Any protocol changes in iPhone between new and old iPhone SE?

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Level 1

9 points

Any protocol changes in iPhone between new and old iPhone SE?

I have a problem with syncing call history from an iPhone to a BMW. The BMW is running the latest available software, but it didn't solve the problem. I've done some troubleshooting by myself and it seems that something in the iPhone has changed between models and iOS, but I can't figure out what.

The problem is with syncing call history (and a small problem with charging from USB-plug in 12V outlet).

The primary phone is an iPhone 8, running iOS 14.4. This phone went from syncing perfectly to not syncing call history at all when I updated to iOS 13.4 (or possibly 13.5). Since then, the call history doesn't sync while the phonebook and other things work as usual. Updates of iOS have been done more or less within days from release, so the phone has always had the latest version. No betas.

I suspected that something was wrong with iOS since the iPhone 8 worked with iOS 13.3.

So I tested with other iPhones.

iPhone 4S with iOS 9.x.x works perfectly
iPhone SE (old version from 2016-ish) with iOS 14.2 works perfectly (which indicates that the iOS version doesn't matter)
iPhone SE (latest version) with iOS 14.4 - doesn't work.

I now suspect that newer phones (2018 and forward) combined with iOS 13.4 or higher were changed in some way in the way they communicate through Bluetooth. Some software changes in iOS have obviously caused the phone to change its behavior compared to before iOS 13.4 - but only newer phones.

Anyone who has any idea of what this change can have been?

...and I've also tried:

iPhone 8 with iOS 14.4 in newer cars - works perfectly
iPhone SE with iOS 14.4 in newer cars of different brands - works perfectly
Android units - works perfectly

iPhone 8

Posted on Feb 16, 2021 1:06 AM

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Answer 1

genieen16

Community Specialist

Feb 18, 2021 3:52 PM in response to Tinge1tange1

Tinge1tange1,

We appreciate that you've returned to this post with this information. The issue sounds like it is directly related to your car working with Bluetooth services on newer software versions. Since the problem is related to your vehicle and not with other cars, we would typically advise you to reach out to the manufacturer for your car to see if they have any firmware updates available for your car. From your first message it sounds like you had done so. You can go to the BMW Software Update site to see if there are any recent updates that have been released.

If there aren't any new updates, you can Contact Apple Support for more assistance.

Cheers!

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Answer 2

Tinge1tange1 Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 18, 2021 10:21 AM in response to raina_b22

Hello raina_b22

Thank you for your response.

I mainly use the Bluetooth connection when the phone is used in the car. I only hook up the phone with USB when charging the phone.

I don't think the iPhone allows the car to interact with the phone as a multimedia device when connected through USB. The car is "pre-Carplay-era", so CarPlay is not supported in any way in the car. It can't help me.

Other Bluetooth accessories works fine with the iPhone. I've tried at least one third-party "gadget" and I've tried Bleutooth connections with other car brands (Volvo, Renualt, MIni, VW). I've also tried connection the iPhone8 to a brand new BMW using Bluetooth. It worked perfectly.

The only reason I can think of right now is that there was some kind of software protocol change in iOS, blocking certain data streams through Bluetooth connections. The car is running Bluetooth 4.0-4.2 (haven't been able to verify this, but the age of the car supports that it should be around 4.0-4.2). As far as I can tell, the iPhone 8 runs Bluetooth 5.0 which should be backward compatible, but is it possible that with the transition to iOS 13.4 (or 13.5) something was "tuned" in the Bluetooth protocols?

(also, another strange thing that happened when the phone upgraded to iOS 13.4/13.5 was that it stopped charging when connected to both the built-in USB port in the car but also charging through a 2-way USB plug put into the 12V outlet in the car. After upgrading the software in the car, it started charging again from the built-in USB port, but not from the 12V usb-plug. Iv'e tried charging from the 12V outlet with an iPhone 4S with iOS 9.x.x (works), a iPhone SE 1st edition iOS 14.2 (doesn't work), iPhone SE 2nd edition, iOS 14.4 (doesn't work) and of course my own iPhone 8, iOS 14,4 (doesn't work). I've also tried charging the iPhone 8 from a 12V outlet in a brand new BMW (didn't work) . I tried charging in the new BMW both using BMW original usb-plug (max 2,4A out) and my own usb-plug (max 3A out) . Neither worked. This too seems to have something to do with the iOS 13.4 and higher versions).

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Answer 3

raina_b22

Community Specialist

Feb 18, 2021 9:44 AM in response to Tinge1tange1

Hey there, Tinge1tange1!

Thanks for reaching out to the Apple Support Communities! We understand that you are experiencing issues when you attempt to connect your iPhone to your BMW. We want to help get you pointed in the right direction so you're able to Play music, podcasts, audiobooks, and news in your car.

It looks like you have tested your car under multiple conditions. You've experimented with various devices and with different versions of the iOS software. These were excellent troubleshooting step to try, as it helps to isolate the cause of the issue.

To clarify, when connecting your iPhone to your car, are you connecting via Bluetooth or USB? Here are more details on those connection types: How to connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your car.

If you connect the device using Bluetooth, verify the connection steps here: Pair a third-party Bluetooth accessory with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. If you connect your iPhone using your Lightning to USB, you can check out this guide for how to Use CarPlay with your iPhone.

Take care!

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Any protocol changes in iPhone between new and old iPhone SE?

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