Fix: Pokeball Plus Failed to Connect

Pokeball Plus may fail to connect due to interference from other communication devices. Moreover, outdated controller/Pokeball firmware may also cause the error under discussion.

The affected user encounters the error when he tries to connect the Pokeball Plus to his phone. The issue is reported to happen on nearly all makes and models of Android phones. Some users encountered the problem when setting up the new ball, whereas other users faced the error after using it for a long time. The issue is not country-specific.

Before proceeding with the troubleshooting process, make sure you are not out of Pokeballs or Pokemon storage. Moreover, restart both the devices and then check if the problem is solved. Furthermore, make sure the OS of your phone is updated.

Solution 1: Re-Pair the Ball and Your Phone

The connection failed issue could be a result of temporary software/communication glitch. Moreover, the ball behaves differently with different makes and models of smartphones. The buttons of the ball working for one type of phone, may not work for another phone. The glitch can be cleared by re-pairing the devices.

1. Open the Pokemon GO app and on the main screen of the app, check if the icon of the Pokeball Plus is dim. If not, tap on the icon and it will dim out or eject the ball from the game’s settings.

   

2. Slide up from the bottom of your screen and long press on the Bluetooth icon.
3. Now tap on the info or gear icon next to the Pokeball Plus and then tap on Unpair or Forget Device.

   

4. Now restart your phone.
5. Upon restart, open the Bluetooth settings of your phone and pair it to the device.
6. Now on the Pokeball Plus, press (with a pin) the reset button for five seconds (until it lights up blue), then release button and immediately hold the said button again until the ball vibrates (which will reset the device).

   

7. Then pair the device from the game’s menu (don’t use the stick but use the red button on the device) and check if it is working fine.
8. If not, repeat steps 1 to 6 and restart your phone.
9. Upon restart of your phone, pair the Pokeball Plus from the game’s menu and check if it is working fine.
10. If not, repeat steps 1 to 6.
11. Then, try to pair the device from the game’s menu and, on the Pokeball Plus, press the red button twice.

    

12. Then check if the game has successfully made a connection to the device.
13. If not, repeat steps 1 to 6.
14. Then, try to pair the device from the game’s menu and, on the Pokeball Plus, keep the red button pressed until the connection is made. Then check if the game is clear of the error.
15. If not, repeat steps 1 to 6.
16. Now click on the ball’s stick and then open the game’s settings on the phone.
17. Now try to pair the devices and check if the problem is solved.
18. If not, repeat steps 1 to 6.
19. Now press the Pokeball button on the device, wait for the LED ring of the device to be flashed 9 times.
20. Then immediately try to connect on your Pokemon Go screen on your phone and wait for the LED of your ball to flash 8 times on the ball.
21. Then quickly tap on the Pokeball button and check if the connection failed error is resolved.

Solution 2: Use Go Companion Application to Pair the Devices

There is a Go companion application that helped a lot of users to get rid of the error under discussion. The said app is especially useful if you are also encountering the device not supported error with the current issue. In this scenario, using the Go Companion Application may solve the problem.

1. Download and install the Go Companion application from the Play Store.
2. Unpair the ball device from the Bluetooth settings of your phone (as discussed in solution 1).
3. Unpair the ball from the settings of your game (as discussed in solution 1).
4. Quickly, open the Go Companion Application and setup the wizard for the paired devices.

   

5. Now check if the connection issue is resolved.
6. If not, pair the ball with Bluetooth of your phone and repeat the process with enabled Initial Boost.

Solution 3: Disable Other Communications/Devices

You may encounter the error under discussion if the ball or phone is paired to another device or there is a communication glitch because of other devices connected. In this scenario, unpairing the ball and your phone from other devices or disabling other communication interferences may solve the problem.

