iPhone 12 Pro Max Bluetooth Issues

I have my iPhone X and my iPhone 12 Max Pro in front of me (both with iOS 14.3), along with a 3rd party Bluetooth 4.2+ device (K9). Both iPhones are on. I turn on the Bluetooth device (K9) and both iPhones see it available for pairing. When attempting to pair the iPhone 12 to the device it displays an error (see photo). The iPhone X pairs quickly to K9 without issue. Both iPhones pair with my Apple Watch and are both currently paired to another 3rd party Bluetooth device (Ember 2.0 Mug).

Is iPhone 12 hardware having issues with backwards compatibility to Bluetooth 4.2?? The Bluetooth specs state 4.2 is fully backward compatible with 5.0 devices. Again, my iPhone X with identical iOS version pairs without issue.

Apple Inc.: Please respond with A SOLUTION or FULL EXPLANATION to my problem, not a copy/paste from some Google search or level 1 tech support doc telling me to reset my network settings (I have already done that) or restore to factory settings (I have done that already as well) or some other deflection of the issue. I am going to return my faulty iPhone 12 in one week to get my $1399 refunded otherwise.

In the Mercedes and AirPods--it is paired...but if there is ANY activity via phone, notifications..etc...then the audio for music doesn't play. Well--it does show it is playing...but there is no sound. The ONLY way I have found to work is I have to turn the Bluetooth on my iPhone12Max completely off for 5 seconds and turn it back on without any other notifications/phone going off...and then music sound comes through. It's soooooo annoying. Had no problems until this last update.

I updated to iOS 14.4 --still doesn't work. In fact, it may have gotten worse. The only way I've been able to get music audio to play in my Mercedes 2016 C300 is to turn bluetooth off and on on the iPhone (not in the shortcuts but in the setup menu?). Eventually it will play the music audio. To be CLEAR--it "acts" like its playing with album cover showing its playing...but no sound. Even when music audio is not working, phone audio does work flawlessly.

This issue was with the iPhone 12 ProMax from the getgo so you can scratch A. off of your list, my personal bet on B. BUT and here is the big BUT, slowly things seem to connect and stay connected, except it's truly hit and miss, It will connect to a MacBook but NOT to a iMac. So H yes, it's an APPLE ISSUE.

Frankly, it is purely hit and miss. If you have an older iPhone clear all bluetooth from it and try the new one. Try wiping and reloading your iPhone, then hope for the best. It is purely random when things connect, I've got an early one, things slowly started connecting. Mine STILL won't connect to one of my Macs, my blood pressure machine, but beyond that, my car, other computers, head phones (2X), ear pods, TV, Amplifier, Apple TV, BT Speaker are all working fine, it just took some time and frustration. Even Apple software engineers know it's a software issue and are complaining to the Bluetooth engineers.

Lol, well your Samsung would know about pr nightmares.

This is clearly a software issue, it'll get fixed.

Issue is only with devices that migrated from an older phone, it seems. Completely deleting and re-adding seems to have helped for me. Though something may have changed for the better with 14.4 too

I have the same issue with my iPhone 12 Pro. I pair it with my Volvo xc60 2011 Bluetooth system (just hands-free, nothing else). It is paired, but they don't interact properly. Sometimes I can make one call and after it, they stop interacting. They both show as connected to each other but it does not work.

My previous iPhone 6s and 7 worked perfectly. I checked my iPhone 7 with iOS 14.4 it still works perfectly. So I am not sure if it still a software or hardware issue. Apparently, they broke backward compatibility for some older BT standards.

I've submitted a ticket via the feedback form. Hope they will fix it.

It is ridiculous. I bought one of the most expensive phones and I cannot drive safely!

I bought 2 iPhone 12 Pro Max phones for me and my wife. She connected to her 2020 jeep and my doge truck. It works fine hands free. I set my phone up in my truck. It sets up fine but when I try to voice call it says calling but in 5 seconds it says call canceled. I can receive call or make calls trough my phone but can’t use hands free option. My phone didn’t work in her car either. Apple replaced phone but I have the same issue. Many many hrs of tech support. They told me engineering is working on it. That was a month ago. My iPhone 6 worked fine. I can’t call hands free through Siri either.

Omg I’m so glad I found this thread I’m not alone. It’s not exactly the same issue as the original poster but it’s terrible none the less. I got my 12 PM when it was released but didn’t have any problems until about Jan 2021. I am able to connect with devices fine but the connection drops constantly. This happens with all devices including car, UE Boom, Bose SoundTouch, Ghostek Over-ears, AirPods and the brand new AirPods Max. On all connection types as well, including in airplane mode with only Bluetooth enabled and whether I am streaming or playing downloaded music. I’m pretty in the know with tech stuff and I’m aware of the limitations of Bluetooth and by no means pushing it. I have had audio drop out completely, skip, and make strange noises and/or distort for 5-20 seconds while the video/podcast/source appear to still be playing. On car and AirPods, noticeable because it’s audible and visible, it will reconnect sometimes multiple times over and over. I have reset what devices I can and Apple has replaced the back (internal components) of my iPhone as well as an entirely new unit. So far Apple Support agents (senior advisors) have replaced with no further troubleshooting or told me that they are sure it’s a software issue and that Apple will fix it at some point in a future update. Pretty crappy to make an almost wireless phone and then crash and burn on the Bluetooth if you ask me.

Yeah hopefully they can fix this.. seems like a big issue lately for lots of people that upgraded their phone and transferred data witelessly

Can they not take it in to get looked at and fixed under warranty ? I’m glad mines working now because that seems like a huge headache

Yeah they’re saying it’s the update that’s causing these issues hopefully they fix it

How did you get it to read multiple devices?

I sent my iPhone 12 Pro Max back and am awaiting a new phone. Fingers crossed this one's bluetooth works. I'll keep you posted.

Try turning off the Bluetooth on your 6s to release the device first.