First, remove any existing pairing of your phone from Windows Bluetooth settings and from the phone. Then open Never Away, make sure Bluetooth is on, tap Connect, and add the phone from Windows as a new Bluetooth device. The app has to start the connection. If it still fails, check Airplane mode, the Bluetooth Support Service, the driver, distance, and the phone's battery saver.
The most common cause: an old pairing
Never Away must be the one to start the Bluetooth connection. If your phone was paired to the PC earlier as a normal Bluetooth device, from Windows' own Bluetooth settings, Windows may remember it as the wrong kind of device. It will not discover the phone as a keyboard and mouse through the app. The cure is to forget the pairing on both sides and start again from the app.
Reconnect in order
- Remove the phone from Windows. In Windows 11 open Settings, Bluetooth & devices, Devices, find the phone, open its menu and choose Remove device. In Windows 10 use Settings, Devices, Bluetooth & other devices.
- Forget the PC on the phone. In Android, open Bluetooth settings, find the PC in the list of paired devices and choose Forget or Unpair. Menu names differ between phones.
- Turn Bluetooth off and on on both the phone and the PC.
- Open Never Away and tap Connect. The app shows the name to look for.
- On the PC, add a device. Settings, Bluetooth & devices, Add device, Bluetooth. Pick the phone from the list.
- Wait for green. When the app's light turns green, the trackpad and keyboard work.
The app's connection panel also tells you what to do next at each stage.
Windows checks
- Bluetooth is on and Airplane mode is off. Check Settings, Bluetooth & devices, and the quick settings panel.
- The Bluetooth Support Service is running. Press Win + R, type
services.msc, and look for Bluetooth Support Service. It should be running, with startup set to Automatic or Manual (Trigger Start). - The driver is healthy. In Device Manager, open Bluetooth and look for a warning icon. Updating or reinstalling the driver from the PC maker's site often helps.
- Run the troubleshooter. Settings, System, Troubleshoot, Other troubleshooters, Bluetooth.
- Reduce interference. A USB 3 port next to a Bluetooth dongle, a busy 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and a metal PC case can all weaken the signal. Move closer and try a front-port extension for the dongle.
- Restart the PC if nothing else works.
Android checks
- Keep the app open while you connect, and allow it to run in the background.
- Battery saver. Android can close apps to save power. If it does, the app shows a friendly notice and a one-tap fix. In Android's battery settings, set Never Away to unrestricted, or allow background activity. Menu names vary by phone.
- Permissions. Allow the Bluetooth permission when the app asks.
- Another Bluetooth app may be holding the connection. Close it, then try again.
Symptom and fix
| What happens | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The phone shows in the Windows list as an ordinary device but no keyboard works | An old pairing from outside the app | Remove it from Windows and the phone, then connect from the app |
| The phone does not appear in the Windows list | The app is not connecting, or Bluetooth is off | Open the app and tap Connect first, then check Bluetooth is on for both |
| It connects, then drops after a while | Battery saver closed the app, or the phone is out of range | Allow background activity, and keep the phone close |
| It worked yesterday and not today | The pairing got out of step | Remove it on both sides and pair again |
| The cursor lags or jumps | Interference or distance | Move closer, reduce interference, restart Bluetooth |
After it works
From then on the app reconnects by itself when both devices are in range. Keep the app open and allowed in the background, and you should not need to pair again. If you want a full list of what the phone can do once connected, see the app tour, and for the privacy side, read whether a phone keyboard app is safe.
Questions people ask
Why will my phone not connect as a Bluetooth keyboard?
The usual reason is an old pairing in Windows that was made outside the app. Remove it from Windows and the phone, then connect from inside Never Away.
How do I remove a Bluetooth device in Windows 11?
Open Settings, Bluetooth & devices, Devices, open the menu beside the device and choose Remove device.
Why does the connection drop?
Android may be closing the app to save battery, or the phone has moved out of range. Allow the app to run in the background and stay close.
Does the phone need to be paired in Android settings?
No. The app starts the connection. Pair from Windows after tapping Connect in the app.
Do I need a driver on the PC?
No driver for Never Away, since Windows supports Bluetooth keyboards. The PC does need a working Bluetooth driver for its own radio.
Will it reconnect automatically?
Yes. After the first pairing the app reconnects by itself when both devices are in range.
Keep reading
Get connected
Never Away is free on Google Play. Nothing to install on your PC.
For reference. Steps and screens described here are as they appear in Never Away and in Windows at the time of writing, and menu names can differ between versions of Windows, Android and other software, so test any setup before you depend on it. Never Away is an independent app by Trishunya Infotech. Windows, Microsoft Teams, PowerPoint, Excel, AutoCAD and Bluetooth are trademarks of their respective owners and are named only to describe what the app works with. Follow your employer's IT and security policies when you use any tool on a work computer.