Bluetooth® connects your phone to all your favorite tech accessories—smartwatch, AirPods®, TV, the stereo in your car, and more. So it can be frustrating when iPhone® Bluetooth is not working. There are, however, several troubleshooting steps you can take to get your iPhone Bluetooth working again.
Here’s how to troubleshoot iPhone Bluetooth issues.
Make sure your phone’s Bluetooth is turned on
The first step when encountering Bluetooth issues is to ensure your iPhone is transmitting its Bluetooth signal properly.
- On your iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth.
- Make sure the toggle next to Bluetooth is green. If not, tap on it so it turns green.
Quick tip: You can also turn on Bluetooth by launching the Control Center on your iPhone and tapping the Bluetooth icon so it turns blue.
Make sure your Bluetooth accessory is turned on
The next step for solving Bluetooth issues on an iPhone is to make sure that your Bluetooth accessory is on and fully charged or connected to power. If your accessory uses batteries, see if they need to be replaced.
Allow Bluetooth permissions for apps
If there’s an app that you use with the Bluetooth accessory, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Bluetooth on your iPhone and make sure that you’ve turned on Bluetooth for the app. You may also want to contact the App developer for further help.
Confirm that your accessory is connected to Bluetooth
To make sure that the device you’re trying to pair is connected to Bluetooth, follow these steps:
- On your iPhone, head to Settings > Bluetooth.
- Confirm that the name of the device you want to pair appears under My Devices section.
- If you see your device but it says “Not Connected," tap it so it changes to “Connected."
If the particular device you want to connect to is not shown, put the device in discovery mode so it shows up on this screen. If you don’t know how to make it discoverable, check the instructions that came with your accessory or contact the manufacturer.
Make sure that your Bluetooth accessory and iPhone are close to each other
iPhone must be within about 33 feet (10 meters) of the Bluetooth accessory to pair. So if they’re in separate rooms or far away from each other, place them close by.
Turn Bluetooth off and on
The next step for solving Bluetooth issues is to toggle your iPhone’s Bluetooth connection off and on. Here’s how:
- On your iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth and turn off Bluetooth.
- Wait for about 5 seconds.
- Turn Bluetooth back on.
Turn your Bluetooth accessory off and back on again.
Another step to try is turning your bluetooth accessory off and on. If you aren’t sure how to do this, check the instructions that came with your accessory or contact the manufacturer.
Delete other devices from your Bluetooth list
Sometimes Bluetooth can have an issue connecting with too many devices, or you can’t tell which device is the one you want, and you have to delete others.
- On your iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth.
- Tap on other devices to disconnect. If it’s a device you will never use again, tap on the i button on the right.
- Tap Forget This Device.
- Tap Forget Device to confirm
Forget device and pair again
If you’re having trouble with a device that you have paired with successfully in the past, unpair the accessory, put it back in discovery mode, and then try to pair and connect it again.
- Unpair your accessory. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth. Under the My Devices section, find the device that you are having issues with. Tap the (i) icon and tap Forget This Device. Tap Forget Device to confirm.
- Place your accessory in discovery mode and wait for it to appear on your iPhone. If you don’t see it or aren’t sure how to make it discoverable, again check the instructions that came with your accessory or contact the manufacturer.
- To pair, tap your accessory name when it appears onscreen. You might need to enter the PIN or passcode. If you aren’t sure what your PIN or passcode is, check the documentation for your accessory.
After you pair your accessory, you can use it with your iPhone.
Check for an iOS update
Some functions, including Bluetooth, won’t work properly on your iPhone if the iOS is out of date. Here’s how to check for software update and update if necessary:
- Make sure your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi.
- Go to Settings > General, then tap Software Update.
- If an update is available, tap Update Now, and then follow the on screen instruction.
Restart your iPhone
Sometimes your iPhone simply needs to be turned off and on again to fix issues.
If you are still having Bluetooth problems, you should try turning your iPhone off and on again to refresh the software. Here’s how:
- Restart your iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, or later: Press and hold either volume button and the side button until the power-off slider appears. Drag the slider, then wait 30 seconds for your device to turn off. To turn your device back on, press and hold the side button (on the right side of your iPhone) until you see the Apple logo.
- Restart your iPhone 6, 7, 8, or SE (2nd or 3rd generation): Press and hold the side button until the power-off slider appears. Drag the slider, then wait 30 seconds for your device to turn off. To turn your device back on, press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo.
- Restart your iPhone SE (1st generation), 5, or earlier: Press and hold the top button until the power-off slider appears. Drag the slider, then wait 30 seconds for your device to turn off. To turn your device back on, press and hold the top button until you see the Apple logo.
Unpair the bluetooth accessory from your other devices
If you can pair your bluetooth accessory with some devices but not your iPhone, try the following:
- Unpair the accessory from your other devices.
- Try to pair with your iPhone again.
To find out whether your accessory is compatible with your iPhone, contact the manufacturer of the accessory.
Reset your network settings
Bluetooth is still not working on your iPhone? Resetting your network settings could help fix it. Please note this step will erase previously connected Wi-Fi networks and passwords, and your other network settings.
- On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
- Tap Reset Network Settings, and then follow the onscreen instructions.