topic Re: Re: Re: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi refuse to turn on in Galaxy S21

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi refuse to turn on

Gavocado — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 23:17:10 GMT

Seeking help with this issue - my 21Ultra is having issues connecting to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. And by that, I mean it doesn't even turn on anymore, it was turning off randomly, but now it's just not working at all.

I've tried resetting the wifi/bluetooth, wiping cache partition, etc. I would prefer to not do a factory reset at this point in time, I'm wondering if anyone has any idea what's going on. I was thinking of trading in this phone anyway, but would really prefer to just fix the issue instead. Feels really bad just be forced to a new phone because mine just straight up stops working.

Re: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi refuse to turn on

LongHiker — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 23:15:31 GMT

Not sure what you mean by "Wifi over Bluetooth ". Are you saying that neither wifi nor Bluetooth is turning on?

Have you tried phone settings -> General management-> Rest -> Reset wifi and Bluetooth?

Re: Re: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi refuse to turn on

Gavocado — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 23:17:35 GMT

Hi, edited to fix the typo, yes, both are turning on. I have tried that fix and it did not work.

Re: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi refuse to turn on

Desman6 — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 20:33:31 GMT

Same! This is driving me nuts!

Re: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi refuse to turn on

Samsung_Moderator — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 20:45:31 GMT

Hello Gavocado, welcome to the Samsung Community! I understand your frustrations with your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth not working correctly on your device. I see where you stated that you have already tried a few troubleshooting steps, here is a list of steps you can try to resolve the issue:

Test in Safe Mode. Booting your Samsung Galaxy into Safe mode | Samsung CA

Clear cache partition: with your phone powered off hold down the power and volume up buttons together at the same time until the Samsung logo appears and then release the power button, select clear cache partition and reboot your device normally

Perform a factory data reset, please be sure to back up your device before performing the reset: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00062029/

For Wi-Fi connection concerns, you can try the troubleshooting here: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/troubleshooting/TSG01001559

For Bluetooth connections, try these steps: Bluetooth device won't reconnect or stay connected to Galaxy phone or tablet

If you are still experiencing issues after performing all the troubleshooting steps provided, then I recommend that you have your device checked out by a certified service center. The following link to find a list of service centers in the U.S. that can do the repair: http://www.samsung.com/us/support/service/ or by contacting customer support at 1-800-726-7864. For assistance outside the U.S., please use this link: https://www.samsung.com/us/common/visitlocationsite.html

Re: Re: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi refuse to turn on

Gavocado — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 20:49:13 GMT

Thanks for the advice! I've done a few of these - cache partition and the general troubleshooting.

It's seeming to work now, for whatever reason, so I'm probably just going to hold onto it and see if there's any good trade-in deals, I'm tired of dealing with the camera focus issues anyway.

Re: Re: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi refuse to turn on

BCuz_WyNaut — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 19:54:42 GMT

I have had the same issue since June/July. My data use has been on the rise since my wifi and bluetooth drop randomly.

The wifi on/off history doesn't list the cause.

I've cleared the cache, ran the Samsung diagnostics, and have taken it to a service center for diagnostics, and they couldn't determine the cause. Only suggesting to replace the cable to the motherboard, which they didn't believe would fix my issue.

The only time I could get it to work is when I turn off the phone and turn it back on.

I've seen this post and posts on Reddit with the same issues I have, but no root cause, and they have had no luck with a factory reset either.

It's an Galaxy S21 Ultra as well.

Re: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi refuse to turn on

Karbin — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 17:46:16 GMT

I've tried all of these things with no success. Moving to UI 7 has broken my phone. This is terrible. I have to constantly restart my phone to get WiFi and blutletooth working. Samsung sucks. I was given this S21 Ultra and Samsung will not be my next phone.

Re: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi refuse to turn on

BCuz_WyNaut — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 17:48:28 GMT

So far, clearing the cache and resetting the wifi/Bluetooth has slightly helped, but it still randomly drops daily.

Re: Re: Re: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi refuse to turn on

Gavocado — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 06:56:05 GMT

It seems like another hardware defect, then? First the camera focus, now this, wild.

Re: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi refuse to turn on

canrilo91 — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 04:06:46 GMT

Hi there, I'm so glad I found this, I have had the same problem for over a week.

Both wifi and Bluetooth stop working suddenly. Sometimes they just restart, some other times the bluetood stays on, but when I try turning the wifi on, it turns the Bluetooth off. But some times they refuse to turn back on and I need to restart my phone.

My back glass broke a month ago and I was thinking some debris or something was causing trouble but now I can relax knowing it is happening.

Well... As relaxed as I can be knowing my phone, which I was expecting to last much more, has a widespread glitch where the wifi randomly stops working. T_T I'll try the resets and let you know.

Re: Re: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi refuse to turn on

Gavocado — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 04:22:37 GMT

To anyone reading this and looking at the 'resolved status of this, just know that if this is happening your phone's board is pretty much cooked and you're going to have to send it into Samsung. So while that's technically a solution, is it really

Re: Re: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi refuse to turn on

Gavocado — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 04:23:59 GMT

Hey, if you have a chance test out NFC and see if that works. From the research I've done the consensus seems to be that it's a board defect and besides sending it in for a replacement board there's not much hope. I still get mobile signal at least, Just trying for a trade in at this point with the 26 line.

Re: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi refuse to turn on

gardenState — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 13:50:06 GMT

I also have a Galaxy s21 ultra
Since I update the phone I have exact same problem the wifi and Bluetooth turns off automatically every few minute, the integrated an AI system officially made to save battery but it's failing, the only thing I found I can do is switch to battery saver mode, then is switching to the old update, and I can turn back on the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, I'm also thinking to switching to pixel by April if this problem is not resolved

Re: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi refuse to turn on

gardenState — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 13:59:50 GMT

Nothing is wrong with the phone itself it's a problem with the UI 7.0 Since I update, I have this problem the system is shutting down the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth supposedly made to save battery but I guess it does not work as it's supposed to.

When I check my Wi-Fi connection history I can see: callBy=com.android.systemui or com.android.settings: Indicates which internal Android component initiated the action
It's not a problem with the motherboard or anything

Re: Re: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi refuse to turn on

Gavocado — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 22:15:41 GMT

Ok, mine seems fixed - have you tried just turning off the phone for a while and turning it on? I was restarting but didn't just turn it off and leave it alone for a bit...and now it's fixed. Weird

Re: Re: Re: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi refuse to turn on

LGood — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 15:56:53 GMT

+1, I am having this problem on a S21 Ultra with OneUI 7 as well. Randomly dropping wifi and Bluetooth simultaneously, wifi often doesn't re-enable itself, making me intervene. Reset my wifi and Bluetooth settings (and went through the pain of re-pairing my watch), and also cleared the boot cache using the side button+volume up button boot sequence, and its still doing it. This can't be a hardware issue, it is happening to too many s21u users to be that.