27 Aug How To: Pair Your iPhone With A Bluetooth Device
When many of us think of Bluetooth, our minds immediately jump to the wireless earpieces used by professionals for handsfree communication.
However, Bluetooth has come a long way, opening up possibilities to further extend the use of our smartphones and tablets in our day to day lives. We can now connect to our cars, speakers, keyboards and other devices such as PC’s or other phones.
So,how can you take advantage of this fantastic piece of technology and connect your iPhone with a Bluetooth device?
Pairing Your iPhone With A Bluetooth Device
When connecting to another device using Bluetooth, the process is called Pairing. Regardless of what type of device you are pairing your iPhone with, the process is pretty much the same.
Make sure your iPhone and the other Bluetooth device are near each other. Unfortunately, Bluetooth signals do not have a long range (most Bluetooth devices have a range of approximately 9m), so if the two devices are not near enough to each other, they may not be able to connect.
Ensure the bluetooth device is in ‘Discoverable Mode’. This allows the iPhone to detect the device and then connect to it. You will need to check the manual for the Bluetooth device on how to turn this setting on (if it isn’t already enabled).
Next thing is to turn on Bluetooth on your iPhone. Navigate to Settings -> General -> Bluetooth and toggle it to On.
A list of discoverable bluetooth devices will appear. If the device you want to pair with is listed, select it. If you can’t see the device listed, ensure that the device is on Discoverable Mode.
Some Bluetooth devices require a passcode to pair with the iPhone. If the device you are using requires a passcode, a screen will usually appear on your iPhone asking for you to enter in the passcode for the bluetooth device. The passcode is usually found the manual of the bluetooth device or it will be displayed on the device.
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Troubleshooting: My iPhone Won’t Pair With My Bluetooth Device!
If you’ve followed the steps outlined above and the pairing is simply not working, try these troubleshooting tips below!
Check For Sources Of Potential Interference
The first thing to try is to ensure that the iPhone and the Bluetooth device are both close enough to each other, as well as free from any potential sources of interference. Remove any case, stand, or other accessories from your iOS device and see if performance improves.
Forget Device And Re Try Pairing
- Make sure that your Bluetooth accessory is turned on and fully charged or connected to power.
- Restart your iPhone.
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Tap Settings > Bluetooth and locate the Bluetooth accessory you are currently connected to or attempting to connect to. Then tap the blue arrow next to the device and then Forget this Device. Try to pair your Bluetooth accessory again. Note: You may need to re-enter your Bluetooth accessory PIN if your accessory requires one. Some common PINs are 0000, 1111, and 1234.
- Restart your Bluetooth accessory by turning it off and then on again.
Check Whether The Bluetooth Device Uses A Supported Profile
The bluetooth device you are attempting to connect to may not use a profile that is supported by your iPhone. To identify whether or not the device uses a profile supported by the iPhone, see this article on Bluetooth Profiles.
Update The Firmware of the Bluetooth Device
If applicable, you may need to update the firmware of the bluetooth device, particularly if you’re using an iPhone5 with the latest version of iOS. Some older bluetooth devices may not be compatible with the Bluetooth 4.0 standard used by the latest iPhones, which should be addressed with a firmware update.
Clear the Device’s Memory
If you’ve paired other phones with the bluetooth device previously, you may need to remove these phones from the device’s memory. The instructions for how to do this will vary, so ensure you consult the device’s manual.
Make Sure Your iPhone Has The Latest Version of iOS
The culprit could potentially be a bug in the version of iOS you are currently using. Ensure your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS by navigating to Settings -> General -> Software Update. Your device will check for available updates and if your device is connected a power source and Wi-Fi, it will download the update automatically. You will be prompted to tap Install once the download is complete, which will then install the update on your phone.
Reset Network Settings
To remove any previous bluetooth connections, you can reset the Network Settings for the iPhone. To do so, go to:
Settings -> General -> Reset -> Reset Network Settings
This will reset all network settings including previously connected Wi-Fi networks and passwords, recently used Bluetooth accessories, VPN, and APN settings.
Restore The iPhone
You may have to do a factory reset on your iPhone to fix any issues with the bluetooth. To reset your iPhone go to:
1. Settings -> General -> Reset -> Erase All Content and Settings
2. Tap the Erase iPhone button when you’re ready.
Note: all of your data and settings will be erased.
Hardware Fault
If your device is running the current version of iOS, you’ve followed the bluetooth device’s instructions and another iPhone can pair with the bluetooth device, the issue could reside in a Bluetooth hardware failure. You can choose to either get the device repaired or simply purchase a new iPhone.