North Focals 2 Bluetooth Audio Dropout Recovery

Understanding the Problem

North Focals 2 are a pair of everyday smart glasses that blend a discreet display with built‑in bone‑conduction speakers. When the glasses lose their Bluetooth connection to a phone, tablet or computer the audio can cut out suddenly. The interruption is often called a dropout. Dropouts can be frustrating because they happen at the most inconvenient moments – during a phone call, while listening to a podcast or when receiving a navigation cue.

The good news is that most dropout situations are caused by a setting, a software glitch or an environmental factor that can be remedied without sending the glasses back to the manufacturer. This guide walks you through a systematic process to recover from a Bluetooth audio dropout and to reduce the chance of it happening again.

Why Dropouts Occur

Before diving into fixes it helps to know the common reasons why North Focals 2 lose their audio link:

• Interference from other wireless devices – Wi‑Fi routers, wireless headphones, Bluetooth keyboards and even microwaves can flood the 2.4 GHz band with competing signals.
• Low battery on the glasses or the paired device – When the battery drops below a certain threshold the Bluetooth radio may lower its transmission power.
• Software version mismatch – An outdated firmware on the glasses or an older Bluetooth stack on the phone can prevent a stable connection.
• Physical obstruction – The bone‑conduction transducers sit close to the ears. A hat, scarf or a sudden movement that pushes the glasses out of alignment may temporarily break the link.
• Corrupted pairing data – Over time the stored pairing information can become corrupted, especially after switching phones or resetting the device.

Knowing the likely cause narrows down the steps you need to take. The recovery process below is designed to address all of these possibilities in a logical order.

Preparing for the Rescue

Start by gathering the tools and information you will need:

• The companion app for North Focals 2 installed on your smartphone (available for iOS and Android).
• A stable Wi‑Fi connection so you can download firmware updates if needed.
• Access to the device that you normally pair with the glasses.
• A clean, well‑lit work surface – this makes it easier to see the tiny buttons on the glasses.

Make sure the glasses are clean and that the lenses are free of fingerprints. A quick wipe with a microfiber cloth prevents accidental smudges from being misinterpreted as hardware issues later in the process.

Step‑by‑Step Recovery Process

The following steps are ordered from the simplest to the most involved. Try each step and test the audio after you finish before moving on to the next.

Re‑establish the Bluetooth Link

1. Turn Bluetooth off on the paired device for five seconds, then turn it back on. This forces the device to rescan for nearby peripherals.
2. Open the North Focals app and navigate to the connection screen. If the glasses are listed as “Disconnected,” tap the button to reconnect.
3. Listen for the confirmation tone that the glasses emit when a connection is successful. If you hear it, test audio playback.

If the connection re‑establishes and the audio works, the dropout was likely a temporary glitch in the Bluetooth stack.

Verify Battery Levels

Low power can reduce signal strength. Check the battery indicator on both the glasses and the paired device:

• On the glasses, swipe down from the top of the display to view the battery percentage.
• On the phone, look at the status bar or open the battery settings.

If either device is below 20 percent, charge them for at least fifteen minutes before attempting another connection. After charging, repeat the reconnection steps above.

Remove Interference Sources

If you regularly experience dropouts in a particular location, try to eliminate sources of interference:

• Move away from Wi‑Fi routers or keep the router on a different channel (2.4 GHz channel 1, 6 or 11 are usually the cleanest).
• Turn off nearby Bluetooth devices such as wireless earbuds, keyboards or speakers while using the glasses.
• Keep the glasses away from metal objects that could reflect or absorb radio waves.

After clearing the environment, retry the connection and play audio. If the issue disappears, you have identified the interference culprit.

Reset the Pairing Information

Corrupted pairing data can cause the glasses to think they are still connected while the phone believes otherwise. Resetting clears the old data and forces a fresh handshake.

1. In the North Focals app, locate the “Device Settings” menu.
2. Choose Remove Device or Unpair. Confirm the action.
3. Power off the glasses by holding the side button for three seconds until the indicator turns off.
4. Power the glasses back on and wait for the startup chime.
5. Open the app again and select Add New Device. Follow the on‑screen instructions to complete pairing.

Test audio playback after the new pairing. A clean connection often resolves persistent dropout patterns.

Update Firmware and App

Running the latest software eliminates known bugs. Check for updates on both sides:

• In the app, go to Settings → About → Firmware Update. If an update is available, download and install it while the glasses are on a charger.
• Visit the App Store or Google Play Store and ensure the North Focals app is up to date.

