Cannot pair bluetooth - iPhone to Macbook Air

This is a very long thread, so it’s sort of understandable that you didn’t read it before posting, even though the answer appears in it many times. But to summarize:

Apple devices do not support or require computer to computer or smart device to computer Bluetooth pairing. This is intentional. They do not require it because all data sharing functions are available without pairing, including continuity functions, data sync functions, backups, data transfer using AirDrop. Some of these functions (e.g., AirDrop) use BlueTooth Low Energy (BLE, once called Bluetooth 4 before 5 and 6 were released). BLE is an app-to-app protocol rather than device to device, and it does not require pairing. The do not support it because it is a potential security vulnerability.

But even though your phone and computer can’t connect using paired Bluetooth that does not limit their use for data sharing in any way.

The one thing that you can use BT for is using the phone’s personal hotspot as a “modem” for the computer. But even then you are better off using the Personal Hotspot to create a Wi-Fi network that multiple devices can connect. BT is severely speed limited. Using the Personal Hotspot as a Wi-Fi router has given me up to 500 mbps when my iPhone 16 is connected to a 5Guc network.

KQMCI43 wrote:

Does anyone know if the Ventura update on my MacBook air will solve the issue with the inability to pair with my iPhone 13 Pro? I had no issues with pairing prior to updating to Monterey but now cannot pair these two devices. Keeps giving me the Pairing unsuccessful - MacBook air not supported

I do know that Apple will never release a version of iOS or Mac OS that can pair with another computer, and no version in the past has been able to either; if you remember doing it your memory is faulty. It is by design and is a security feature. But there is nothing that you need to do between iOS and Mac OS that requires pairing Bluetooth.

BeTurnip wrote:

Cannot Pair my iphone with macbook air (so very, very, very, tired of spending hours of valuable time trying, generally with low success rate to solve device problems). This time I'm just trying to do the simplest thing of transfering a file from iphone to macbook and now here I am.

Is anybody else just fed up with this?

error message air is not suppported

thank you

Have you tried reading anything at all in this thread.

That is not supported. It has never been supported.

There is no need to do so. Use Airdrop.

BeTurnip wrote:

This time I'm just trying to do the simplest thing of transfering a file from iphone to macbook and now here I am.

It is a very simple thing to do and doesn't require Bluetooth pairing (though it does require that BT be turned on on both devices):

How to use AirDrop on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

According to what an Apple Advisor told me early this morning, you need to use a wired connection to your iPhone. Additionally, I found out myself it doesn't even work properly unless you set the service priorities in a certain order. These settings can be found by clicking the ellipsis at the bottom of the Network tab in System Settings and then "Set Service Order".

From top to bottom, with an explanation why they must be placed this way, my recommended Serive Order is:

• iPhone USB (must be placed at the top due to some unknown macOS programming bug)

• Thunderbolt Bridge (in case you connect a dock to use an ethernet connection)

• Wi-Fi (to use as a last resort if none of the above is connected)

If you want to use Bluetooth, you may feel free to do so with an iPad. However, it is impossible to tether using Bluetooth using an iPhone and Mac for now. So, unfortunately, a wired connection is the only way to use "Wi-Fi"-less tethering at this time.

Please Note: These Service Order instructions I've provided were performed on a 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro running macOS Sonoma 14.1.2 and should be the same for your MacBook Air.

So, see this thread, which I started a few hours ago. It appears this is a 'known issue' - nothing to do until it's fixed in a software update.

Personal Hotspot - can't connect with blu… - Apple Community

On the plus side, try the workaround of turning bluetooth off (on the computer) and connecting to the Personal Hotspot with wifi - works for me. Not ideal, but at least I have one functional way to tether.

Nothing is wrong. That has never been a feature of iOS.

You can't, and don't need to 'pair' them. What are you trying to accomplish?

So long as both devices are signed into the same Apple ID, you can use handoff and continuity. "Pairing" would serve no purpose.

Applecare solved the problem for me. I went into settings on my iPhone under General to Transfer or Reset iPhone to Reset to Reset Network settings. It worked perfectly after the latest upgrade to iOS 15.5 and my 2015 MacBook Air running Monterey.

thanefromforest hills wrote:

My understanding is that it's an ios 16 issue and not Ventura. At least that is what I found. It was the move from 15 to 16 the immediately led to the problem.

It is neither. Apple has NEVER, EVER supported pairing an iOS device to a computer using Bluetooth, except for using a personal hotspot, and that still works. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER!!!!!!

There is no conceivable function that requires Bluetooth pairing an iOS device to a Mac or PC, or to another iOS device.

KQMCI43 wrote:

I had been able to receive a facetime call on my phone and it would pop up on the mac book air so I could use either. Now, I can't pair them together so this isn't possible anymore.

What you’re talking about is Continuity and Handoff. It does NOT require pairing the two devices. It does require that both devices have BlueTooth and WiFi turned on.

Review this article for more information:

Use Handoff to continue tasks on your other devices - Apple Support

Ray Green wrote:

I have tried everything to connect my iPhone with my MacBook Air, all updated. Nothing. I have listened to all suggestions and ironically can connect my Samsung 23 ultra to my MacBook but not my phone 14 pro max. What on earth are you doing Apple??? Do you ever listen to your customers? Argh

That’s because BY DESIGN you cannot connect an iOS device to a computer using Bluetooth. There is absolutely no reason to connect an iPhone and a Mac using Bluetooth; it does not add any functionality that isn’t already available without using Bluetooth. That’s why Apple has never provided a way to do so.

You cannot pair an iPhone to a computer. So don’t waste your time trying. There is also no need to, as there are no iPhone/computer communications that require pairing.

No iPhone has ever paired to any Mac (or any iOS device or any other make of computer) for any purpose other than cellular network tethering. There is no need to pair them for any legitimate purpose.

You cannot pair an iOS device and a computer of any kind using Bluetooth-by intentional design. Apple provides multiple ways to communicate between devices, and none of them require pairing using Bluetooth, except for using the phone’s personal hotspot, and that works, as I have already posted.

As you would know from reading the thread you posted to.

Hdb1959 wrote:

me too

Then I suggest you read the other 8 pages of the thread you posted to, which explain over and over that BY DESIGN you cannot pair an iOS device with another iOS device or a computer, but also that there is no function that requires pairing an iOS device to other iOS devices or computers.