Put the correct accessory into pairing mode
Check the accessory manufacturer’s instructions so it is discoverable rather than merely powered on. If it automatically reconnects to a nearby phone, disconnect that session before trying the television. Keep track of which device owns the current connection.
On Google TV, open Settings from the profile area, then Remote & Accessories → Pair remote or accessory. Choose the accessory from the list and confirm the pairing request. Match the name carefully when several household headphones or controllers are visible.
Use Connect for an already paired device
Saved accessories appear under Remote & Accessories. Select the intended item and choose Connect when available. Google also documents renaming or forgetting devices. Renaming can make a family’s accessories easier to distinguish; forgetting should be reserved for a relationship you intend to set up again.
For headphones, begin at a low volume and check a short spoken passage. Confirm where the sound is coming from before increasing it. A successful pairing notification is only the first result; usable audio is the next result to verify.
Respect the audio connection limit
Google’s guidance permits only one Bluetooth audio device at a time. Two names in the saved list do not establish simultaneous headphone listening. A controller and headphones serve different Bluetooth roles, so count active audio outputs rather than all saved accessories.
If shared listening is essential, check a supported solution for the exact television or external device instead of repeatedly pairing a second headset. Bluetooth presence in a specification does not automatically prove a manufacturer supports every accessory profile or dual audio feature.
Narrow a connection problem without a reset
Power-cycle the accessory, disconnect unused paired devices and compare another accessory. If one headset fails with the television but works with a phone, record that exact comparison. It does not prove the television is defective; it narrows the compatibility path.
Google includes a brief TV power cycle in its troubleshooting sequence. Reserve a factory reset for a justified later step after preserving account and app details. Report the TV or streamer model, software, accessory model and whether discovery, pairing or actual output is the first failing stage.