Several users have stated that they are unable to connect their iPhone 16 to car bluetooth stereo.
Reported problems:
- iPhone 16 is not finding car Bluetooth
- iPhone 16 is not connecting to car bluetooth
- Bluetooth is not working as expected
If you are having this issue, you may see one or more of the following error messages:
- Network error
- iPhone stopped
- Can’t connect
Please try the troubleshooting steps below if you are unable to connect or pair your iPhone 16 to car bluetooth audio system. If you are unable to connect your iPhone 16 to CarPlay, see this article.
Note: information in this article apply to iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
1. How to connect your iPhone 16 to your car Bluetooth stereo
- On your iPhone 16, go to Settings > Bluetooth and turn on Bluetooth. Stay on this screen until you complete the steps to pair your car Bluetooth stereo.
- Place your car stereo 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, check the instructions for your car stereo or contact the manufacturer.
- To pair, tap your car stereo 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 car stereo.
After you pair your car stereo, you can use it with your iPhone.
2. Turn Bluetooth off and then on again
As usual with tech devices, sometimes just turning it off and on again can fix the problem.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Bluetooth.
- Turn off the button next to Bluetooth.
- Wait about 5 seconds, then tap the button again to turn Bluetooth back on.
Pro tip: You can also toggle Bluetooth off and on from the control Center. To do this, swipe down from the top right of your screen. Then, look for the Bluetooth icon and tap it to turn Bluetooth off. Wait a minute and then tap the icon again to turn Bluetooth back on.
3. Restart your iPhone
If turning bluetooth off and on again doesn’t work, turn your iPhone 16 off and on. Here’s how:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap General.
- Select Shut Down.
- Move the power slider from left to right. Your iPhone will shut down.
- Press the Side button to turn your iPhone back on.
Now try connecting to your car stereo again.
4. Restart your car’s audio system
If you still can’t connect, restart your car’s audio system. This is different for different cars and models. For example, you may need to press and hold down the audio system power knob for at least 10 seconds. Again this may be different for your car. Simply check your car’s manual.
5. Update your iPhone
Some functions, including Bluetooth, won’t work properly on your iPhone 16 unless youriOS is up to date.
- Make sure that your iPhone is connected to the Internet.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap General.
- Choose Software Update. And if there is an update, update your iOS device.
6. Update the car audio firmware
Please check the manufacturer’s website to see if a firmware update is available and if there is, find out how you can update.
7. Try pairing another device to your car bluetooth
Try using another device (like your iPad). If you can connect this new device successfully, this means that the problem is with your iPhone 16, so keep reading. If you cannot pair this device also, that means the problem is with your car’s stereo.
8. Clear devices from your iPhone’s memory
If you paired your iPhone 16 and car before, remove your car’s old Bluetooth connection from your phone and then rediscover it.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Bluetooth.
- Tap on the i button next to the name of your car stereo.
- Tap Forget This Device.
- Repeat steps 1-4 to remove other previously paired bluetooth devices.
- Now try to re-connect.
9. Clear phones from your car’s memory
A few users claimed that, when trying to pair an iPhone 16 to their car’s stereo, the system would instead continue to attempt to connect with a previously paired, now absent, devices. To fix this, wipe the the car system’s memory clean, having it “forget” all previously paired devices. After doing so, pairing with your iPhone 16 should succeed.
10. Reset network settings
This is the last port of call before contacting Apple or maker of your car stereo. Please note that if you reset your network settings, all of your network-related settings will be erased such as your Wi-Fi passwords, etc. Here’s how:
- Open Settings.
- Go into General.
- Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Select Reset.
- Tap Reset Network Settings and then follow the onscreen instructions.
Now try to pair your iPhone 16 to your car stereo.
11. Check your device for hardware problem
If you still can’t connect, there’s a high chance one of your devices has a hardware defect. Contact Apple Support for further help. You may also want to contact the maker of your car stereo.
Also make sure that you read the manual that came with your car for more information on how to pair with a Bluetooth device. Most cars require a phone setup on the car display.