How do I use my phone as a Bluetooth speaker for another phone?
What is Bluetooth?
Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology standard that allows devices to communicate with each other without cables or wires. It relies on radio frequency to connect devices within a certain proximity, typically up to 30 feet.
According to CISA, Bluetooth technology operates in the unlicensed 2.4 GHz Industrial, Scientific and Medical radio band. This means it uses frequencies that don’t require a specific license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States.
Bluetooth allows devices like smartphones, headphones, speakers, fitness trackers, and other gadgets to exchange data over short distances. It enables useful wireless functionalities like listening to music wirelessly via Bluetooth headphones, transferring files between devices, using a wireless mouse or keyboard, hands-free calling via Bluetooth enabled car systems, and more.
The name Bluetooth comes from Harald “Blåtand” Gormsson, a 10th century king in Denmark and Norway who united dissonant tribes into a single kingdom. This was analogous to the technology’s ability to unify communication protocols between devices from competing industries like computing and telecom.
Pairing Two Phones via Bluetooth
To use one phone as a Bluetooth speaker for another phone, you first need to pair the two devices together via Bluetooth. Here are the steps for pairing two phones:
Put both phones into pairing mode by going into the Bluetooth settings and making the phone “Discoverable” to other devices. On Android, go to Settings > Connected Devices > Bluetooth. On iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth.
Select one phone to pair with the other. From the discovered devices list, choose the name of the other phone you want to pair with. Accept any pairing request prompts that appear on either device.
You may be prompted to enter a pairing code or confirm a code on both phones. Enter the same code on both phones to successfully pair them. Refer to this guide for more details on pairing two Android phones.
Once paired successfully via Bluetooth, the two phones can now connect to each other wirelessly. One phone can act as the host and one as the client for streaming audio over Bluetooth.
Using a Phone as a Bluetooth Speaker
Once two phones are paired over Bluetooth, one phone can act as a wireless speaker for the other phone. This allows you to play audio from one phone and have it transmit over Bluetooth and play through the speaker of the paired phone.
For example, if you pair your smartphone with your friend’s smartphone over Bluetooth, you can then play music from your phone and have the audio play out of your friend’s phone speaker. This turns your friend’s phone into a portable wireless speaker for your phone.
To do this, first make sure Bluetooth is enabled on both phones and that you have successfully paired the two phones together. The pairing process allows the phones to discover each other and form a Bluetooth connection. Refer to your phone’s user manual for instructions on pairing over Bluetooth.
Once paired, play any audio on one phone, such as music from a streaming app. The audio should automatically transfer and begin playing out of the paired phone’s speaker. You may need to select the paired phone as the audio output on your phone’s audio settings. The range will be limited to the typical Bluetooth range of 30 feet or so.
This feature allows you to conveniently play audio from your phone on another speaker source without cables or additional Bluetooth speakers. Just pair two phones over Bluetooth and you can transmit audio between them wirelessly.
Playing Audio from Apps
Many apps that play audio or video content can utilize a Bluetooth speaker phone. This includes popular music streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, YouTube Music, etc. As well as video streaming apps like YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, etc.
When you connect your phone to a Bluetooth speaker and play audio or video from one of these apps, the sound will automatically be routed through the external speaker rather than your phone’s built-in speaker. This allows you to play the audio at higher volumes and take advantage of the speaker’s sound quality.
A key advantage of playing audio from apps through a Bluetooth speaker is that you can control playback entirely from your phone, even though the sound is coming from the speaker. So you can pause, skip tracks, adjust volume, etc. right from the streaming app on your phone. The Bluetooth speaker is acting as an external speaker for your phone.
Both Android and iPhone devices support streaming audio and video app content to a Bluetooth speaker in this manner. Just make sure to properly pair your phone with the speaker via Bluetooth first, then the audio routing is handled automatically when you play media in any app.
Playing Audio from Files
Audio files stored locally on one phone can also be played via Bluetooth to another phone acting as a speaker. This allows you to access music, podcasts, audio books and other media files stored on your phone and play them through another phone’s speaker.
To play audio files from one phone over Bluetooth, you may need to access the file manager or file storage on that device to locate the audio files. On Android phones this is typically through the Files or My Files app, on iPhones it is through the Files app. You can then select the audio files you want to play.
Once you have accessed the file manager and selected your audio files, you can initiate sending them over Bluetooth to the receiving phone. On Android you would select the Share option then Bluetooth, while on iPhone tap the Share icon then Bluetooth. Tap the name of the receiving device to connect and begin streaming the audio files.1
The receiving phone must have Bluetooth turned on and be set as visible for pairing. Once connected via Bluetooth, the locally stored audio files will play through the receiving phone’s speaker while maintaining the wireless connection.
