Bluetooth connection issues on iPhone 16

Just transferred my XR to 16+. My Bluetooth items were all gone except car and TV. I could get some headphones to work but not others. Worst was my $2000.00 hearing aids wouldn’t connect.

With most other headsets, I had to reset them to pair as new.

Dug around and found a reset format for the aids:

Go to settings

Accessibility

Hearing Devices

Set up Hearing Aids …I had them reconnect. Then switched to “live listen “and the sound came through my Hearing aids again.

Good afternoon. My case was. I've restored the network settings a few times without success. I did the restore without copying data and to no avail. However, today I tried it again after a while without pairing my iPhone with the car's Bluetooth and it worked. I can listen to music via Spotify and the music doesn't stop. I hope it stays that way.

LindyMae53 wrote:

Have tried multiple ideas for getting new iPhone 16 to find Bluetooth devices. No luck! Please help!

And yet you've listed none of the multiple ideas, so we couldn't possibly guess what you did and what didn't work.

I will ask the most obvious question. What happens when you put the Bluetooth devices in Pairing Mode, per the manufacturers directions? If they aren't in Pairing Mode, you can't pair them to your iPhone.

I have at least a dozen Bluetooth Devices paired with my iPhone 16 Pro Max. Each device had to be put in pairing mode, then you open Settings > Bluetooth and if they are in pairing mode, you'll see the device on the bottom of the Bluetooth page in Settings and once you tap it, it will pair.

It feels like customer care is no help on this!

as per apple customer care - if you use the headphones in gym where more than one person is using headphones iphone 16 will have interference issue!

which as a apple customer I should move out from that area find a space with one person only me using headphones lol

I found the mentioned solution works: Settings-General-scroll to iPhone and choose Reset Network. The only thing is you have to go to Bluetooth, click on the info icon and choose Forget Device for every bluetooth device. And then you have to go through the process of re-pairing your devices all over again. The amount of time it is minimal compared to the amount of time of satisfaction with having working Bluetooth.

[Edited by Moderator]

I have an iPhone 16 Pro Max running iOS 18.2.1, and I’m still having issues with certain (but not all) of my devices — even after resetting network settings and forgetting/re-pairing them.

For the Bluetooth kit installed in my car:

• Bluetooth will not reconnect automatically.

• If I forget the device on the phone but not the car, I get an “XXXX wants to pair” modal to show on the phone when my car starts only if keep Bluetooth settings open on the phone.

For a Eufy smart scale:

• Bluetooth connection was spotty.

• Forgetting the device on my phone left me unable to re-add it via Bluetooth, so the smart scale is now a dumb one.

Apple devices like my watch and AirPods have experienced no issues. I’m also having no issues automatically reconnecting to a cheap Tribit Bluetooth speaker. This feels like a software bug that’s as yet unaddressed.

For your smart scale, you say bluetooth is spotty. I'm assuming this means it works sometimes, right? How far from your iPhone is your scale? Bluetooth has limited range. Depending on the Bluetooth version in the scale, it can be as short as 30 feet. For example a device with Bluetooth 5.3 has a range of 33 feet and if there are metal, brick or block walls between your phone and the scale, that can be significantly lower.

Resetting network settings worked like a charm for me! Migrated from 13 mini to 16.

Would have never guessed to try this solution on my own.

And a good moment to get rid of all those outdated wifi passwords ;)

I only connect to 2 or 3 wifi networks automatically anyway - and for those I can easily remember or acquire the passwords.

Thanks!

I’ve tried all the tips and tricks. Now nothing connects because I clicked “forget this device,” and I guess that means forgotten for all eternity because now I cannot reconnect anything. This is absurd

Even if you forget a device, all you have to do is put is in pairing mode per the manufacturers directions to pair it again. It simply won't connect unless it's in pairing mode first. Then you open bluetooth settings, look for the device and tap it to connect. Having a fatalistic view won't help you. Doing the right steps will.

What device is it exactly which you can't pair. Some Bluetooth devices may have a limit to how many devices it can be paired with. Is it possible you've met this limit? Have you contacted the manufacturer of the device for help. It may not be an Apple issue at all.

This was never a problem on my 10 before I upgraded. My watch, HRM, and speakers could all be operating simultaneously with no issue. Now, my phone is constantly kicking my watch off the Bluetooth connection all through out the day and won’t reconnect. Same problem with the dog collars. Again the only device that changed in my personal configuration is the phone, and this was never a problem before

It's impossible to help you from my sofa. I'm a user just like you're a user. You said earlier you spent 3 hours with Apple. Did you go to the Genius Bar at your Apple Store or was this over the phone? I'd suggest you go to your closest Apple Store Genius Bar for in-person help.

I have a 16 promax. The other day my car bluetooth would play but no sound was coming out.

i “forget this device”. Restarted phone. Reconnected to the car. In the bluetooth setting on the phone, chose the car, clicked the info button, went to device type and chose the car stereo. Worked fine after that.

hopefully this might help someone else!

SOLUTION FOR SONY STS-XB100