and Bluetooth speaker are paired, you can start streaming audio. Simply open your preferred music app on your phone and hit play. The audio should automatically start streaming to your connected Bluetooth speaker.
For example, if you open Spotify and play a song, the audio will stream directly from your phone to the speaker via Bluetooth, allowing you to listen without wires. Most music apps have integrated support for Bluetooth output.
Some tips for streaming:
- Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone before starting playback.
- You may need to select the Bluetooth speaker as the audio output in your music app settings.
- Stay within range of your Bluetooth speaker, usually 30 feet or less.
Once connected over Bluetooth, you can control playback functions like play/pause, next/previous track, and volume directly from your phone. The audio will play from the external speaker rather than the phone’s internal speaker.
Troubleshooting
If you encounter issues using your phone as a Bluetooth speaker, there are some common troubleshooting steps to try:
For Bluetooth connection issues, first ensure Bluetooth is enabled on both your phone and the device you want to connect. Check that the two devices are within range for Bluetooth connectivity, usually up to 10 meters. Try resetting your phone’s network settings to clear any corrupted Bluetooth data. Some phones also have a Reset Bluetooth option in Settings that can help. If the problem persists, check for Bluetooth interference from other devices and switch them off if possible [1].
For audio quality problems, start by ensuring the volume is turned up on both devices. Check if the audio is muted on your phone or the connected device. Try adjusting the location of your phone to be closer to the device its paired with, as obstacles can interfere with Bluetooth signal. Restart both the phone and connected device. As a last resort, reset your phone to factory settings to eliminate any software issues causing degraded audio [2].
Limitations
While using your phone as a Bluetooth speaker can provide portable audio in a pinch, there are some limitations to be aware of. Two key limitations are battery drain on your phone and limited wireless range.
Streaming audio over Bluetooth can drain your phone’s battery more quickly. Bluetooth uses more power than playing audio through built-in speakers, so you’ll likely need to recharge your phone more often when using it as a wireless speaker (Local Motors, 2018). This can be inconvenient if you’re nowhere near a power outlet.
Additionally, the wireless range of Bluetooth is typically 30 feet or less, and obstacles like walls or furniture can further reduce the functional range (Muenger, 2023). So you’ll need to keep your phone and the connected device within a close distance to maintain an audio connection. Longer ranges are possible with newer Bluetooth versions, but most phones will max out at standard Bluetooth range.
While turning your phone into a portable Bluetooth speaker can be useful, be prepared for faster battery drain and potential wireless connectivity issues if devices are separated.
Conclusion
In summary, you can turn your phone into a Bluetooth speaker with just a few simple steps. All you need is a smartphone with Bluetooth capabilities, a third-party app like WO Mic, and a Bluetooth speaker or headset to pair your phone with. After enabling Bluetooth on your phone and installing the app, you can pair your phone with the external speaker. Configure the app settings like speaker selection, then you can start streaming music, videos, games or calls from your phone to the connected Bluetooth device. The sound will playback through the external speaker as if your phone was the audio source. While convenient, this does have some limitations like sound quality reliance on the external speaker and potential latency issues during streaming. Overall, transforming your phone into a Bluetooth speaker with apps provides a quick and easy way to get more versatility from your smartphone.