How to fix Bluetooth that is not working on your iPhone after iOS 13 update

Tackled in this post is one of the problems that emerge following the recent iOS 13 update implementation. It’s on Bluetooth that stops working on the iPhone after updating to the latest iOS version. Read on to learn what to do if ever you’d bump into the same issue after installing iOS 13 update on your iPhone.

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Troubleshooting iPhone Bluetooth issue after iOS 13 update

Before troubleshooting, consider checking the distance between your iPhone and Bluetooth device. Distance or proximity is one of the main requirements to meet for Bluetooth devices to work as intended. With that said, position both your iPhone and Bluetooth device within the 100-meter radios or better yet, next to each other to make sure they’re within the Bluetooth range. Also make sure that both devices are in discoverable mode. This means that Bluetooth feature is enabled on both devices.

Another factor to consider looking into is device compatibility. Not all Bluetooth devices are compatible with your iPhone or iOS version it’s running on and vice versa. So check and ensure that your devices are compatible. The easiest way to determine device compatibility is to try pairing your iPhone with other Bluetooth-enabled devices within range. If the Bluetooth pairing is successful and the other Bluetooth device works as intended, then that one possible indication that the problem is with the other Bluetooth device you’re trying to pair with your iPhone first. In that case, you can contact the Bluetooth device manufacturer for further assistance and recommendations. Or better yet, just use other compatible Bluetooth device that serves the same purpose as that of the first one that’s not working.

If the problem continues even after verifying and complying with the said requisites, the next thing you should do is to rule out software-related factors that might have hindered your iPhone from pairing with your Bluetooth device. Here are some generic solutions you can refer to whenever you need input in dealing with your iPhone’s post-update Bluetooth issue.

First solution: Reboot your iPhone and Bluetooth device.

Turning the phone off and back on is not just giving it a breather but also helps clear out random symptoms inflicted by minor app glitches and firmware crashes. Many apps and system services would end up glitching after a major platform transition. And this is likely what happens to any of your apps after installing the iOS 13 update. As a result, the Bluetooth suddenly stopped working. Should this be just a minor system glitch, performing a soft reset or reboot is likely what’s needed to get things back to normal. Creating backups wouldn’t be necessary since no data will be deleted in the process. The methods to soft reset or reboot vary between iPhone models.

To soft reset/reboot an iphone x or later variant, follow these steps:

1. Press and hold the Side button and either Volume button until the Power off slider appears.
2. Drag the slider to power off your iPhone completely.
3. Then after 30 seconds, press the Side button again to turn your iPhone back on.

To soft reset/reboot an iPhone 8, 8 Plus or earlier iPhones with a Home button, refer to these steps:

1. Press and hold the Top or Side button until the Power off slider appears.
2. Drag the slider to power off the phone completely.
3. After about 30 seconds, press and hold the Top or Side button again to turn the phone back on.

Restarting the Bluetooth device is also necessary to clear out minor firmware glitches that might have halted the pairing process.

After rebooting your iPhone, get to your Bluetooth device and then locate the power button. Press on that button until the device turns off. And then after 30 seconds, press the power button again to turn the device back on. 

ALSO READ: How to fix iPhone battery draining faster after iOS 13 update

Second solution: Toggle iPhone Bluetooth off and on again.

When the update was installed, changes are implemented to iOS features and services. When these changes are applied, some features and services may tend to react negatively. And this could be what’s occurring to your iPhone’s Bluetooth feature. To rectify the error, restarting the phone’s Bluetooth feature can help. So here’s what you should try doing next if the previous solution doesn’t solve the problem:

1. From the Home screen, tap Settings.
2. Select Bluetooth.
3. Toggle the switch to turn Bluetooth off.
4. After a few seconds, the switch to turn Bluetooth back on again. A list of Bluetooth-enabled devices within range will then show up.
5. Find and select the Bluetooth device that you want to pair with and then retry to connect.

