IPhone 4 Bluetooth Issues

IPhone 4 doesn't allow reasonable range and other issues with bluetooth headset. Fyi, tried with Apple Bluetooth headset which worked perfectly with IPhone 3G & IPhone 3G-S. Issue, you can have IPhone 4 in shirt or pant pocket and bluetooth will disconnect. Also, you can have IPhone 4 inside car and close the door while standing right outside the door and bluetooth disconnects. This never happened with previous models including IPhone 3G-S with IOS 4 installed.

Other bluetooth issues: as others reported - muffled sound quality to person your talking to. Time delays and disconnects with bluetooth Uconnect. IPhone 4 won't let you change between your car audio phone feature back to IPhone 4 without freezing.

IPhone 4,, iOS 4, Bluetooth Issues

Posted on Jul 8, 2010 3:24 PM

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631 replies

Jul 15, 2010 1:11 PM in response to bryancarter

Had trouble with my Jawbone Icon and my iPhone4. Calls kept cutting in and out when I had the phone in my front pocket.

Jawbone was able to help me reset the iPhone and the Icon. Things seem better than before for now.

On the iPhone, they had me go to Settings, General, Reset, Reset All Settings. Then I needed to hold the talk button on the jawbone while plugging it into an outlet (not that easy to do!). Finally I re-paired the icon with the iPhone and, so far, things are better.

Jul 15, 2010 3:14 PM in response to hoo

Same, here. After getting an iPhone 4 earlier this week, I exchanged a new H-17 for another because of problems losing Bluetooth connection and having no range. Have not had complaints about voice quality. Apple hopefully will recognize this problem and help us out soon. Can't believe this was not found in pre-release testing; ditto the antenna problem. BTW, H-17 was rock solid with Blackberry. In spite of this, I still love my iPhone.

Jul 15, 2010 3:57 PM in response to bryancarter

I'm having several Bluetooth issues with my 3GS since I upgraded to the iOS 4.0. I have been using the Plantronics Backbeat 903 (excellent BT headset, btw) since the 3G and only after I upgraded to iOS 4.0 did the problems start. One example is the phone starting to freeze altogether while using BT for music - I'll hit the home button to wake it up and it is completely unresponsive. I have to do a hard restart to get it to function again. Another example which just recently started is the play/pause feature - I hit the pause button on my headset and the music stops for about 10 seconds and then it comes right back on. I can repeat the process over and over and iPhone keeps restarting my music without me pushing play on the headset. I was having this problem today and turned the headset off completely and iPhone didn't recognize that there was no longer an established BT connection with the headset. The BT icon was still blue in the iPhone bar. I'm also noticing a higher frequency of gaps in music when the phone is in my pocket. There are certain intersections in SF where this is a common issue - but it is happening outside of those places much more frequently now. This is a bit tedious, but not enough for me to downgrade back to iOS 3.X. I just thought I'd add to the list and see if anyone else is having non-call related BT issues with iOS 4.0.

Jul 15, 2010 6:51 PM in response to bryancarter

I have the same problem. Bluetooth dropping frequently wether phone is in pocket or on desk. Never had it with 3G even with OS4 update. What's with Apple????????? Why have they issued a product with so many glaring problems???? Why haven't they acted to resolve them??? Do they feel they have our money and they'll get around to these issues when it's convenient for them???????

Jul 16, 2010 1:22 PM in response to bryancarter

My wife and I both have iPhone 4 with two different headsets (mine Jawbone ICON, hers Plantronics Voyager PRO) with same problems as reported here. I performed the recommended resets of the iPhone and headset but no fix. Sound quality is poor when call is received, but it seems to be okay if call is initiated. Seems to point to a firmware issue that Apple has to sort out.

What's the fastest way to get Apple's attention for this issue?

Jul 16, 2010 5:35 PM in response to epiekarc

I also have the 3gs and the iphone4. and downloaded the latest update 4.0.1 My head sets are the backbeat 903 and the jawbone. they both worked well with the 3gs, but when paired with the iphone4 all he.. broke loose. constant disconnects, constant beeping as if losing signal which is very annoying and all this while the phone is in my shirt pocket w/Apples renown bumper. People tell me i sound distant and muffled and there appears to be a delay with the connection, this is with both BT's. When I listen to movies, music thru my backbeat, it fades in and out like a skipping record. What is going on Mr. Jobs? Has Apple sacrificed and forsaken Us? And stole our money to get us tied into a new two year contract with AT&T with an inferior product before baling out with there product to VERIZON. Signal problems, antenna problems, what's next......

