IPhone 4 Bluetooth Issues

Hello all,

Good news! Well at least for me... I have gone through about 7 or 8 different Bluetooth headsets and been back and forth returning them! I finally had it and called apple support and talked to Max with their phone support group. After our back and forth conversation about how I cant go more then 5ft away from my phone let alone even put it in my pocket with out loosing connection with my iPhone 4 he told me to go home back up my phone and restore it to factory settings. After doing this connect the Bluetooth to my phone and test it, after testing it then doing the restore from the backup of all my info and apps. If that didn’t work he said step 2 would be going to the apple store and getting a replacement phone. Well I'm happy to say that it WORKED!!!!! =) I backed up my phone did the restored to factory setting, then connected the Bluetooth tested it, and then did the restore from the backup. So far I am able to walk at least 20ft away from my phone and leave it in my pocket with out any connection issues. The headsets I have tested with my phone now after doing this is the Blueant Q2, Plantronics Pro +, Jawbone Icon, Sound ID 510, and last but not least my old but trusty Motorola H715. All of these headsets work and I have no longer had any Bluetooth connection issues. Hope this helps every one, as I know the frustration of needing a Bluetooth and it being a VERY ESSENTIAL part of a cell phone now days. Oh and I am using vers 4.1.

Glad you've had success in your case. But there are too many other examples posted here where people describe initial success (after doing what you describe) followed by a return to subpar bluetooth functionality. Some claim the shift to 4.2 solved the problems while others claim it's gotten worse. In my case the problem is consistent with all iOS versions. This is not acceptable. We should not have to completely restore the phone to get bluetooth. Too much trouble for a basic function enjoyed by users of just about every other single phone on the planet. Apple needs to fix this. I could be wrong but I suspect hardware because I had no problems with my old 3G running iOS 4 while the iphone 4 was terrible out of the box and continues to be terrible.

I'm sorry to hear you are still having this problem. As for me its been 3 days and everything is still working well. I never had a problem with my 2g, 3g or 3gs but I do agree with you about iPhone 4 it was an issue right out of the box and we should not have to go throught the hassle of doing all teh restore stuff but it is what it is. We live in the day and age of computers and things not always working right at first, especially with computers but as long as we get it fixed we are happy and we forget the issue. This is something that needs to be looked into and fixed but will just have to wait and see. It's an issue that is with the phone and not with the ear pieces. Good luck to every one out there hope

I too have seen the same issues with 2 different Motorola headsets (H710 and H720). At first I thought the H710 had gone south, based upon numerous comments from people I was talking to on the device (muffled sound, cutting out), so I grudgingly upgraded to the H720. The problem was actually worse with the H720! Replaced the H720 - same problems. Given that Apple has apparently said NOTHING, I turned in the H720 back to Best Buy and bought a top of the line Jawbone Icon. Same issues as described in other posts here! Connect/disconnect at 1 meter range, really short range in general, muffled sounding voice reports from whomever I talk to. My wife's iPhone 3 has none of these issues with the same equipment. So, so far I've essentailly penalized Motorola and Best Buy for what is blatantly obviously, at this juncture, an iPhone 4 issue. APPLE, HELLO!!... Anybody there??... Given our loyalty (iMac, Macbook Pro, Macbook, Mac Mini, iPad, 3 iPhones), believe me when I tell you that I expect a publicized explanation, apology, and, oh yeah, a comprehensive fix.

UPDATE!: Just now spoke with Apple customer support. Described the issue to the guy. He asked if I had any sort of external case on the iPhone 4. I said Yeah. He said they have seen issues with the cases and to try it without it for a while. So while I'm talking to him I removed the case then set the iPhone down on the desk and started slowly walking backwards from it. At about 12 feet my Jawbone Icon disconnects. I moved back to about 3 feet and it reconnected. I point this out to the guy and he says that the sound is poor. I reiterated that I have tried all of my headsets on the iPhone 3G and they all work fine, allowing me to put the phone down and wander all over the house. He then asks if I've ever restored the phone. I said No, but that I have regularly updated it via my MacBook Pro and iTunes. So I ask if ti will do any good to restore it. He says that it is a long process and that he recommended that I don't do it and instead await the upcoming update which will try to specifically address BlueTooth connectivity issues. He wouldn't give a date but was talking couple to three weeks. So I remain rather disgruntled, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, though I still think they've been less than honest with their loyal longterm customers on this. Here's hoping, but I think the iPhone 4 may be Apple's White Elephant.

