How to fix iPhone Bluetooth connection problems after iOS 17 update

If Bluetooth is not working on your iPhone after iOS 17 update, don’t worry, we’re here with solutions.

We rely on Bluetooth for lots of tasks so it can be frustrating if the feature is not working properly. Even the most reliable, robust, mature technologies occasionally have off days. So what do you do if your iPhone Bluetooth stopped working after iOS 17 update? Read along for the troubleshooting steps to fix iPhone Bluetooth if it stopped working after updating to iOS 17.

QUICK FIX

If Bluetooth is not working on your iPhone after iOS 17 update, make sure the devices are ready to be connected, additionally, ensure the Bluetooth device is not paired with another gadget. Also ensure you are within range, the devices have enough power, your device is up-to-date and you are away from Smart Home devices like USB hubs, and Wi-Fi routers.

Make sure the devices are ready to be connected

Bluetooth devices aren’t always ready to connect. Many Bluetooth devices — speakers, headphones, and more — need to be put into pairing mode. You should check your device’s manual to see how to put it into pairing mode.

On your iPhone, just make sure that Bluetooth is turned on. You can do this by following the steps below:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap Bluetooth.
3. Make sure the toggle next to Bluetooth is green. If not, tap on it so it turns green.

Pro tip: if Bluetooth is already turned on, try turning off and then turn on the switch. Once you do this, your iPhone will start scanning for other Bluetooth devices nearby, including AirPods, Apple Watch, and other Bluetooth devices.

Make sure your Bluetooth device isn’t connected to another device

If your iPhone can’t connect to a Bluetooth device after iOS 17 update, it’s likely the phone is already connected to another device. The device you’re trying to connect to might also be connected to another.

If your iPhone is not detecting the Bluetooth device, check your other gadgets to see if one of them is paired with it instead. If so, unpair it, and you should be good to go.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap Bluetooth.
3. Tap on the (i) icon next to the device you want to disconnect.
4. Tap Disconnect.

Make sure your device is connected to Bluetooth

1. Go to Settings.
2. Select Bluetooth.
3. Here, you should see a list of all the devices you’ve connected with before. If the particular device you want to connect to is not shown, make sure the device is on pairing mode so it shows up in the list.
4. Tap on the device so it moves from Other Devices to My Devices.
5. Then tap on the device so it changes from Not Connected to Connected.

Pro tip: To quickly connect to a Bluetooth device, bring up the Control Center on your iPhone, and long press the Bluetooth icon. Then, long press the Bluetooth icon again to reveal a list of devices and tap on the one you want to connect to.

Make sure your Bluetooth device is within range

In general, Bluetooth devices need to be within the range of 30 feet (10 meters.) to connect well. That means you can’t connect your headphones to your iPhone and then go out for a walk. You also can’t allow anything like walls and other obstacles to get in the way of a Bluetooth connection.

So try bringing the devices close together and ensure there are no big thick obstacles.

Check what the Bluetooth pairing process is

There are usually a couple of different methods involved in pairing an iPhone to a Bluetooth device. In most cases, you simply need to turn on Bluetooth from the iPhone settings, it discovers your other nearby devices, you tap the one you want, and off you go to the races.

However, there may be other instances when Bluetooth pairing process involves typing a code from the other device. Once you type that code, it authorizes the connection. This is common if you are trying to connect to a smart TV, for example.

So if the usual pairing sequence doesn’t work, see if a series of numbers is required instead. If it’s a smart TV, it will be displayed on the screen soon enough.

Make sure your Bluetooth device has enough power

Bluetooth only really works at optimal levels if it has enough power. It doesn’t always have to be at 100%, but if the battery hovers at around 15—20%, you will start having Bluetooth connection problems when Bluetooth goes into power-saving mode. So make sure that your Bluetooth device is sufficiently charged or connected to a power source and then try to pair it again.

Make Sure the Companion App Can Access Bluetooth

If the Bluetooth accessory comes with a companion app, make sure the app can access Bluetooth on your iOS 17 device.

1. Go toSettings.
2. Tap Privacy & Security.
3. Tap Bluetooth.
4. Ensure that the app (in question) can use Bluetooth.

Reset the connection

If none of these approaches work, it’s time to “Forget” all Bluetooth devices saved on your iPhone. Every single one of them and then re-establish the Bluetooth connection.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Bluetooth.
3. Locate the device to disconnect and then tap on the (i) button on the right.
4. Tap Forget This Device.
5. Repeat the process for all device’s
6. Now try pairing the device’s again.

Restart both your iPhone and bluetooth device

If you have told your device to “forget” a Bluetooth device, it will then become necessary to restart your device.

To restart your iPhone, follow the steps below:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Tap Shut Down.
4. When the slide to power off slider appears on-screen, swipe to the right.
5. Press the power button to turn on your iPhone.

Check the device’s user manual to figure out how to restart your Bluetooth device. You’ll likely have to press a button for a certain amount of time. Once you have, try connecting again.

Update your iPhone to the most recent version of iOS 17

If Bluetooth is not working on your iPhone after iOS 17 update, it’s possible Apple us already released a subsequent update to fix the problem.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap General.
3. Tap Software Update. If there is a red circle in it, there is an update waiting.
4. Tap on Download and install the most recent version of iOS 17.

Update Bluetooth Device Firmware

If your Bluetooth device has its own firmware, check if there are any updates available and install them. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for how to do this.

Don’t stand too close to Smart Home devices

Smart home devices — such as hubs, locks, light bulbs, plugs, and more — use something called Zigbee. Like Wi-Fi and USB, Zigbee uses the same GHz spectrum as Bluetooth devices, which will interfere with device pairing. Therefore, you need to move away from your Zigbee devices when attempting to pair your iPhone to a Bluetooth device.

Once the pairing has been successfully completed, you can let Zigbee back into your life again.

Reset your network settings

Sometimes your you need to reset network settings to fix wireless issues on an iPhone.

If the above steps don’t work, you should try resetting network settings to refresh the Bluetooth feature. Follow the steps below:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap General.
3. Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone at the bottom.
4. Choose Reset.
5. Tap Reset Network Settings. You may have to enter your passcode to proceed.

Once the reset process is complete, try connecting to Bluetooth device again.

Check for any hardware defects

If you’ve come this far without success, then it is very possible that either your iPhone or bluetooth device has a hardware problem. The best course of action would be to contact Apple support or the device manufacturer to examine it if this is the case. This should finally clear up any Bluetooth connection problems, but we want to hope it doesn’t reach this point.