Joshua Morganstein

Q: Bluetooth headphones lose connection to Apple Watch when near iPhone?

I use my Apple Watch in the gym with a pair of Jaybird Bluebud X bluetooth headphones. If I leave bluetooth enabled on my iPhone 6S, the headphones will periodically disconnect from my Apple Watch. If I press the power button on my headphones, they will reconnect to the Apple Watch. Pressing the power button again will cause music to resume play from the Apple Watch through the Bluebud X headphones. However, the headphones will continue to disconnect from the Apple Watch every few minutes when the iPhone 6S is within range. The only way to prevent this is increase the distance from the iPhone 6S (i.e.; doesn't happen when I go outside for a run) or to turn off bluetooth on the iPhone 6S. Is there a setting that will prevent the headphones and Apple Watch from disconnecting regardless of the location or bluetooth status of the iPhone?

Posted on Jul 25, 2016 8:36 PM

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Q: Bluetooth headphones lose connection to Apple Watch when near iPhone?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Carolyn Samit,

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Jul 25, 2016 11:06 PM in response to Joshua Morganstein
    Level 10 (120,219 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 25, 2016 11:06 PM in response to Joshua Morganstein

    If you can’t connect your Bluetooth accessory or it won’t reconnect:

    1. If you see Airplane on your watch face, Airplane Mode is on. On your Apple Watch, tap Settings > Airplane Mode, then turn it off.
    2. Make sure your accessory is fully charged and powered on.

     

    If that doesn't help, you can get help directly from Apple on Twitter:   @AppleSupport

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Jul 26, 2016 3:10 AM in response to Joshua Morganstein
    Level 7 (30,763 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 26, 2016 3:10 AM in response to Joshua Morganstein

    Hi Joshua

     

    If you have not yet done so, it may help to update your iPhone and Apple Watch to the latest software, starting with your iPhone:

     

     

    Also, if you have previously used the headphones with it, it may also help to unpair the headphones from your iPhone.

  • by Joshua Morganstein,

    Joshua Morganstein Joshua Morganstein Jul 26, 2016 5:29 AM in response to Carolyn Samit
    Level 1 (96 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 26, 2016 5:29 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

    Thanks. Connecting is not the problem. The issue is that if my iPhone is within proximity and bluetooth is enabled, my bluetooth headphones will disconnect from my Apple Watch. I cannot tell if the iPhone is "stealing" the bluetooth connection from my headphones or my Apple Watch, but the iPhone is clearly disrupting the connection.

  • by Joshua Morganstein,

    Joshua Morganstein Joshua Morganstein Jul 26, 2016 5:32 AM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 1 (96 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 26, 2016 5:32 AM in response to Jonathan UK

    Thanks. Can you clarify if the behavior I'm experiencing is the intended behavior? In other words, is the iPhone supposed to take bluetooth connection preference and "steal" the connection away from the Apple Watch and/or bluetooth headphones? If it's not the intended behavior, then I'd have some confidence updating the software might help, but I've tried to read about this online and haven't found any info to clarify if what I'm experiencing is actually how the Apple Watch is designed. I can use the bluetooth headphones just fine with either the iPhone or the Apple Watch. It's only when those two devices are in proximity and both have bluetooth on, then the headphone connection gets disrupted with the Apple Watch when I'm using that as the source to play music.

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Jul 26, 2016 5:39 AM in response to Joshua Morganstein
    Level 7 (30,763 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 26, 2016 5:39 AM in response to Joshua Morganstein

    Hi

     

    The headphones are not intended to switch between devices, depending on their relative proximity. They should be used with once device at a time.

     

    It may help to unpair the headphones from your iPhone.

     

    Irrespective of the present issue, for the best performance from your devices, it is important to keep your software up to date. Updates typically include bug fixes and important security updates, potentially along with new features.

  • by Joshua Morganstein,

    Joshua Morganstein Joshua Morganstein Jul 26, 2016 8:31 AM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 1 (96 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 26, 2016 8:31 AM in response to Jonathan UK

    Jonathan, thanks. I will unpair them from the iPhone as I use them with the Watch much more at present time. Doesn't make much sense to me that headphone connection is lost when near iPhone, however. If Watch and headphones are paired, they should stay paired unless and until the user confirms a desire to switch or change device pairing. In essence, I have selected Apple Watch as the source from which to send music to my headphones and clearly connected them to send music. When the iPhone gets close enough it's overriding this. Seems these devices are making the decision themselves without any direct user input or confirmation. Doing something automatically is great when it's helpful. I'm not sure how routinely disconnecting an active music connection is helpful. I'll try ensuring I have latest software to see if that alters the behavior at all.

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Jul 26, 2016 8:35 AM in response to Joshua Morganstein
    Level 7 (30,763 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 26, 2016 8:35 AM in response to Joshua Morganstein

    You're welcome!