iPhone XS Not Pairing with Bluetooth? Here’s How to Fix It
Trying to connect your iPhone XS to a Bluetooth speaker, car stereo, or headphones — but it just won’t pair? Whether it won’t detect the accessory or keeps failing during setup, Bluetooth issues are common — but usually fixable with a few quick steps.
Here’s how to troubleshoot Bluetooth pairing problems on your iPhone XS.
1. Restart Both Your iPhone and the Bluetooth Accessory
Sometimes all it takes is a reboot.
Restart your iPhone XS:
- Press and hold the Side button + Volume Up or Down.
- Slide to power off.
- After 30 seconds, press the Side button again to turn it back on.
Then power off and back on your Bluetooth device too. Make sure it’s in pairing mode before trying again.
Also: Make sure Airplane Mode is off in Settings > Airplane Mode.
2. Toggle Bluetooth Off and On Again
Refreshing Bluetooth clears minor bugs:
- Go to Settings > Bluetooth
- Turn Bluetooth OFF
- Restart your iPhone
- Go back to Settings > Bluetooth and turn it ON again
- Wait for your device to show up under “Other Devices” and try pairing
3. Forget the Device and Reconnect
If you’ve previously connected to the accessory, the stored pairing might be corrupted.
- Go to Settings > Bluetooth
- Tap the “i” next to the device name
- Tap Forget This Device
- Restart your iPhone
- Put your Bluetooth device in pairing mode again and reconnect
4. Update iOS
If the problem started after an iOS update or you haven’t updated in a while, make sure you’re running the latest version.
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update
- If there’s an update available, tap Download and Install
After updating, restart your phone and try again.
5. Reset All Settings (No Data Loss)
If settings are corrupted, this will reset them to default without deleting your content.
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone
- Tap Reset > Reset All Settings
- Enter your passcode and confirm
Once your iPhone reboots, enable Bluetooth and try pairing again.
Still Not Pairing?
Try pairing your iPhone XS with a different Bluetooth device.
- If it works: The issue is likely with the original accessory.
- If it still doesn’t pair with anything: There may be a hardware issue.
What to Do Next
- Check compatibility: Some older Bluetooth devices don’t play well with newer iOS versions.
- Contact the accessory manufacturer for compatibility info or firmware updates.
- Contact Apple Support if no Bluetooth devices connect at all, even after a reset.