Is your iPhone 12 Bluetooth not working? This article explains what you can do to troubleshoot iPhone 12 Bluetooth issues.
Bluetooth gives you the freedom to use accessories like Apple Watch and AirPods wirelessly, but it isn’t always reliable. If you run into any issues with Bluetooth on iPhone 12, you can follow these steps to troubleshoot them.
See also: iPhone 12 Personal Hotspot not working? Fix
Some of the most common iPhone 12 Bluetooth issues include:
- iPhone 12 Bluetooth not working
- iPhone 12 Bluetooth not pairing
- iPhone 12 Bluetooth not finding devices
- iPhone 12 Bluetooth keeps disconnecting
Before you head to the Apple Store or start thinking about replacements, follow some of these more common troubleshooting steps to fix iPhone 12 Bluetooth issues. Many times, the most basic steps can resolve iPhone 12 Bluetooth connectivity issues.
This article explains what you can do to troubleshoot when Bluetooth is not working on iPhone 12. Let’s get started.
Why Is My iPhone 12 Not Finding Bluetooth Devices?
Several things can prevent your iPhone 12 from finding Bluetooth devices that you want to connect to, including:
- Bluetooth may be turned off.
- Your Bluetooth device may be too far away.
- The device you’re trying to connect to may not be sufficiently charged.
- Software or firmware could be out of date on either the iPhone or the Bluetooth device.
How Do I Fix iPhone 12 Bluetooth issues?
If you’re having Bluetooth issues on your iPhone 12, the steps below might help. Try each one, in order until you find a solution that gets your Bluetooth working again. They’re arranged from easiest or most likely to work to hardest or least likely to work.
Make sure your iPhone’s Bluetooth is turned on
It’s easy enough to accidently (or even on purpose) turn the Bluetooth on your iPhone off. Check to be sure it’s turned on, and then try connecting to your Bluetooth device again.
Go to Settings > Bluetooth.
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 iPhone is actually compatible with the iPhone. You can usually check the packaging or the manufacturer’s website for details about compatibility.
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.
Make sure your iPhone and your Bluetooth device are both sufficiently charged
You wouldn’t think the charge level on an iPhone or on the Bluetooth device you’re connecting it to would matter, but it can. The more charged the devices are, the better the connection, so if you’re having trouble and either of the devices is less than 50 percent charged, try charging them both completely and starting again.
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 iPhone.
Turn Bluetooth off and then restart your iPhone
Turn off the Bluetooth on your iPhone and then restart it. If there’s something ‘wonky’ in the works, many times a restart will clear out whatever problem there might be.
Restart the Bluetooth device. After you’ve restarted your iPhone, 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 an iPhone, it can also help the device you’re trying to connect to.
Forget the device, and then try to pair to it again
If you’ve previously connected your Bluetooth device to your iPhone 12, there could be some corruption with the connection. Try forgetting the device. Once you do, restart the iPhone, and then try to connect the Bluetooth device again. The fresh connection may solve iPhone 12 Bluetooth issues.
In the Settings > Bluetooth menu, select the device. On the next page, choose Forget This Device. Then go through the pairing process with the Bluetooth device again.
Try to Pair the Bluetooth Device to Another iPhone
A good way to determine whether your Bluetooth issue lies with your iPhone or the accessory is trying to pair the device to another iPhone. If that isn’t successful, it’s safe to assume that the issue lies with the Bluetooth device but not your iPhone.
Make sure your Bluetooth device is full 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.
Make sure your iPhone is fully updated
Just as outdate firmware and software on a Bluetooth device can cause problems, so can an outdated iPhone. Make sure it’s updated to the latest version of iOS. As an added bonus, updating your iPhone might make it easier to update the firmware for your Bluetooth device.
Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
You’ll either be promoted to update or see that your iPhone is running the most recent iOS software available.
Reset your network settings
This is a little bit of a drastic step, as it will reset all your network settings, which means all your Bluetooth pairing and all your Wi-Fi networks will be removed. Your mobile network settings may also be reset (Which is only a problem if you’re on a carrier that uses mobile virtual network operations such as Cricket, Republic Wireless, and other no-contract carriers in the US. If that is the case, you’ll need to ask your carrier to help you reset your network settings).
Once you reset the network settings, however, you may be able to connect to your Bluetooth device after you’ve reconnection to your mobile and Wi-Fi networks. To reset network settings go to: Settings > General > Reset and tap Reset Network Settings.
Factory reset your iPhone
As a last resort you can factory reset your iPhone. It’s unlikely this will make much of a difference for your Bluetooth connections, but there’s a slim possibility that something’s gotten corrupted in your Bluetooth capabilities, so if nothing else is working, a complete reset of your iPhone is worth a try.
However, be aware that if you reset your iPhone you’ll lose everything on it, so you might want to create a complete backup before you start.
Go to Settings > General > Reset and choose Erase All Content and Settings. Your iPhone passcode is required to start the process.
Contact Apple
If you suffer from continued iPhone 12 Bluetooth issues, it might be time to setup an appointment for a visit to the Apple Store, setup an appointment at the Genius Bar, or place a call to Apple Care.
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