Why is my Bluetooth not working on iPhone after iOS 18.5 update?

It's not always the iOS update's fault!  Many things can cause phone problems.  If you tell people you think it's an iOS update, it might make it harder to fix or find a solution for the real issue.

Remember, the right question often leads to the solution!

Was/Is your device Jailbroken? If that's the situation, please be informed that attributing the issues to iOS updates may not be accurate.

iOS updates aim to enhance user experience, boost security, and fix bugs rather than disrupt core features. The majority of the issues after updates might stem from underlying, unmentioned factors. Updates won't typically alter personal data but may refine settings or features. Backup before major updates for safety. Review Apple's update details and backup advice for a smooth process.

Kindly consider checking your settings and addressing any device issues before attributing the issue to external factors. This could be a pure coincidence that the iOS update affected the iPhone functions.

Before initiating a standard iOS update, it's advisable to create a backup. Have you completed this step? If yes, proceed with the restoration from the backup.

See what each update does: About iOS 18 Updates, About iOS 17 Updates, About iOS 16 Updates, About iOS 15 Updates, About iOS 14 Updates, About iOS 13 Updates, About iOS 12 Updates, and so on...

Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve temporary software glitches. Turn off your iPhone, wait for a few seconds, and then turn it back on.

1. Restart the device. That's it.
2. Still not solved --> Force restart iPhone - Apple Support

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings: Only network settings are removed.

• When you reset network settings, previously used networks and VPN settings that weren’t installed by a configuration profile or mobile device management (MDM) are removed. Wi-Fi is turned off and then back on, disconnecting you from any network you’re on. The Wi-Fi and Ask to Join Networks settings remain turned on.
• To remove VPN settings installed by a configuration profile, go to Settings > General > Profiles & Device Management, select the configuration profile, then tap Remove Profile. This also removes other settings and accounts provided by the profile. See Install or remove configuration profiles on iPhone in this guide.
• To remove network settings installed by MDM, go to Settings > General > Profiles & Device Management, select the management, then tap Remove Management. This also removes other settings and certificates provided by MDM. See “Mobile device management (MDM)” in the iOS Deployment Reference.
• Reset your Network Settings. Tap Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This also resets Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, and VPN and APN settings that you've used before.

If the above fails...

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings: All settings—including network settings, the keyboard dictionary, the Home screen layout, location settings, privacy settings, and Apple Pay cards—are removed or reset to their defaults. No data or media are deleted.

1. Reset All Settings: Return iPhone settings to their defaults - Apple Support:- Return iPhone settings to their defaults
2. You can return settings to their defaults without erasing your content.
3. If you want to save your settings, back up your iPhone before returning them to their defaults. For example, if you’re trying to solve a problem but returning settings to their defaults doesn’t help, you might want to restore your previous settings from a backup.
4. 

Make sure you have the latest updates installed.

1. Update Over-the-Air (OTA) —> Update your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support (IN)
2. Update using iTunes/Finder —> Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support (IN)

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it is recommended to reach out to Apple Support or visit an authorized service center for further assistance. They can provide specific guidance based on your device model and iOS version.

If nothing above works probably it could be your iPhone may have a WiFi radio or antenna problem. In that case, take your device to an Apple Retail Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider, or contact Apple Support and get the hardware tested and if needed repaired/replaced.

Find Locations - Location Selector - Apple

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support 

Get a Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Contact Genius Bar. Manage Reservations - My Reservations - Apple

If A (the update) happens, and immediately after B (something breaks) -- especially if B was working fine just before A -- then it's completely rational to suspect A caused B. It doesn’t guarantee it, but it’s the most reasonable starting hypothesis.

Your response is overly defensive and pedantic, the kind of corporate-sanitized language meant to shift blame away from Apple and toward the user. It’s a useful reminder that correlation isn’t always causation, sure, but it ignores the Occam’s Razor part of troubleshooting: start with what changed.

Also, asking whether your device is jailbroken in 2025 is like asking if you’re still using LimeWire. It’s irrelevant for 99.9% of users these days.

Yes, updates can break stuff.

Yes, it’s fine to assume they did, as a first step.

My airpods and bluetooth worked fine before IOS 18.5

Same issue here. My bluetooth never cut out prior to 18.5. Now in car and on remote speaker I get constant cut outs of the connection. So yes it is safe to assume it was due to the iOS update. I am seeing more posted on this update causing BT issues.

nayana65 wrote:

I have recently purchased iPhone 16 and it prompted an update 18.5. After the update my bluetooth devices do not stay connected and forces me to reconnect or re pair. Often times uses forget this device and re pair. The same issue is happening with my acura handsfree device.

