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I can’t get my iPhone and my new iPad to link via Bluetooth

How to get my iPad to link with my cell phone via Bluetooth

iPad, iOS 9

Posted on Dec 27, 2020 5:32 AM

Reply
10 replies

Dec 27, 2020 7:21 AM in response to Sven Thulin

What, specifically, are you attempting to achieve by pairing an iPhone and iPad over a Bluetooth connection?


Whilst it is technically possible to do so, for the majority of applications, Bluetooth pairing of an iPad and iPhone is entirely pointless. If your intention is to use Cellular Hotspot features of your iPhone, this link is optimally achieved using the native WiFi hotspot connection - this being a largely automated process. Hotspot connections over WiFi offer substantially greater throughput, range and reliability.


How to set up a Personal Hotspot on your iPhone or iPad – Apple Support


If you still wish to pair your iPad and iPhone over Bluetooth, you first need to manually enable the hotspot feature on your iPhone:

Settings > Mobile Data > Personal Hotspot > Allow Others to Join - set to ON


Next, Bluetooth for both the iPad and iPhone must be placed in Discovery mode:

Settings > Bluetooth (accessing this page will automatically place the device in Discovery mode)


Whilst both iPad and iPhone are in Discovery mode, you can mutually pair the devices.


Again, I must stress, unless you have an unusual “edge case”, pairing of iPad and iPhone over Bluetooth is largely pointless.




I can’t get my iPhone and my new iPad to link via Bluetooth

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