iPhone 12 Not Connecting To Bluetooth? Fix!

If your iPhone 12 won’t connect to Bluetooth car systems or accessories, here are some fixes you can try!

If your iPhone 12 won’t connect to Bluetooth , there are a number of ways to fix it. You should first make sure Bluetooth is turned on and try connecting your device in the Bluetooth settings. If your iPhone 12 still won’t connect to Bluetooth , you can try forgetting the Bluetooth device and then pairing it again, updating your iOS software, resetting your network settings, or restarting your iPhone entirely.

Without any further ado, here are the steps to fix a problematic iPhone 12 Bluetooth connection:

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iPhone 12 not connecting to Bluetooth? Try these Steps First

Make sure Bluetooth is turned on and Airplane Mode is turned off on your iPhone 12. You can check this quickly by sliding down the Control Center panel from the top right corner of the screen and checking the buttons along the top.
Make sure the Bluetooth device you’re connecting to your iPhone 12 (e.g. your Bluetooth headsets, fitness tracker, or whatever else) has enough battery charge and is turned on.
Make sure your iPhone 12 and Bluetooth device are close enough to one another. While Bluetooth standards mandate ranges of no less than 10 meters (33 feet), different hardware, a range of antenna strengths, various types of interference, and several Bluetooth versions commonly in operation mean that range can be tricky. In the real world, most of us would be happy enough with a 33 foot range. When trying to pair devices or troubleshoot why they’re not pairing, make sure the devices are as close as possible. Once you get them paired, you can experiment with more range.

If none of those help, we can move on to some other troubleshooting tips.

Turn Bluetooth Off and Restart Your iPhone

If you can’t get your iPhone 12 paired with your Bluetooth device–or if iPhone just isn’t finding the device at all–the old “turn it off and back on again” advice applies, with a bit of a twist thrown in. Restart Bluetooth using the following steps:

Turn off the Bluetooth device you’re trying to pair.
Turn off Bluetooth on your iOS device from Control Center, or by going to Settings > Bluetooth and turning the “Bluetooth” slider off.
Force restart your iPhone 12. To do this, press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Then press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo on your screen.
When your iPhone 12 has restarted, turn Bluetooth back on.
Turn your Bluetooth device back on and try pairing it with your iPhone 12.
Most of the time, this technique should solve pairing difficulties.

Pair different

If you have more than one iOS device available, even if you have to borrow it from a family member, friend, classmate, or coworker, try using it to connect to your Bluetooth accessory. If it works, the problem is with your iPhone 12 and you’ll need to keep on troubleshooting.

If a family member, friend, classmate, or coworker has the same Bluetooth accessory as you, it’s worth checking to see if their’s will work with your iPhone 12 as well. If it doesn’t work, the problem might be with your Bluetooth accessory and you should either take it back (if you can exchange it) or contact the manufacturer for assistance (if you can’t exchange it).

If it works, we’re back to troubleshooting your device and you’re back to reading.

Have iPhone Forget Your Bluetooth Device and then Pair It Again

If you’re having trouble with a device that you have paired with successfully in the past, you can try “forgetting” the device and pairing it again from scratch.

Go to Settings and tap “Bluetooth.”
Tap the “i” button next to the device you’re having problems connecting to.
Tap the “Forget This Device” button.
Confirm that you want to forget the device.
And now that your iPhone has forgotten the device, you can try pairing it again.

Update iOS

Apple’s Bluetooth stack—the set of software that controls the radio—isn’t without its occasional quirks. Sometimes brand new versions of iOS introduce compatibility problems and sometimes they fix them. If you’re having Bluetooth connectivity problems on your iPhone 12, however, you’re better off upgrading than not. If it’s already broke, the update is your chance for a fix.

To download and install iOS updates, go to Settings > General > software update. Once you’re done updating, try to connect again. If it works, awesome. If not, move on to the next solution.

Reset Your Network Settings

If you are still experiencing problem of iPhone 12 not connecting to Bluetooth, you can also have iOS reset all your network settings. Resetting is a pain in the butt but if something has gone wrong with the way your iPhone 12 connects to Bluetooth devices, sometimes the pain can be healing.

Go to Settings > General > Reset and tap “Reset Network Settings.”

Please note:this will reset all your network settings. All Bluetooth pairings and Wi-Fi networks will be removed, including any VPNs you have set up. You’ll have to reconnect to every Wi-Fi and Bluetooth device you own or use, but once you’re done, see if your accessory starts to work. If it does, it was all worth it. If not, let’s keep going.

Factory reset your iPhone

If you are still experiencing problem of your iPhone 12 not connecting to Bluetooth, you may need to perform a rather dramatic step. Perform a full factory reset or restore a backup from iTunes. Obviously, this option requires some preparation and will take a little time. The factory reset option will restore your iPhone to a like-new condition, erasing all your personal settings, apps, and data. Restoring from a backup means you’ll have to have made a backup from which to restore in the first place.

Go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.

iPhone 12 won’t connect to Bluetooth – may be Hardware issue?

If nothing else here has fixed your iPhone 12 Bluetooth issues, your phone may actually have a hardware problem. Contact Apple to discuss repair options. Before doing that, it’s a good idea to check your Apple warranty status online.

If your iPhone 12 is within the usual one-year warranty period, or you’ve purchased AppleCare, a fix should cost little to nothing. Contact Apple Support to discuss options.