If you don’t see the Bluetooth device in the list, turn the device off and on then place it next to your iPhone.

Third solution: Forget Bluetooth device and add it back.

Bluetooth pairing problems that could not be resolved by the previous methods are usually due to a corrupt Bluetooth connection. In this case, your next option is to delete the corrupted Bluetooth device from your iPhone and then add it back to start pairing them like it’s the first time. Here’s how it’s done:

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings-> Bluetooth menu and make sure that the Bluetooth switch is turned on.
2. Scroll down to the list of saved Bluetooth devices and find the Bluetooth device that you’re having trouble pairing with your iPhone.
3. Tap to select that Bluetooth device.
4. Then tap the information “i” icon next to it.
5. Finally, tap Forget This Device.

The selected Bluetooth device will then be deleted from your iPhone’s Bluetooth folder. If you see any other saved Bluetooth devices in the list, delete them too so that none of them would interfere with your Bluetooth connection.

After deleting all saved Bluetooth devices, soft reset/reboot your iPhone to clear out the Bluetooth cache and to refresh its internal memory. As soon as it boots up, go back to Settings-> Bluetooth menu then toggle the switch to turn Bluetooth off and on.

Select your Bluetooth device from the list and then tap the option to Pair or Connect.

On your other device, tap the option to Accept Pairing (if prompted).

Allow your device to instigate pairing and see if it’s a success. If the Bluetooth problem continues, then you may have to consider opting for resets.

Fourth solution: Reset network settings on your iPhone.

To eliminate complex network settings errors including network settings overrides from the recently installed iOS 13 update, performing a network setting reset can be considered as the next option to try. This reset erases all network customizations including Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth connections, and the recent changes made from the update. Any errors tied to these settings are likewise eliminated. Here’s how it’s done:

1. To get started, go to the Home screen then tap on Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Scroll down to and tap on Reset.
4. Choose the option to Reset network settings.
5. If prompted, enter your passcode to proceed.
6. Then tap the option to confirm that you want to reset network settings on your iPhone.

When the reset is finished, your phone restarts automatically and then loads up the default network values. To reconnect to the Internet, you need to re-enable Wi-Fi and join your Wi-Fi network. To use Bluetooth, enable Bluetooth on your iPhone settings then pair or connect to your Bluetooth device like it’s the first time.

ALSO READ: Apple iPhone iOS 13 update gets stuck on Resume Download

Last resort: Restore factory default settings on your iPhone.

A factory reset can be considered among the last options, if Bluetooth still doesn’t work after carrying out all applicable solutions. This however should only be deemed as the last option if your iPhone doesn’t pair or work with any Bluetooth devices. But before you do so, back up all your important data from the iPhone storage to iCloud or iTunes to avoid permanent data loss. Note that this reset wipes everything out from your iPhone system including downloaded apps, saved contacts, settings, and other personal information stored on the internal memory. If you wish to proceed, you can factory reset your iPhone through settings with these steps:

1. From the Home screen, tap on Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Scroll down to and tap on Reset.
4. Choose the option to Erase all content and settings.
5. Enter your device passcode when asked to proceed.
6. Confirm that you want to erase and restore your iPhone’s factory settings.

After the reset, everything is restored to factory defaults. To use your iPhone and its key features, you need to set it up first. Just use the start-up wizard to complete the initial setup process and configure key features using automatic settings.

Still couldn’t get Bluetooth to work on your iPhone after iOS 13 update?

If all else failed and Bluetooth is still not working on your iPhone after exhausting all possible solutions, escalate the problem to Apple Support. This way they’ll be notified that such a problem exists and from there they can conduct further assessments on their end. If this is found and confirmed to be an iOS 13 update Bluetooth bug, a dedicated fix patch will be necessary. While waiting for the official fix, you can use other Bluetooth devices that serve the same purpose and is able to work with your iPhone and the iOS 13 platform.

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