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How do I pair my iPad with my iPhone

How do I pair my iPad with my iPhone

iPad Air, iOS 10

Posted on Jan 15, 2022 12:20 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 15, 2022 1:01 PM

An iPhone will not pair via Bluetooth to a computer (Mac or Windows) or an iPad except for personal hotspot and then only if your cellular plan supports it. See the following for more information: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-7722

                

If you are attempting to use Handoff/Continuity or AirDrop, that does involve Bluetooth but the devices are NOT paired; Bluetooth just needs to be on and the devices in range of each other. The following may help with Handoff/Continuity issues: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204681

 

Also see https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/share-files-mac-bluetooth-devices-mchle7fa9e15/10.15/mac/10.15

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 15, 2022 1:01 PM in response to surferchip

An iPhone will not pair via Bluetooth to a computer (Mac or Windows) or an iPad except for personal hotspot and then only if your cellular plan supports it. See the following for more information: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-7722

                

If you are attempting to use Handoff/Continuity or AirDrop, that does involve Bluetooth but the devices are NOT paired; Bluetooth just needs to be on and the devices in range of each other. The following may help with Handoff/Continuity issues: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204681

 

Also see https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/share-files-mac-bluetooth-devices-mchle7fa9e15/10.15/mac/10.15

Jan 15, 2022 1:40 PM in response to surferchip

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 rarely beneficial.


How do I pair my iPad with my iPhone

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