Bluetooth on our iPhones has become an indispensable part of our lives. Without it, we won’t be able to connect any Bluetooth accessories. From wireless headphones and smartwatches to speakers and much more, Bluetooth is the only reason we can enjoy these accessories.

Unfortunately, the Bluetooth on our iPhones isn’t perfect, and occasionally, we hit a snag where it is unable to find the device we want to connect to. And while the situation can be frustrating, there’s no need to lose your calm. There are quite a number of fixes you can try in this situation.

But before you head on to any fixes, you must try and rule out each of the items below:

  • The first thing you should do is bring the Bluetooth device closer to your iPhone. Ideally, both devices should be within 10 meters of each other.
  • Next, make sure that the Bluetooth device you’re trying to connect is on and has enough battery. If you’re not sure about the latter, either connect it to a charger or replace the batteries, depending on the type.
  • Also, ensure that the pairing mode on the accessory is active. Some devices have a button you need to press once to enter the pairing mode, others need you to keep pressing the button for a few seconds. All in all, the process would vary from device to device but ensure that the pairing mode is active.

If your iPhone’s Bluetooth is still unable to detect the device, go forth and try the fixes listed below.

1. Turn Bluetooth On and Off

This is as simple as the title states it and chances are, you would have already tried it. But on the off chance that you didn’t, do it now. Go to the Settings app of your iPhone and tap the ‘Bluetooth’ option.

Then, turn off the toggle for Bluetooth.

Wait for a couple of seconds before turning it back on. Then, try to find the device you want to connect to.

2. Restart the Bluetooth Accessory

Before trying any elaborate fixes, give this simple solution a chance. Sometimes, the problem isn’t with your iPhone but with the Bluetooth device instead. Especially if you’re facing problems only with a particular Bluetooth accessory, this should be your first step.

Turning the Bluetooth device off and on can fix any glitches it might be experiencing. Once you turn it back on, try searching for the device again.

3. Check your Privacy Settings

If the Bluetooth accessory you’re experiencing trouble with has an app to use it, you need to make sure that your iPhone’s privacy settings aren’t blocking access to Bluetooth for that app.

Open the Settings app and go to ‘Privacy & Security’.

Scroll down and tap the option for ‘Bluetooth’.

Then, make sure the toggle next to that app is turned on.

4. Restart your iPhone

Most unexpected glitches on your iPhone can be dealt with by restarting your iPhone. Simply restart your iPhone by turning it off and on or you can also force restart it. Both would work the same.

But before restarting, turn off the Bluetooth. Open the Settings app and go to ‘Bluetooth’. Then, turn off the toggle next to ‘Bluetooth’.

Now, to restart your iPhone, press and hold the volume up/ down and the side buttons together until the ‘Slide to Power Off’ slider appears. Move the slider to turn off the phone. Wait for a few seconds after it turns off, and then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears on your screen.

Once your iPhone turns back on, go back to the Settings app, turn Bluetooth on again, and check if your iPhone can now find the Bluetooth devices.

5. Update to the Latest Software

Updating your iPhone to the latest software can help solve a lot of glitches because sometimes the glitches are caused by bugs that are addressed in subsequent software patches.

Open the Settings app and go to ‘General’.

Then, tap the ‘Software Update’ option.

If there are any pending updates, download and install them.

6. Forget Other Devices

If the list of Bluetooth devices on your iPhone has too many inactive devices, try forgetting a few and then scanning for the accessory you’re trying to connect to.

Open the Settings app and tap the ‘Bluetooth’ option.

Go to the ‘My Devices’ section and tap the ‘i’ next to the device you want to forget.

Then, tap ‘Forget This Device’ at the bottom of the screen.

Tap ‘Forget Device’ on the confirmation prompt.

Repeat the steps for a couple of more devices and try scanning for the Bluetooth device you want to connect to again.

7. Reset Network Settings

If nothing else has helped till now, the last resort is to reset your network settings. Resetting the network settings resets all the network settings of your iPhone to factory defaults. This includes Wi-Fi connections, Bluetooth connections, cellular settings, and VPN settings. But any other data on your iPhone isn’t affected. If you are using the iCloud keychain, the settings will be reset on your other devices as well. So, you should jot down the passwords to any Wi-Fi connections you don’t remember before proceeding.

Now, to reset your Network Settings, open the Settings app and go to the ‘General’ settings.

Then, scroll down and go to ‘Transfer or Reset iPhone’.

Next, tap the ‘Reset’ option.

Select ‘Reset Network Settings’ from the overlay menu and follow the instructions on the screen. You will be required to enter your iPhone’s passcode to complete this step.

Once the network settings are reset, check if you can connect to the Bluetooth device.

If you’re still unable to connect to the Bluetooth accessory, try connecting to another device. Chances are there might be a problem with the said Bluetooth accessory.