After updating, repeat the reconnection steps. Most users report that firmware fixes introduced in version 2.1.0 and later specifically address Bluetooth stability.

Perform a Full Power Cycle

Sometimes a deeper reset is needed. A full power cycle clears the internal cache and restarts the Bluetooth radio.

1. Place the glasses in their charging case.
2. Close the lid and wait for thirty seconds.
3. Remove the glasses and let them sit on a flat surface for another thirty seconds before wearing them again.

Now try a normal audio session. If the dropout no longer occurs, the power cycle has likely flushed a hidden software lockup.

Advanced Troubleshooting

If the basic steps above did not bring back reliable audio, consider the following more technical options.

Check Bluetooth Profiles

North Focals 2 use the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) for high‑quality audio and the Hands‑Free Profile (HFP) for calls. Some phones have separate toggles for each profile.

• On Android, open Settings → Connected devices → Bluetooth, tap the gear icon next to the glasses, and ensure both Media audio and Phone audio are enabled.
• On iOS, go to Settings → Bluetooth, tap the “i” icon next to the glasses, and verify Audio is turned on.

If one profile is disabled, you may hear no sound even though the glasses appear connected.

Reset Network Settings on the Phone

A corrupted network stack can affect Bluetooth performance. Resetting restores default Wi‑Fi, cellular and Bluetooth configurations.

• iOS – Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset Network Settings.
• Android – Settings → System → Reset options → Reset Wi‑Fi, mobile & Bluetooth.

After the reset, reconnect the glasses and test audio. Be aware that you will need to reconnect to Wi‑Fi networks and re‑pair other Bluetooth devices.

Use a Different Paired Device

If you have access to a second phone, tablet or laptop, try pairing the glasses with that device. This experiment isolates whether the problem lies with the glasses or the original phone.

• Follow the normal pairing steps on the second device.
• Play a piece of audio and observe if dropouts occur.

If the glasses work flawlessly with the alternate device, focus on troubleshooting the original phone’s Bluetooth subsystem.

Inspect Physical Components

Although rare, a hardware fault in the bone‑conduction transducers or the internal antenna can cause intermittent audio loss.

• Gently tap the side of the glasses while they are playing audio. If the sound cuts out exactly at the tap, a loose internal connection may be present.
• Look for visible damage to the charging contacts or the side button.

If you suspect a hardware defect, contact North’s support team and request a repair or replacement under warranty.

Preventive Measures

Even after you have restored stable audio, adopting good habits can keep dropouts at bay.

• Charge regularly – Keep the glasses above 30 percent whenever possible. A full charge before a long day reduces power‑related interruptions.
• Maintain a clean pairing list – Remove old devices that you no longer use. Fewer entries make the Bluetooth scanner faster and less prone to confusion.
• Avoid extreme temperatures – Prolonged exposure to heat or cold can affect the antenna’s performance.
• Update promptly – Enable automatic app updates so you receive new firmware releases as soon as they become available.
• Store responsibly – When the glasses are not in use, keep them in the charging case. The case shields the antenna from external interference and protects the lenses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why does the audio drop out only during phone calls?
A: Calls use the Hands‑Free Profile, which may be disabled on the phone or conflict with another Bluetooth device that also uses HFP. Verify that the profile is active in the Bluetooth settings.

Q: Can I use a Bluetooth extender to improve range?
A: The glasses are designed to work within a typical personal area network radius of about ten meters. An extender can introduce latency and is not recommended.

Q: Will resetting the glasses erase my personal settings?
A: Yes, a full factory reset clears saved preferences such as display brightness, notification filters and custom shortcuts. Write down any important settings before proceeding.

Q: Is there a way to see signal strength on the glasses?
A: The current firmware does not expose a signal strength meter. However, the app shows a connection quality indicator that can be used as a proxy.

Summary

Bluetooth audio dropouts on North Focals 2 are usually caused by interference, low battery, outdated software or corrupted pairing data. By following a structured recovery process—re‑establishing the link, checking power levels, removing interference, resetting pairing information, updating firmware and performing a full power cycle—you can recover stable audio in most situations. Advanced steps such as verifying Bluetooth profiles, resetting network settings, testing with another device and inspecting physical components help resolve stubborn cases. Finally, adopting preventive habits keeps the glasses functioning reliably over the long term.

With the knowledge in this guide you should be able to enjoy uninterrupted audio from your North Focals 2, whether you are taking a call, listening to music, or receiving navigation cues on the go.