For my friend Stephen, diabetes was a large source of anxiety in his life. Monitoring his glucose level was always on his mind until he decided to invest in the Dexcom. The Continuous Glucose Monitor provides him with ease of mind as he lives a happy and healthy life – when Bluetooth issues threaten the functionalities of his Dexcom, his worries come back in full force.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through some initial troubleshooting steps to help you get your Dexcom device (G6 or G7) back on track and solutions to help you regain your valuable independence. Let’s get into it!
Initial Troubleshooting
If your Bluetooth isn’t connecting to the Dexcom transmitter, try these solutions first.
- Ensure that the Dexcom app is up to date.
- Keep the transmitter in a different room, turn off Bluetooth, wait at least 15 minutes, then turn Bluetooth back on and attempt to reconnect the transmitter.
- Confirm that your device’s battery saver is turned off.
- Restart your device.
- Disconnect the old or inactive Dexcom transmitter from your Bluetooth connections through your device’s Bluetooth menu (not the app).
- Enable location services while searching for the transmitter.
- Insert the transmitter into the sensor during the pairing process. Make sure it is snapped in all the way.
- Ensure that your Dexcom transmitter is listed among the paired devices in your phone’s Bluetooth settings. If it’s not, remove any existing Bluetooth connections related to the transmitter from your phone, and then proceed to re-initiate the transmitter pairing process.
Reddit thread that discusses troubleshooting
Samsung Specific Problem Solving
Some models of Samsung phones will experience Bluetooth issues with the Dexcom App. To resolve this, follow these steps:
- Open your phone’s settings.
- Disable Bluetooth.
- Wait for about 60 seconds.
- Re-enable Bluetooth.
- When prompted to pair with devices, tap OK.
- If Bluetooth still doesn’t work, the problem likely lies with your phone, not the Dexcom app.
- In the future, if it disconnects from your phone, repeat the process by turning Bluetooth off and on again
Samsung thread
Delete App from Previous Device
If you have switched to a new phone and you were previously using the Dexcom App on the older phone, it might be causing your connectivity problems. According to Dexcom representatives, the Dexcom App can only work on one phone successfully at a time.
To fix this problem, remove the Dexcom app from your previous phone and delete it from the device’s Bluetooth list.
Put Your Phone in Airplane Mode with Bluetooth ON
If you are in a poor data coverage area, your Dexcom App might also lose Bluetooth connection. A phone nearby struggling to find a data signal may be causing too much interference or may be using too many processor cycles. In that case, the Dexcom App connection could be affected.
It is recommended to put your phone in airplane mode with Bluetooth On to see if it fixes the problem.
Refrence: Reddit thread
Reset the Sensor
Sometimes, you might face a situation where you can see the Dexcom App in your Bluetooth list, but the App isn’t connected. Please note that the Dexcom App isn’t constantly connected to Bluetooth. It connects for a few seconds every 5 minutes to send the data- this helps with battery life. If you feel like your Dexcom app loses signals more often, reset your sensor and transmitter. Wearing it on the back of your arm can help ensure fewer lost signals.
Follow These Exact Steps
If your Dexcom transmitter isn’t connecting to your new smart device despite entering the correct code, follow the steps below in the exact pattern.
- Close the Dexcom app forcefully.
- Clear the cache of the Dexcom app.
- Restart your phone.
- Ensure that any previous devices connected to Dexcom are turned off and you’re away from potential Bluetooth signal disruptions.
- Toggle your phone’s Bluetooth off and then on.
- Open the Dexcom app and attempt to pair again.
Are you in a Crowded Area?
If your Dexcom readings are cutting out every few minutes, look around. Are you in a crowded area? This could happen in a subway, at a concert, or at a festival.
In crowded places with tons of Bluetooth operating devices around you, the severe interference causes the signal to cut out. This doesn’t mean your sensor or transmitter is faulty. The Dexcom device will generally start operating once you enter a lower density area.
App Permissions
If your Dexcom transmitter isn’t pairing to the Dexcom app on your phone, please ensure that the transmitter is snapped into the sensor properly.
If you are trying to pair your transmitter for the first time, ensure that in the settings and permissions section of your device, anything related to Dexcom App is set to “Allow.”
The transmitter sends a signal only once every 5 minutes, making it easy to overlook the connection. To avoid missing the pairing request, keep your phone’s screen active and pay attention until you’re successfully paired.
Location settings may also be to blame for connection issues.
- Long-press the Dexcom app icon to reveal options.
- Look for “App Info” and tap on it.
- Navigate to “Permissions” and select it.
- Find the “Location” option and choose “Allow at all times” instead of “Allow only while using the app.”
- Note that the Dexcom app may default to an incorrect permission setting, so manual adjustment is necessary.
Uninstall the Roku App
If Bluetooth functionality is disrupted every time Dexcom sends a signal to your phone, it means you’re going to have issues with other connected Bluetooth devices. To resolve this issue, check whether you have the Roku App installed on your phone. If yes, uninstall the app, and this problem will be fixed.
Summary
Maintaining a stable Bluetooth connection is crucial for monitoring your health effectively with the Dexcom (G6 or G7) system. We have gone over multiple solutions for many of the problems you may be facing with your Dexcom device. Remember to keep an eye on your settings, surroundings, and device compatibility to ensure connectivity remains uninterrupted.