Bluetooth pairing errors are among the first common issues affecting the new iPhone X handset. As a matter of fact, a lot of people are complaining as they couldn’t get to pair their new iPhone with a Bluetooth accessory. In most cases, the problem is due to system incompatibility while in other cases due to range or proximity. If ever you will bump into the same situation wherein your iPhone X won’t pair or connect to a Bluetooth accessory, the following solutions highlighted in this context might be able to help you out. Read on and get help.
Before you start to troubleshoot your iPhone X software, make sure that both your iPhone and your Bluetooth device are placed next to each other. Doing so will rule proximity range out from the underlying cause. Once your devices are positioned next to each other, proceed and try any of the subsequent standard solutions.
Before we move on, if you have other issues with your iPhone, visit our iPhone X troubleshooting page for we have already addressed some of the most commonly reported issues with the device. Browse through the page to find issues similar with yours. If you still need our assistance after that, then fill up our Android issues questionnaire to contact us.
Troubleshooting Apple iPhone X with Bluetooth issues
The following are solutions you can try to fix the problem with your iPhone X that can’t pair or connect to other Bluetooth devices. Try to see if one of them can fix the issue with your iPhone.
First solution: Turn Bluetooth off and on again.
Sometimes, all it takes is a restart on your iPhone’s Bluetooth feature to fix minor problems with Bluetooth including this one. It somehow corrects software errors and glitches that might have prevented your device from establishing proper connection to certain Bluetooth device.
You can turn Bluetooth off from settings or through the Control Center.
- To turn Bluetooth off or on via settings menu, go to Settings-> Bluetooth-> then tap the Bluetooth switch to turn the feature off for about 30 seconds and then tap the switch again to turn Bluetooth back on.
- To turn Bluetooth off or on through the control panel, just swipe up from the bottom of the Home screen. Doing so opens the Control Center wherein you can see the key features shortcut icons. Find the Bluetooth (like a B) icon and then tap on it to turn off for a few seconds and tap on the same icon again to turn Bluetooth back on.
Try to connect your iPhone to your Bluetooth device and see if it’s now able to do so. If not, then move on to the next solution.
Second solution: Restart your iPhone and Bluetooth device.
Again a simple reboot on your iPhone can do a lot of wonders when it comes to dealing with minor software glitches transpiring randomly on the device including the ones that triggered Bluetooth connectivity issues to occur. This will not affect any of your important data and personal information stored on the internal memory of your device so it’s definitely a safe procedure to start with. If the problem reoccurs after the first reboot, then give it another try, probably up to five restarts for some software errors to banish. For starters, here’s how to restart (soft reset) your iPhone X.
- Press and hold the Side/Power button and either the Volume buttons until the Power Off slider appears.
- Drag the slider to turn your iPhone X completely off.
- After about 30 seconds, press and hold the Side/Power button again until the Apple logo appears.
- Wait until the iPhone boots up.
Do the same with your Bluetooth device.
To restart your Bluetooth device, just locate the Power button on your Bluetooth device, press and hold on that key until it turns off. Let it stay off for about 30 seconds then press the Power button again to turn it back on.
Retry pairing your iPhone X with your Bluetooth device after the restart and see if it’s now working as intended.
Third solution: Disable/enable pairing mode on your Bluetooth device.
Most Bluetooth devices have a pairing mode switch for you to turn on or off when necessary. Locate any switch or button on your Bluetooth device then press and hold that button or switch to switch it off from Bluetooth pairing mode then after about 30 seconds to 1 minute, press the same button to switch it back to pairing mode. Doing so can fix minor software glitch that is preventing your BLuetooth device from communicating with your iPhone X.
Try connecting your iPhone X to your Bluetooth device afterwards.
Fourth solution: Delete/ Forget Bluetooth device from your iPhone X memory.
Another potential solution to Bluetooth pairing issues is to forget or delete the Bluetooth device from your iPhone X memory. It’s a way to let your iPhone X and Bluetooth device pair with and communicate with each other afresh. Follow these steps to forget Bluetooth device from your iPhone X:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Bluetooth.
- Then tap on the blue i (information icon) next to the Bluetooth device.
- Then tap the option to Forget This Device.
If you see multiple Bluetooth devices in the list, follow the same process to forget all your other Bluetooth devices. Doing so will make sure none of the other devices is causing conflict with your current Bluetooth connection.
If this doesn’t fix the problem either, then you will need to proceed with system resets.
Fifth solution: Reset network settings.
A network settings reset can help fix network connectivity issues including Bluetooth pairing errors on your iPhone X. This process will erase all your current network settings and then restores them to default values. Having said that, any erroneous settings that causes network connectivity errors will likewise be removed automatically. If you wish to try it, take note of your Wi-Fi passwords then follow these steps:
- Tap to open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Scroll to and tap Reset.
- Select the option to Reset network settings.
Wait until your iPhone resets your current network settings including your Wi-Fi networks and passwords. Once the reset is finished, your iPhone X reboots automatically.
After it boots up again, set up your Wi-Fi network and enable Bluetooth. Then attempt to pair or connect your iPhone X with your Bluetooth device. If this doesn’t offer any success, then your last best hope to fix the problem would be a factory reset or DFU mode restore.
Last options: Factory reset or DFU mode restore.
Both a full system reset and DFU mode restore can help fix more complex software problems inflicted by some tough bugs. It’s possible that a certain bug is barring your iPhone’s Bluetooth system to work properly so you still couldn’t get to pair your iPhone with any Bluetooth accessory. Should you wish to try your luck in a full iOS reset or system restore, back up all your important data then proceed to carry out either procedures.
The fastest way to perform a factory reset on your iPhone X is through the Settings menu. Here’s how:
- Tap to open the Settings app.
- Tap General.
- Tap Reset.
- Select the option to Reset All Content and Settings.
- If prompted, enter your device passcode to proceed.
- Then tap the option to confirm system reset.
Wait until the factory reset is finished and your iPhone X to reboot. Then set up your device, enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth then try to pair or connect your iPhone X to your Bluetooth device. In most cases, everything should work properly after the reset but it’s likewise possible to end up having the same issue. If you find no success from a factory reset, then you may go ahead and take your chances with a DFU mode restore. You will need to secure a computer with the latest iTunes software installed in order to carry out a DFU mode restore.
For a more detailed walkthrough on how to perform a DFU mode restore on your iPhone X, visit our iPhone X Troubleshooting page, scroll down to the Tutorials section, then view the step-by-by step guide.
Escalate the problem
You may always opt to escalate the problem especially if it instigated after installing a new iOS update on your iPhone X. Should this be the case, the Bluetooth pairing problem you are dealing with is a post-update issue that usually needs to be dealt with by a fix patch, which is typically offered in the following update.
Contact Apple Support for further assistance and recommendations if you still couldn’t pair your iPhone X with your Bluetooth device. Or you may also contact the manufacturer of your Bluetooth device, then verify and ensure that your Bluetooth accessory is compatible with your iPhone X.
Connect with us
If you need more help with the use of certain functions and features of the new Apple iPhone X smartphone, feel free to visit our Tutorial Page. There you can find a list of how-to contents, step-by-step tutorials, as well as answers to FAQs regarding iPhone 8. If you have other concerns or encountered some troubles while using the phone, you can reach us through this form. Just be sure to tell us more details of the problem or device issue(s) you may have and we will be more than happy to assist you further.
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