Is there any suggestion on this issue?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

I'm curious to know if you use a VPN on your iPhone? VPNs cause all sorts of connectivity issues with Bluetooth and Wifi. For me, iOS 18.5 did not cause any issues with Bluetooth devices connected to my iPhone, of which I have about 8. All stay connected reliably.

I have the same issue, never had problem prior to 18.5, but after updating to 18.5, bluetooth auto connect just does not work. not to my various headphones, speakers or car speaker. And even when I try manually connect, it wouldn't work. It seems only apple watch stay connected.

Restart the phone would fix it temporarily, until the next day, it wouldn't work again.

Same thing happening to me, it won't stay connected and then it says can't find the device. I figured out that I have to turn off Bluetooth and turn it back on and my Jabra speaker phone will connect. I've been removing the device and adding it each time, but I think just toggling blue tooth would work. It will no longer connect in either one of my vehicles after these latest updates.

My iPhone 12 Pro is also having the same wonky bluetooth problem. Heck it even has problem connecting to my airpods pro 2 today. I downloaded and installed iOS 18.6 beta and hopefully it will fix all those bluetooth problems. So far it seems to fix the problem, but we'll see in a few days if the problem comes back.

I also have the same problem with my 2 smart watches. One of them is Xiaomi Mibrolite 2 and another is Green lion Ultra.

Mibrolite connects to phone but when I turn on the SIM card internet, It is disconnected from ohone.

Green lion does not connect in any condition.

This problem happened after Updating IOS to 18.5.

Need help.

Iphone 13 pro. Recently my phone doensn't auto connect to my Prius 2019 bluetooth to play music. I feared that my car bluetooth was failing. However, sometimes it would connect. I tried removing and reconnecting the bluetooth and sometimes it would work most times it wouldn't. Then someone suggested resetting network settings and that worked. I noticed when it worked it properly popped up a message with the bluetooth pairing pin, whereas when it fails it doesn't do that. However this too would eventually stop auto connecting. When I get in the car now, its completely random luck if it connects and starts playing music like it used to. Out of curiousity I tried to connect on my work iphone 16 and it worked, while the 13 pro still couldn't connect. Now there are two possibilities, one is the bluetooth is failing on my phone, or two the 18.5 update broke it. I'm hesitant to factory reset due to not wanting to setup everything again.

Updating to 18.6 on my iPhone 16 appears to have resolved this issue that has persisted through early August 2025, fyi.

I have never had reliable Bluetooth for the past couple years. I had some shokz trekz air headphones and they were great, never any issues. One day they quit working so they warranted them out with the newer model open run. I had an XS Max and after an update and I don’t remember which one it was but during calls the audio would drop out on my end and the other person could hear me but I couldn’t hear them. I would have to change call audio output from Bluetooth to phone or speaker and immediately back to Bluetooth and it would work for a couple minutes or 30 minutes, always random times and I would have to do the same crap over and over again during calls. Warrantied out headset after headset and the problem remained. I upgraded to a 16 Pro Max and still the same issues. I read somewhere that if you don’t setup the new phone as a new phone but instead install it from the old device then the problem can come to the new phone. I reset the network on this one and no change. I rest the phone completely and setup as a new phone and still the problem remained. It happens on any shokz, air pods, amazon air pods and a poly voyager 5200. It never does it on CarPlay. Only on headsets during calls. Never an issue when streaming music or watching YouTube. I am about to go back to android at this point because I don’t see a remedy and since it happened on two different iPhones then I have to assume it’s related to the OS.

So glad I stumbled onto this thread, I’ve been dealing with the same issues for most of the summer. My audio will cut in and out when BT is connected in the car, on a rechargeable wireless speaker, on Alexa dots, and wired BT speaker. It’s been driving me nuts! I thought my wireless speaker was just going bad, but then I switched to the wired and problems persisted. I sure hope they find a solution soon. I’m on 18.6.1 IOS and there’s a new update available this morning. It only says for security issues though.

I have an IPhone 13 and have just updated to 18.6.2, I can only connect to my headphones via Bluetooth all other connections to my wireless speaker, my car and most importantly my insulin pump don't work. So now I can't monitor my blood glucose readings while I'm driving and my phone won't bleep to wake me up if my blood glucose drops dangerously low during the night. Thanks Apple!

Oh, heck no! 😠 You responded to the right person- my son is a T1D 😊 I would definitely be contacting them to get you a replacement if you can, that’s life or death right there! Do you have a PDM for your devices you can use in the meantime?