Bluetooth Speaker Range
The range limit for Bluetooth devices depends on the Bluetooth class and version. Most phones and wireless speakers use Bluetooth class 2, which has an approximate range of up to 30 feet in open space. This allows you to walk around a room while streaming audio from your phone to a speaker. The Bluetooth version also affects range – newer versions like Bluetooth 5.0 support longer ranges than older versions.
However, obstacles and interference can reduce Bluetooth range. Walls, floors, furniture, and even your body can block the Bluetooth signal between devices. Using Bluetooth through walls generally limits the range to 10-15 feet. For best results, keep your phone and Bluetooth speaker within line of sight.
Outdoors or in open indoor spaces like arenas, Bluetooth range can exceed 30 feet since there are fewer barriers. But going beyond 30 feet risks intermittent audio cutouts or lagging, especially if there is any movement.
To ensure a reliable connection, try to keep your streaming phone within 30 feet of the Bluetooth speaker. Get closer if you experience audio issues like stuttering or cutouts.
Bluetooth Audio Quality
The audio quality of Bluetooth streaming depends on the Bluetooth version and profiles supported by the phone models being used. Newer versions of Bluetooth like Bluetooth 5.0 offer improved audio quality over older versions like Bluetooth 2.0 or 3.0. However, the phones need to both have the same newer Bluetooth version for the higher quality audio streaming to work.
For example, if one phone only supports Bluetooth 4.2 and the other has Bluetooth 5.0, they will likely connect using the older 4.2 standard which has more limited bandwidth and therefore lower audio quality. The advanced audio codecs available in Bluetooth 5.0 like aptX HD and LDAC can provide CD-like audio quality, but both devices must support them.
Overall, as long as both phones support at least Bluetooth 4.0, the audio quality should be reasonably good for casual listening and streaming. However, audiophiles may want to ensure both devices have Bluetooth 5.0 to take full advantage of the latest high-resolution codecs for optimal sound quality.
Battery and Power Considerations
Using Bluetooth can quickly drain a phone’s battery, especially if it is being used as the Bluetooth speaker for streaming audio. The phone acting as the speaker will use more power than usual since it is using its internal speakers at higher volumes. According to a Reddit discussion, Bluetooth audio requires much less battery power than using the phone’s internal speaker.
To avoid having the audio cut out due to a low battery, it’s important to keep both phones charged when using one as a Bluetooth speaker. Consider plugging them into a power source or external battery pack. You can monitor the battery levels and take a break from streaming if needed to recharge. Having the phone screens turned off while streaming audio over Bluetooth can also conserve some battery life.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you are having issues using your phone as a Bluetooth speaker for another device, here are some troubleshooting tips that may help:
First, try re-pairing the devices if the Bluetooth connection is lost. Go to the Bluetooth settings on both phones and forget the previous pairing. Then, turn Bluetooth off and back on again before setting up a new pairing.[1]
You can also try disabling other Bluetooth connections temporarily on both phones. This prevents interference from other paired devices. Make sure the two phones trying to connect are the only Bluetooth devices active at the moment.
Additionally, check for available Bluetooth software or firmware updates on both phones. An outdated version could cause connectivity issues. updating to the latest Bluetooth software may improve the connection.[2]
If the steps above do not resolve the problem, you may need to consult your device manuals or contact technical support for further troubleshooting.
Alternatives to Bluetooth
While Bluetooth is commonly used for wireless audio connections, it has some limitations like audio quality degradation and limited range. There are other options to consider for connecting your devices wirelessly or with wires.
One alternative is using an auxiliary (aux) cable for a wired connection between devices. An aux cable plugs into the headphone jack on smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other electronics. This creates a direct wired path for the audio signal and can offer higher quality sound without worries about wireless interference or range limits. Aux cables are inexpensive and easy to find.
Streaming protocols like Chromecast and AirPlay allow you to cast or mirror audio from your mobile device to speakers through a WiFi network. This removes the 30 feet range limitation of Bluetooth. Setting up Chromecast or AirPlay requires compatible receiving devices, but allows flexible whole-home audio streaming.
Other considerations like dedicated Bluetooth transmitters and receivers can extend the wireless range and improve audio quality compared to a phone’s built-in Bluetooth. But for the simplest and most reliable option, an aux cable makes connecting devices for audio output easy.