I'm having the same issues but don't believe it is the "range". I think it must be a software issue and the iPhone 4 is simply "timing out". I just began using my Apple Bluetooth headset again after about 18 months (I had misplaced it and then found). I don't think Apple carried the Apple Bluetooth Headset features available in OS3 forward into OS4 because the first thing I noticed when using with the iPhone 4 is that when the phone and headset are in the charging stand or connected to the portable charging cord the iPhone 4 does not recognize the headset and display the headset image and charge status below the main phone battery charge status as was the case with the original iPhone. Because my original headset had been dead so long it would not hold a charge. I went to my Apple store and purchased a replacement Apple Bluetooth Headset for $59 and am having the same "timing out" issue with it.

The little headset charge indicator on the screen shows full charge, however, if my phone sits idle for 1-1/2 to 2 minutes it drops the connection. This is the identical condition I had with my original headset. In my case with my original headset and the one i just bought I didn't/don't have a range issue. I could/can talk more than 25
feet away from the phone. It doesn't get "scratchy" and drop connection until I hit 30+.

I think Apple has "moved on" after ending production of this product and I'm afraid there will never be a solution. Too bad, because to still is the best headset design on (formerly on) the market.

Bluetooth intermittent problems---all of the same here (Platronics/Jawbone)..Apple support told me on the 16th that they heard "the fix" would be out 'by the end of the week' (meaning last week)...None of the fixes have cured the problem.

I am at work, but I read the news that iOS 4.2 just got released. Maybe someone can give it a shot and report back? I am going to upgrade the phone tonight, although I have no expectation that the problem is going away at all.

OK so after reading for the last few days I decided to do the reset procedure this morning and all day I had 30+feet of coverage, I am overjoyed. Now I am afraid to sync up and get the update.
Hmmmm.

You might as well try iOS 4.2, so that you can also verify Bluetooth issue is fixed.
So far, the Bluetooth connection distance has been improved a big time, so hopefully after a week, it remains in working condition.

I am tentatively pleased with bluetooth performance since loading 4.2.1

My iphone 4 is connected with the in car bluetooth of my Prius. I don't have connect / disconnect issues but audio quality has been horrible since day one and with every single update until today. The people I spoke with could never hear me. They complained of very load static and noise. Made the bluetooth practically worthless. However, today after loading the software update I made three calls from my car via bluetooth and each person thought I was speaking directly via iPhone. So that's good.
I also had terrible performance with my bluetooth headset (which I never had with my 3G even when running iOS 4. As others have said, the phone was constantly connecting / disconnnecting AND had terrible sound quality. My headset broke and I've been waiting for a software fix before spending money on a new headset. I'm hopeful now is the time for a new headset! About time!!

Unf**in believable. Updated yesterday and all was good. My son just had to say "lets see how long". I just walked out to get mail wearing a hoody. Phone in front pocket. It broke up every other step. Does anyone know how to zap contract for defective product. I'm going to verizon and android. F* them and the horse they rode in on!

I've been having BT problems with iPhone 4 and Phonak iCom. It appears that the latest OS update 4.2.1 solves the volume issue. I did have to swap out the phone to correct the BT coverage issue. I had one of the first iPhone 4's and BT did not reach from my pants pocket to the iCom. The newer phone works fine.

OMG it got worse. I just went to the store. Tried to play music from pocket. Constant breakup. Had to hold phone in front of me. If I let my arm down to my side it would breakup. My phone is only 4 weeks old. They shouldn't be allowed to sell such a piece of s**t.

I solved this issue for myself before the update. I reset the phone and that fixed it for the most part. Both audio quality and range are good. About once a week it would start flaking out but all it took was rebooting the phone to make it come back and work normally (If you use Windows this shouldn't be a foreign concept). That's a sign of a memory leak in the bluetooth code.

I'll point out that pretty much all Apple employees have an iPhone. They use them just like we do and I'm sure they have experienced this issue. I can't see Apple just letting this go on and on ad infinitum.

I've recently loaded the latest iPhone update. So far so good. It hasn't been a week yet so I can't declare the issue fixed once and for all, but I've had no problems so far. I'm beginning to wonder if those who are claiming the problem is worse are Android users trying to get people to switch.