1. Enable airplane mode of any smart device in the vicinity e.g., smartwatch.

   

2. If there is no airplane mode on the device, then power off that device e.g. Nintendo Switch, fitness tracker, wireless earphone/speakers, Bluetooth headset, etc.
3. Disconnect the ball from any other phone or the switch.
4. Disable Wi-Fi on your phone. Also, disconnect/unpair your phone from any other Bluetooth device.
5. Now repeat solution 1 (unpair and re-paring the devices) to check if the problem is solved.

Solution 4: Disable Background Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Scanning

Bluetooth of your phone keeps on scanning for the nearby devices in the background, even if the Bluetooth setting of your phone is disabled. You may encounter the error at hand if the background Bluetooth scanning is enabled (which will keep the connection to any other device alive ). In this context, disabling the background Bluetooth/Wi-Fi scanning may solve the problem.

1. Open Settings of your phone and tap on Location.
2. Now tap on the Mode option and then disable Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Scanning. You may be shown the option of High Accuracy, Battery Saving, and Device Only. If so, then use the Device Only option.

   

3. Now pair the ball to the phone through the Bluetooth settings of your phone.
4. Then disable Bluetooth of your phone and make sure the ball is disconnected (if background scanning is enabled, then the ball will not disconnect).
5. Now, launch the Pokemon Go application and then switch to the Bluetooth settings to enable Bluetooth of your phone but do not connect.
6. Then switch back to the game window and try to connect through the ball icon (or settings of the game).

Solution 5: Add Trusted Device

You may also encounter the error under discussion if your phone does not “trust” the Pokemon ball, which can hinder the proper operation of the ball because of UAC. In this scenario, adding the ball to the trusted devices of your phone may solve the problem.

1. Open Settings of your phone and tap on Security.
2. Now tap on Smart Lock and if prompted for, enter your password.
3. Then tap on Trusted Devices and tap on Add a Trusted Device.

   

4. Now select the ball as a trusted device.
5. Then try to unpair and re-pair the devices (as discussed is solution 1).

Solution 6: Update the Controller and Pokeball Through the Nintendo Switch

This issue also occurs if the ball and controller are not on the latest firmware. In this case, updating the controller and the ball to the latest firmware may solve the problem.

1. Open System Settings of your switch.
2. In the left pane of the window, click on Controllers and Sensors.
3. Now in the right pane of the window, click on Update Controllers.

   

4. Then attach Pokeball Plue in the Let’s Go of the switch.
5. Now open the Pokemon Go application on your phone and check if the failed to connect issue is resolved.

Solution 7: Uninstall Spotify

The Pokeball Plus is known to have issues with the Spotify application. You may encounter the error at hand if Spotify’s application is interfering with the operation of the game. In this context, uninstalling the Spotify application may solve the problem.

1. Open Settings of your phone and tap on the Application Manager (Applications or Apps).
2. Now open Spotify and then tap on the Uninstall button.

   

3. Now disable Bluetooth of your phone.
4. Again, open Application Manager and tap on Pokemon Go.
5. Now tap on Force Stop and then confirm to stop the application.

   

6. Then restart your phone.
7. Upon restart, reenable Bluetooth and then try to pair the device through the game’s menu to check if the problem is solved.

Solution 8: Reinstall the Pokemon Go Game

If nothing has helped you so far, then most probably, the issue is caused by the corrupt installation of the Pokemon Go application. In this scenario, reinstalling the game may solve the problem.

1. Unpair the ball from the Bluetooth of your phone and the game’s settings.
2. Open Settings of your phone and tap on the Application Manager (Apps or Applications).
3. Now open Pokemon Go and then tap on Force Stop.
4. Now tap on the Uninstall button and then click on yes to confirm to uninstall the application.

   

5. Now restart your phone.
6. Upon restart, reinstall the game and set it up. Then exit the game.
7. Now long-press the two buttons on the Pokeball Plus until the LED is flashed green.
8. Then press the top button on the ball and the LED will turn into blue.
9. Once again, hold the two buttons on the ball until the ball vibrates (the ball will forget the paired Bluetooth devices).
10. Now follow solution 1 and hopefully, the problem is resolved.

If nothing has helped you so far, then try to replace the battery of the Pokeball Plus.