10 Quick Ways to Fix iPhone Bluetooth Not Working Problem

Bluetooth is an indispensable part of iPhone, remaining a great way to wirelessly connect the device to a wide variety of nearby accessories like Apple Watch, Apple TV, headphones, speakers, keyboards, or your car stero.

After updating to iOS 18 or for other reasons, your iPhone bluetooth network may encounter problems and prevent your phone from connecting to other devices. What should you do?

Read on this post to get several troubleshooting steps to fix Bluetooth not working on iPhone problem and get your connections going in no time.

Why Is My Bluetooth Not Working on My iPhone?

Here are some common reasons your Bluetooth may not work on your iPhone:

• Low battery: If the paired device has a low battery, it may not maintain a stable connection.
• Device compatibility: Not all devices are fully compatible with iPhone Bluetooth; some may have limitations.
• Incorrect pairing: If the pairing process wasn't completed correctly, the devices may fail to connect.
• Settings configuration: Bluetooth settings may need to be reset or reconfigured.
• Software glitches: Temporary bugs or glitches in iOS may interfere with Bluetooth functionality.
• Outdated iOS version: Older iOS versions might have unresolved Bluetooth issues, which can be fixed in newer updates.
• Hardware issues: Physical issues within the iPhone can prevent Bluetooth from functioning correctly.

Considering these possible causes, we will introduce the most feasible solutions to iPhone Bluetooth not working problem.

How to Resolve 'Bluetooth Not Working on iPhone' Issue?

1. Turn Bluetooth Off and Back On Again

If your iPhone Bluetooth has been ON for a long time, it might fail to work properly. The simplest way to solve the Bluetooth not working issue is turning off the Bluetooth and then enabling it again.

• From Settings: You can go to Settings > Bluetooth, turn it off, wait for a few seconds and then turn it back on.
• From Control Center: Also, you can open the Control Center > tap on the Bluetooth icon, turn the Bluetooth off and tap on the icon again to turn it on.
• Using Siri: Activate Siri by saying ‘Hey Siri’, then saying “Turn off Bluetooth” and “Turn on Bluetooth” to disable and enable tue Bluetooth on iPhone.

After turning off Bluetooth and back on again, try pairing your iPhone and Bluetooth device again to see if it got the job done.

2. Toggle Wi-Fi and Airplane Mode Off

Sometimes, Wi-Fi and Airplane mode can interface with your iPhone's ability to connect to the Bluetooth network. You can fix the issue by toggling the Wi-Fi and Airplane mode off.

It is very simple to do. Just open the Control Center on your iPhone, tap on the Wi-Fi icon and turn it off. If toggling and turning Wi-Fi off didn't fix the problem. You can open the Control Center again, tap on the Airplane icon and turn it off.

3. Ensure Proximity to Bluetooth Device

The bluetooth may not find your device if the proximity to the bluetooth is low. The recommended distances between your iPhone and the Bluetooth is 10 meters. Thus in order to guarantee the proximity, you need to put the 2 devices in close range.

4. Restart Your iPhone & Bluetooth Device

The nest step is to restart your iPhone or iPad, which could clear some minor glitches and make the device works as usual.

Press and hold the Side button with either Volume button (for iPhone with Home button, just hold the Side button). When "Slide to power off" screen appears, drag the slider to turn off your device.

Once the screen turns black completely, press and hold the Side button again until you see the Apple logo. After doing this, try to pair your iPhone and Bluetooth gadget again.

Restarting your Bluetooth device can also help to clear out minor firmware glitches that might have caused pairing issues with your iPhone.

After restarting the iPhone, get to the Bluetooth device and find the power button, then press it down until the device turns off completely. Wait 30 seconds and then press the power button again to turn the Bluetooth device back on.

5. Forget Bluetooth Accessory and Add It Back

Usually, your iPhone or iPad will automatically pair with Bluetooth accessories when detect them. When iPhone is not connecting to a Bluetooth accessory or Bluetooth is not working due to corrupt connection, you can try to forget the device and pair it again manually from Settings. Follow the simple steps below:

• Ensure the Bluetooth accessory is fully charged and put it into pairing mode.
• On your iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth, then you will find a list of Bluetooth devices.
• Find the one you can't connect with and click on the "i" icon, then tap on "Forget This Device".
• After that, pair the Bluetooth device and your iPhone again. You will see "Connected" when pairing is done.

