iOS 15.1, MacOS Monterey: Bluetooth (Device Not supported)

I got hold of an Apple engineer and asked about this. He says that iPhone pairing is NOT SUPPORTED in MacOS Mojave or later. All file transfers (e.g. AirDrop) are handled by WiFi, which requires both devices to be on the same network (router). Bluetooth does need to be turned on, apparently because there's some low-level chatter going on, but there is no pairing. (I suspect it's being used for security checks of some sort.)

Apple advice that calls for pairing an iPhone with a Mac is only intended for High Sierra and earlier; sometimes this is not made clear.

Same problem here:

• iPhone 11 with iOS 15.2
• Brand new MBP 14” running on macOS 12.1

iPhone keeps saying MBP “is not supported”. Unbelievable.

I could tether the two via a USB cable, though (allowing to “TRUST” the computer). Bluetooth, however, connects for a second or so and then disconnects with the “not supported” message.

Yes, very frustrating!

For people relying on the above, I feel for you. The problem doesn’t appear to have been acknowledged or addressed by Apple to my knowledge in the past few months even after several updates. So, without spoiling your day, don’t hold your breath. All I can say is find a reliable connection method. E.g. wires and cables.

So, I ended up hard wiring my new phone (iPhone 13) to my old laptop (MacBook Air 2017) it seems that my computer didn’t trust my phone. once I trusted my phone the bluetooth started working again. hopefully this helps

Did you find any solution?

After updating iCloud logins on all devices, finally does instant hotspot work. Initially, I couldn't get that working neither. However, AirDrop worked for me.

I further was able to pair (i.e. get the device added to the list) when starting from the OSX, but when trying from the iPhone/ iPad it always says "Pairing Failed. XXX not supported" ("Koppeln fehlgeschlagen XXX wird nicht unterstützt.")

Newest versions of IOS (15.1) and Monterey (12.0.1) here, as well as an iPad with 14.2.

Imac

Installed the latest operating systems, and have run into the problem where the iphone and macbook can see each other in the bluetooth discovery menu. The pairing handshake works, then once connected, the connection immedietly drops. When I try to connect again, Iphone says the macbook is not a supported device, and the only option I have is to forget the device.

VERY FRUSHTATTING

Oops... Both points taken and you are right of course. I apologise to all for venting my recurring frustration.

Part of reason I invested in apple was for air drop and bluetooth connectivity between devices. As the options are there I wish them to work. However, I have to restart, disconnect/reconnect, re-install, every time I use them. I have tried different combinations of wi-fi, router and bluetooth. To the point of despair and have run dry of ideas. I do not want to use the cloud, I live in a very remote area and connection is not always a reliable option. For me, I found the only temporary solution, until Apple can solve it, I could find was to use Parallels Desktop from the App Store on MacBook with Windows10. But, not every one has that option or would even wish to go down that route. I have not reverted to Windows. I am still on Mac. I would really like Apple to work seamlessly. I understand we are talking macOS, IOS, iPadOS and compatibility is not as straight forward as you would always think. But, was I wrong in believing these devices were intended to be used in conjunction and connect to each other?

My apologise again for blowing my top. I feel ashamed of letting it get to me in that way. I understand that this is no way to behave or respect people who are here to help and seek help from others and I am sincerely sorry.

i think it is to do with the cross-device sharing that was removed from Monterey beta at the midnight hour. Possibly has left a glitch until Apple can address it. There has been an update since the issue first manifested and reported that has not dealt with it. It is prolific and not isolated and as yet I cannot see a response by Apple. So I am left to believe it is all connected and under wraps for the meantime. An official statement would be sensible to hold confidence.

You can tell Apple if you wish, we're just users like you.

https://www.apple.com/feedback/

My own investigations lead me to believe that it is something to do with iOS15 and iPadOS15 rather than Monterey. MacBook connects satisfactorily to bluetooth devices other than iPad and iPhone.

I just filed another bug report: https://www.apple.com/feedback/macos.html

I posted there too. My MacBook Air 2020 running Monterey 12.1 is not bluetooth pairing with my iPhone XE running iOS 15.2 -- but my 2013 MacBook Pro running Big Sur 11.6.2 is.

Have you had any luck? I am having the same issue with Monterey 12.0.1 on a brand new Macbook Pro 14" 2021. I have been working with Support for hours a day since I received the computer and they were great, but now they tell me the only solution is to return it and they will send out a new one. I've migrated all my data and set this up the way I wanted it and now I have to send it back, wait for for a new computer to get here from China, and I wonder if it will have the same issue. I also cannot import photos from my iPhone. This has been frustrating to say the least - and Apple Customer Service hasn't done much - they just don't really care.