Jul 16, 2010 7:43 PM in response to hmerri

Ok, so here is my so called solution to the BT problem with my H17.

Background: I have had 2 new iphone 4 (they replaced the first one for me).
I have tried 2 brand new Motorola H17 and a Jawbone Noise Assassin (new in summer of 2009).

Problem: I can hear loud and clear, but reports from other end is very muffled, sound like I'm far away in a tunnel, can't understand anything you're saying, etc.

I tried resetting network, resetting settings, etc...

Sometimes it would work great and people said wow you sounds great. Sometimes report the opposite as listed above.

Here's the deal:

If I start the call - either initiate the call, or receive a call, with the BT on and connected to the phone, it sounds like ****.

If I start or receive a call while on the actual phone, and with the BT OFF - then, once the call has been connected, THEN turn on the BT and go to BT, everything is great.

I have tested this all day, and definitely, 100% of the time, I get the same results.

Would be really interesting if you guys experiencing problems could replicate these results...

Jul 18, 2010 2:04 AM in response to agabey

Problems here too. Erased the phone, feed everything in piece by piece, still MUFFLED! If that makes my clients uncomfortable, that will alienate them.

My experience, for the record:
Callers complain of muffled sound and can't understand me, often but intermediate; bluetooth connection drops in 5' to 10' proximity or less, intermediate; calls drop often, often during a call there is an interrupting sound as if the connection drops with a strong initial static sound, then fading back to the phone call -- experiencing that frequently.

Other than that, I really like the phone. I want it fixed, I'd prefer to keep the phone.

Jul 22, 2010 1:00 PM in response to bryancarter

I've been on the phone with Apple tech support and Plantronics tech support for several hours. I'm using the Plantronics Discovery 925, which worked flawlessly on the iPhone 1 for two years. Experiencing the same issues as most of you on the iPhone 4, muffled, reduced range, etc. Basically useless.

Jumped through hoops for both support teams with no luck.

The Plantronics team told me that they haven't received any complaints, which can't be true, but they are going to research it and get back to me. Apple has officially told be to buy a new bluetooth headset. No resolution in sight.

Jul 22, 2010 6:59 PM in response to Tim Kippen

Just recently made a discovery for Plantronics Voyager Pro users: when you receive an incoming call while the phone is paired with the Voyager device, no NOT answer the phone by removing the auto-lock. That will transfer the conversation to the iPhone and away from the Voyager headset. Instead, just press the button on the Voyager to answer the call and you will not lose the bluetooth pairing. The sound quality (both ways)is still below average, but at least I am avoiding one kind of mistake.

Jul 25, 2010 1:20 PM in response to bryancarter

I am having the same issue with Apple iphone 4 and my Plantronics Voyager Pro when I had the 3GS this was not an issue. I attempted to download the latest update unable to do so using Windows XP. We have been sold a piece of junk. My callers complain of muffled voices, they cannot hear me and every 20-30 minutes the headset just disconnects on its own for no apparent reason. I am still well within the 30 day warranty and contemplating returning 4 for the 3GS.
Technical Support is now flooded with so many calls good luck getting assistance. I even went to the retail store exchanged out the headset for another replacement one and the same issue again. If anyone has a fix let me know this is frustrating.

Jul 26, 2010 8:15 PM in response to bryancarter

Have ip4. Had ip3. Ip3 worked great. Use for work to call, set my appointments for next day. My clients hate-HATE- new phone, ip4-- I use to be able to make calls with a headset, I miss this feature. I use to be able to use headset and walk in other room---I miss that alot too. -- not gizmo person, hate idea of switching phone-- did it anyway, miss my old phone, miss my trust in Apple. -- now, settle for ip4, hope Apple fix's what is not effective for me, because I'm scared to switch back and lose what I've invested at this point! (not just $, but my time as well)...or return my new boat anchor..

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IPhone 4 Bluetooth Issues

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