Is there any way to lock/toggle Bluetooth discoverability?

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Level 1

8 points

Is there any way to lock/toggle Bluetooth discoverability?

In 2021, a lot of us have multiple devices that connect to our iPhones via Bluetooth. I have Bluetooth headphones, watch, sound bar, 2 cars, an Alexa in every room, and game controllers and more.

the problem: I’m listening to a book/on a phone call/watching Apple TV etc. through headphones from my iPhone while getting into my car/while walking into my house/ while following my wife and my car gets within range of her car/I get in range of ANY Bluetooth device that I’ve ever seen connected to, when all the sudden it stops. ??? Why did it stop I ask??

because I cannot make my iPhone monogamous. Yup. My iPhone 12 Pro Max is a promiscuous connection whore. It will spread its connectivity to any to any available device that asks. ( as long as I gave it permission once)

question is what can I do?

do I have to delete connections that I don’t want? Then I’d have to reconfigure them the next time I want to use them. And cars can be difficult sometimes.

is there any way to lock/toggle discoverable ?

thanks

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Feb 13, 2021 11:59 AM

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Answer 1

Feb 13, 2021 12:05 PM in response to Wberr

Turn it off when you don't want it to be used.

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Answer 2

Alancito

Level 7

30,750 points

Feb 14, 2021 10:56 AM in response to Wberr

Wberr ~ The following probably won't address the "discoverability" issue, but anyway perhaps it's worth knowing... Apple's Shortcuts app has a Personal Automation feature which will alert you when your iPhone connects to another device via Bluetooth. Such an automation could then call the Set Bluetooth action to set your iPhone's Bluetooth on or off or toggle it.

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Answer 3

Tesserax

Level 10

160,142 points

Feb 14, 2021 10:26 AM in response to Wberr

You bring up a good point. However, either or both the Bluetooth transmitter or receiver device would have to have the ability to provide this feature. So far, AFAIK, none do.

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Answer 4

Wberr Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 14, 2021 10:19 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk

Uhmmm... thank you for your reply?

but I think you missed the point.

And thank you moderator. But could this be changed to the discoverability in the title.

That is the issue here. I want to have a connection to devices I am using. And if another device wants in it should ask. I should be able to control when/if/how Bluetooth is used. Right?

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Answer 5

Wberr Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 14, 2021 1:16 PM in response to Alancito

Thanks. That’s something I’ll look into. And although it doesn’t resolve the issues maybe at least I’ll know exactly when it does this instead of thinking I’m in some awkward silence moment during a call.

cheers

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Answer 6

Wberr Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 15, 2021 5:57 PM in response to Wberr

I just think that the only time it should search out new connections is if I’m in Bluetooth settings and selecting a different device.

I feel like my iPhone i has a “wandering eye”

makes me wonder what else it might connect to? Apple is all about privacy but this seems to be a potential breach. Give an app the right permissions and all the sudden my credit card gets bluetoothed to that guy sitting at the sunglass hut in the mall.

sorry my inner Alex Jones popped out for a bit

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Answer 7

Feb 15, 2021 5:59 PM in response to Wberr

Bluetooth is a very poor spy tool with a range of about 30 feet.

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Is there any way to lock/toggle Bluetooth discoverability?

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