iPhone 11 on iOS 13 having Bluetooth connectivity issues

Just talked to Apple and they ran diagnostics on the hardware of iPhone 11 Pro Max iOS 13.1. No issues. I referred them to this forum and told me that it might be the head unit of our cars. If the head unit can get software updates through dealer, it might be time to go into dealer for a software update.

Just had a chat with Apple support , was advised that they know about the issue and RTA has been raised. They asked what car I had but didn’t suggest that was the issue. As with everyone else, all my other phones including one on ios13 work perfectly with my Porsche 911 2015.

Mine is having the same problem! I’m also having trouble even connecting to some Bluetooth things. I have two pairs of Bluetooth headphones and it won’t even connect to one of them (as luck would have it, it’s my favorite ones too 😕). The other is terrible and it loses connection all the time. I had no problems with them with my iPhone 8. It also will not connect to my car via Bluetooth at all (2017 audi), though luckily I can overcome that by using the USB.

I'm hoping it is mainly a software issue that can be fixed. It is extremely unrealistic when they tell us to contact our car manufacturer for support because we all know that nothing will happen with that. I had 0 problems with my iPhoneX on iOS 13. It is only with iPhone11 that I am having this issue. And since Bluetooth is pretty much universal and standard I don't see things suddenly being the car manufacturer's fault. Especially since this is across a wide range of models and years.

I agree, I think it’s an iPhone 11 software issue. Plus it’s not just car Bluetooth, but the problem is happening with headphones and ear buds too. I’ve seen at least one other person (aside from myself) that is also having problems with headphones not connecting or not able to maintain connection.

Yes. Telling us to contact our auto manufacturer is a cop out. This is what BMW responded with.

Thanks for contacting the BMW Genius Team.

I was sorry to read of your concerns. As Apple Music is a third party application, you may experience limited functionality. To that end, we do not have any troubleshooting to provide. I regret any disappointment this may cause. 

Our BMW engineering and design teams are dedicated to creating vehicles that move today’s consumers and their demand for enhanced utility and more versatility. Customer feedback plays an integral role in improving product design and development. We appreciate the time you have taken to share your thoughts.

BEERviper wrote:

Mine seems to be resolved with my iPhone 11 Pro Max and Plantronics PLT_Edge bluetooth headset after forgetting on iPhone and then repairing. It is no longer disconnecting after 60 seconds or so. I had paired this headset initially with iOS 13 when I received the phone and then updated to 13.1. I have also paired my 2016 Jeep Wrangler Uconnect after updating to 13.1 and have had no issues there either.

I spoke too soon, my Plantronics headset is back to disconnecting after 30 seconds or so. Back to the drawing board - UGH!

I've had issues with various devices since the iPhone 11 Pro and not just my cars. My Plantronics headset isn't consistent now and my Apple AirPods 2 occasionally have to be manually selected from the list of available Bluetooth devices. In the past, I just had to take them out of the case and use them. I never had to select them.

Car dealers love to say that phones are ahead of the car, and phone manufactures love to say cars are behind. How long does the average person keep their car versus their phone?

Maybe Apple should consider this fact if they still want people buying new phones every year or so. I sure don't plan on buying a new car every year.

I am having the same issue. Voice calls keeps switching bluetooth device (kia soul car, earbuds headset) or my other headsets... like it’s switching between devices... 13.1 didn’t fix it. hope they figure it out soon. sometimes it’s ok, on short calls, but longer calls are becoming a joke...

My 2018 Highlander seems to work fine now after updating to 13.1.1.

After the update, I first deleted all paring information from both my iPhone and Highlander. Disabled the BT on iPhone. Restart both iPhone and Highlander and then repair them.

Same issue here (iPhone X, Volvo XC60):

Sometimes the calls are shown on the display of the car, sometimes not. When a call is displayed and I accept it, my iPhone X will keep on ringing. If I take the call on the iPhone, I don’t hear the caller in the speakers of my car and the caller will not hear me. After about 30 seconds the call switches from the iPhone to the car.

Absolutely useless.

Before the update to iOS 13 and now 13.1 everything was fine.

I’m having issues on my iPhone 11 Pro Max. Bluetooth headsets work fine with music however when I use the phone there’s a popping in crackling noise in any headset earpiece that I use. Even using my new AirPods are making that cracking noise. I took it into the store and they told me that Verizon Sim cards are having an issue with the new iPhone 11. It was a good guess but that did not fix the problem when they swapped it out. Next step is swapping out the phone. Which I hate doing.

I’m on my second iPhone 11 after spending many hours on the phone with Apple. They thought it was a hardware issue, Verizon tells me it’s software/non compatibility. Both items I can’t pair with (jbl clip 2 and a set of taotronics earbuds) work fine with a MacBook and an iPhone X. The 11 can see but not pair with the earbuds but not see the speaker at all. Verizon and apple can’t both be right. This is absolutely ridiculous.

I just uploaded iOS 13 and my music app will not play a song that I tap on my iPhone 7 through the Bluetooth device. So if I am playing a song and I tap the next song the Bluetooth audio stops coming through and it will not play any other song it’s like it freezes the app.

I take it back. It didn’t fix the problem.

It seems that there’s improper hand shaking between the iPhone and my car.

When pairing, there should be a code popping up in both devices before completing the pairing procedure. The two pairs without the step, and that seems to be the cause of the issue.