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You are here: Home / Not working? / iOS 16: Bluetooth Not Working on iPhone? 10 Fixes to try

iOS 16: Bluetooth Not Working on iPhone? 10 Fixes to try

Last Updated: June 11, 2022 by Moses Gitari

Have you installed iOS 16 beta on your iPhone? And now you’re facing Bluetooth issues? There can be many reasons for this, as Apple might have made some underlying changes that could bork the Bluetooth on your iPhone. Nonetheless, here are some general tips, tricks, and solutions you can follow to fix Bluetooth issues on your iPhone running iOS 16.

Some common Bluetooth related issues that many iPhone users are reporting after installing iOS 16 include:

  • Bluetooth not turning on
  • Bluetooth unavailable or unable to connect to the Bluetooth accessory or car audio
  • Bluetooth devices suddenly disconnecting
  • Crackling sound during call
  • Unable to initialize calls over Bluetooth
  • Not able to connect to new Bluetooth devices
  • When connected to AirPods or car stereo, music tracks skip or stutter

Your first step should be to check that the issue is with your iPhone itself and not with the Bluetooth accessory you’re trying to connect. So try connecting to the accessory with your Mac, PC, or any other device, and see if things work fine or not. Also, make sure to update the accessories if there is an option to update the firmware.

If you find out that the problem lies with your iPhone running iOS 16, here are a few solutions you can try:

1. Check to be sure your iPhone’s Bluetooth is turn on

It’s easy enough to accidently (or even on purpose) turn the Bluetooth on your iOS 16 device off. Check to be sure it’s turned on, and then try connecting to your Bluetooth device again,

2. Make sure your devices are compatible

It seems like a given, but believe it or not, not all devices are compatible. Make sure the Bluetooth device you’re using with your iOS 16 device is actually compatible with the iPhone. You can usually check the packaging or the manufacturer’s website for details about compatibility.

3. Make sure your devices are close enough

A Bluetooth signal tends to have a very short range, so make sure your devices are close enough to connect. Usually 2-3 feet is good during the connection process, though you can often separate them by a greater distance once the connection is complete.

4. Turn off Bluetooth and Force Reboot iPhone

The first thing to try is to turn off your Bluetooth and hard reset your iPhone:

Turn off Bluetooth by launching the Settings app, navigating to Bluetooth, and turning off the Bluetooth toggle.

Hard reset or force reboot your iPhone:

Hold the Home button (Volume down button on the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus and the Power button until the Apple logo appears.
If you are on iPhone X, iPhone XS/Max, iPhone 11/11 Pro, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Mini,, iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 13, the combination is different. Quickly press and release the Volume Up button and then quickly press and release the Volume Down button. Finally, press and hold the Side button (Sleep/Wake button) until you see the Apple logo.
After your iPhone restarts, enable Bluetooth again from Control Center or from the Settings app.
Try connecting to the device now and check if the iOS 16 Bluetooth Not Working issue is resolved. If the problem still isn’t solved, try the next solution.

5. Restart the Bluetooth device

After you’ve restarted your iOS 16 device, the next step would be to restart the Bluetooth device you want to connect to. Use the manufacturer’s instructions for restarting the device, then make sure it’s back in pairing mode and try to make the connection again. Just as a restart can help The iOS 16 device, it can also help the device you’re trying to connect to.

6. Forget Device

If the previous tip didn’t fix iOS 16 Bluetooth not working issue, you can try forgetting the device you paired with from Settings, and then try reconnecting:

  1. Locate and Tap on the Settings app on the Home Screen, and then go to Bluetooth.
  2. Tap on the “i” icon or information button next to the device name you’re having problems connecting.
  3. Tap on the “Forget This Device” button and confirm your action.
  4. Now pair your iPhone with the device again, and see if the iOS 16 Bluetooth not working issue has been solved.

Those who have issues with AirPods should know that when you ‘Forget the Device’ from your iPhone, it’ll be automatically removed from other devices where you have signed in with the same Apple ID.

7. Make sure your Bluetooth device isn’t paired with something else

While it’s true some Bluetooth items will connect with more than one device, that’s not true for all of them. If you already have your Bluetooth device connected to something else, disconnect it and then re-try connecting it to the iOS 16 device.

8. Install the Latest iOS 16 beta Update

If you are running iOS 16 beta; you should wait for another point release of the OS from Apple to see if that fixes the Bluetooth issues or not. It is pretty common for iOS beta to have some problems, and companies generally tend to release a point update soon after to fix any widely reported issues.

Like iOS 15, it won’t be surprising that the initial release of iOS 16 beta breaks more things, and the only way out is to either downgrade or wait for fixes to become available from Apple.

9. Make sure your Bluetooth device is updated

Outdated drivers, firmware, and software can create all manner of problems, including connection issues. Use the manufacturer’s directions for updating your specific Bluetooth device, they are usually available on the manufacturer’s website, and generally, you can go into the settings for the device to find the option to update it.

10. Reset Network Settings

If none of the above tips fixed your iOS 16 Bluetooth not working problem, you could also try resetting your network settings. A side effect of doing this is that it will also clear all your Wi-Fi settings, so you might have to rejoin Wi-Fi networks and configure VPN all over again.

Here’s how to reset network settings:

  1. Launch the Settings app and navigate to General > Transfer or reset iPhone > Reset
  2. Tap Reset Network Settings
  3. You’ll be required to enter your passcode if you have one.
  4. Confirm your action in the popup
    Post this; your iPhone will reboot. Once it starts up, try pairing to the device again.

If the iOS 16 bluetooth problem still isn’t solved, wait for Apple to fix the issue with the subsequent update.

  • See also: iOS 16 Battery Life Drains Faster? 20+ Tips to fix the issue

About Moses Gitari

Moses Gitari is the Editorial Director of iPhoneArena and has been writing about iPhones, iPads, Macs, accessories, and software for over 10 years.

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