If your iPhone won't connect to Bluetooth devices, don't worry - there are plenty of practical solutions you can try. Bluetooth issues are common, but they're usually fixable with some simple troubleshooting steps.
Before you start fixing the problem:
- Make sure Bluetooth is enabled in Settings > Bluetooth
- Charge your iPhone and the device you're trying to pair it with
- Keep your iPhone and Bluetooth device close to each other
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Methods to try if your iPhone won't connect or pair with Bluetooth devices
1. Toggle Bluetooth
Start with the simplest solution. Turn off Bluetooth, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.
Open the Control Center by swiping down from the top right corner of the screen, then tap the Bluetooth icon to toggle it off and on. Or go to Settings > Bluetooth, turn it off, wait, then turn it back on.
2. Toggle WiFi and Airplane mode
You can often fix the issue by toggling WiFi and Airplane mode. Open the Control Center on your iPhone.
- First, tap the WiFi icon to turn it off, then tap again to turn it back on
- If that doesn't work, turn off WiFi completely and try pairing again
- If WiFi toggling doesn't fix the problem, tap the Airplane icon, leave Airplane mode on for a few seconds, then turn it back off
3. Restart your iPhone and Bluetooth accessory
The next step is to restart your iPhone.
- Press and hold the sleep/wake button (or Volume down + Power buttons)
- When "Slide to Power Off" appears, drag the slider
- Wait a moment, then restart your iPhone
Restart your Bluetooth accessory as well. After doing this, try to pair the Bluetooth device with your iPhone.
4. Force restart
If the above solutions don't work, try a force restart.
Force restart an iPhone with Face ID:
- Press and quickly release the volume up button
- Press and quickly release the volume down button
- Press and hold the side button
- When the Apple logo appears, release the button
Force restart iPhone 8 or iPhone SE (2nd generation and later):
- Press and quickly release the volume up and down buttons
- Press and hold the side button
- When the Apple logo appears, release the button
Force restart iPhone 7:
- Press and hold the volume down + Sleep/Wake buttons simultaneously
- When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons
Force restart iPhone 6s or iPhone SE:
- Press and hold the Sleep/Wake + Home buttons simultaneously
- When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons
5. Forget the Bluetooth device
Another way to solve Bluetooth connection issues is to forget the device and pair it again.
- Go to Settings
- Tap Bluetooth
- Find the device you can't connect to and tap the info button (i)
- Tap "Forget This Device"
- Now pair your Bluetooth device with your iPhone again
6. Test with other devices
To help narrow down the problem, try pairing with other devices in your household or nearby. If other devices connect successfully, the problem might be with the Bluetooth device itself rather than your iPhone.
7. Check for pairing app requirements
Some devices like Samsung earbuds and smartwatches need to be connected through their specific apps rather than directly through Bluetooth settings. Check the device's support page to learn about its Bluetooth pairing requirements.
8. Ensure sufficient power
Make sure both devices have adequate battery levels. Consider charging both devices above 25% before attempting to create a connection.
9. Reset network settings
If you're still experiencing Bluetooth connection problems, consider resetting your network settings.
- Navigate to Settings
- Tap General
- Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone
- Tap Reset
- Select "Reset network settings"
- Enter your passcode
- Tap Reset network settings
10. Update your iPhone iOS version
Make sure you have the latest version of iOS installed. Before starting, ensure your device is charged or connected to a power source and connected to WiFi.
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update
- Tap Download and Install or Install Now if you've already downloaded the latest iOS version
11. Reset all settings
If nothing else works, you can reset all settings. This won't delete any of your data.
- Navigate to Settings
- Tap General
- Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone
- Tap Reset
- Select "Reset all settings"
Click to expand- Enter your passcode
- Tap Reset all settings
If you've tried all these steps and your iPhone still won't connect to Bluetooth devices, the issue might require professional support. Contact Apple Support for further assistance with persistent Bluetooth connectivity problems.