6. Enable Bluetooth for Third-Party Apps

If you can pair your iPhone with a Bluetooth accessory normally, however, you can't use it with any apps. Then you need to change the Bluetooth Privacy settings.

Here's what you need to do: head to Settings > Privacy > Bluetooth and enable Bluetooth for all the third-party apps that you wan tto use the accessory with.

Note

Keep in mind that app developers can use Bluetooth access to collect information about you, so you should only enable Bluetooth for the apps that you trust.

7. Reset Network Settings

When experiencing iPhone Bluetooth not working problem, and nothing seems to fix, you can try to reset network settings. Please note that all your Bluetooth connections and Wi-Fi networks will be removed and you'll need to add those again.

• On your iPhone, head to Settings > General > Reset.
• Select the "Reset Network Settings" option and enter your passcode when prompted.
• Tap "Reset Network Settings" again when asked to confirm your action.

8. Update iOS to Latest Version

In some cases, iPhone Bluetooth connecting issues can be fixed with the software update. You can update your iPhone, iPad to the latest version of iOS wirelessly or using iTunes. Here's how to update your device wirelessly:

• Connect your iPhone to a stable Wi-Fi network and a power source.
• Head to Settings > General > Software Update.
• Tap "Download and Install", then follow the onscreen instruction to complete software update.

9. Ultimate Way to Fix iPhone Bluetooth Not Working

You've tried above mentioned solutions and Bluetooth still not working on your iPhone. The ultimate way is to use a professional third-party iOS repair tool, like FoneGeek iOS System Recovery.

This program provides a security way to repair iOS errors, including iPhone Bluetooth not working, iPhone keeps dropping Wi-Fi, iPhone hotspot not working, iPhone stuck on white Apple logo, Recovery mode, boot loop, black screen, and more without any data loss.

It supports all popular iPhone models and is compatible with the latest iOS 18. This program is highly recommended by Mobile Mall, GetDroidTips, Inspirationfeed, Techjury, Pakainfo and many other sites.

How to Fix iPhone Bluetooth Not Working Problem without Data Loss:

Step 1: Install and run FoneGeek iOS System Recovery software. On the home page, choose "Standard Repair".

Step 2: Connect your iPhone or iPad to the computer, wait for the program to detect the device.

Step 3: Tap on "Download" to download the firmware that is compatible with your device.

Step 4: Once the download is complete, click on "Fix Now" and the program will start to fix Bluetooth not working issue on your iPhone.

10. Get A Hardware Repair

If all else failed and your iPhone Bluetooth is still not working, then it may be hardware related problems. In this situation, don't try to fix it by yourself. We suggest you contact Apple Support to get a hardware repair. If your iPhone is still under warranty, Apple should help you repair or replace your device for free. If not, you will need to pay for this yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions about iPhone Bluetooth

Q: Can I connect multiple Bluetooth devices to my iPhone?

A: Yes, you can connect multiple Bluetooth devices to your iPhone starting from iPhone 8 and later models. You can select the devices you want to connect to in the Bluetooth settings and even label them for easy recognition.

Q: How do I connect my Bluetooth headphones to my iPhone?

A: Connecting Bluetooth headphones to your iPhone is a simple process. Follow the pairing instructions provided by the headphone manufacturer. If you're not sure how to do this, consult the user manual or check the manufacturer's website.

Q: How do I reset the Bluetooth on my iPhone or iPad?

A: There isn't a dedicated button to reset Bluetooth on your iPhone or iPad. However, you can disconnect all connected devices and restart your device. This clears the Bluetooth cache and may help to fix any pairing issues.

Q: Why can't my iPhone find Bluetooth devices?

A: There are various reasons why your iPhone may not find Bluetooth devices, including disconnection, software, or hardware issues. Ensure that your Bluetooth is on and that the device you're trying to connect to is activated. Try reconnecting both devices. If this doesn't work, try one of the solutions discussed in this article to fix the issue.

The Bottom Line

Bluetooth not working issues is quite common among iPhone users. Now we've discussed how to fix it in no time. Before you start fixing the problem, make sure that your iPhone and Bluetooth device are close to each other and both devices have enough power supply.

Besides, it is important to back up your iPhone data to avoid data loss problems. You can backup data with iTunes, iCloud or a third-party program like FoneGeek Backup & Restore (iOS).