Permanently removing previously paired Bluetooth device

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Permanently removing previously paired Bluetooth device

Hi there,

Just a quick question. How do you permanently remove previously paired Bluetooth device (about two years' ago).

My previous iPhone was paired with someone else's Bluetooth earpiece. After I switch to my current iphone and "forget this device" more than 20 times under Bluetooth setting. It kept coming back every single time I switch Bluetooth on. Could somebody please kindly advise how to remove this device completely and permanently from my account, please?

Thank you very much for kind attention and your help in advance.

Posted on Dec 21, 2020 11:17 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

MichelleT18

Community Specialist

Dec 23, 2020 7:55 PM in response to CID6696

Hi CID6696,

Thanks for getting back to us with the details. Do you have any third-party apps that Bluetooth devices can be paired directly in instead of pairing the Bluetooth device under Settings? This commonly includes locator, health, or vehicle apps such as the Tile or FitBit apps. If so, the next step would be to see if you can remove the Bluetooth device from within the third-party app.

If you locate an app the Bluetooth device was paired under, restart your iPhone after removing it, then go to Settings > Bluetooth and confirm if it has been removed. If it still reappears after, or there are no third-party apps the Bluetooth device appears in, we'd like to have you contact Apple Support for a closer look:

Get Support

Cheers!

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Answer 2

Dec 23, 2020 6:10 PM in response to CID6696

Hello CID6696,

Thank you for participating in the Apple Support Communities! We understand that you'd like to remove a Bluetooth device your iPhone has previously been paired with, however it's not being removed. We'd be happy to help explore steps to take next.

Just to confirm, have you removed the Bluetooth device following the steps here:

Pair a third-party Bluetooth accessory with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

"Unpair a Bluetooth accessory

To unpair a Bluetooth accessory, tap Settings > Bluetooth, find the device you want to unpair, and tap the info button , then Forget this Device. This will remove the accessory from the list of available Bluetooth devices.

To add the Bluetooth accessory to your device again, place it back in discovery mode and repeat the steps above to pair it."

If that's not working, we'd like to collect a few more details to further isolate potential causes:

Is the iPhone still in range of this Bluetooth device?
Does the device reappear after taking a specific step or action such as turning Bluetooth off and back on?
Do you have any other devices signed in to the same Apple ID that have been paired to the Bluetooth device?

Cheers!

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Answer 3

CID6696 Author

Level 1

10 points

Dec 23, 2020 6:36 PM in response to MichelleT18

Hi MichelleT18,

Thank you very much for replying to my post.

The Bluetooth device was paired with my previous iPhone 8plus (gifted by someone else, now wiped & not in use) only for once. Then when I switched to my current iPhone, the setting was loaded from iCloud.

(Q3)I have only one apple product currently associated with my iCloud account. (Q2)And yes, I have tried the steps by going to setting, Bluetooth, “Forget this device”, it disappeared then reappeared next time I turn the Bluetooth on. (Q1) Given this device should be long gone with his owner a few months ago, I can’t think of any reason why it kept finding its way back.

Please kindly advise on the steps. Thank you so much for your kind attention and help.

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Answer 4

CID6696 Author

Level 1

10 points

Dec 23, 2020 10:29 PM in response to MichelleT18

Hi MichelleT18,

Thank you very much again for your reply. I am not aware of any third party app on my phone that can directly connect. Unless someone told me this could indicate bigger problem with my phone, I am not going to get further support, simply too much hassles. Thanks heaps for your help.

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Answer 5

Dec 24, 2020 9:18 AM in response to CID6696

Hi CID6696,

That's understandable and it should not negatively affect your device or data aside from being unable to delete the pairing. If you run in to any additional questions from here, please reach out and let us know.

Happy Holidays!

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