iPhone Paired but Won't "Connect" with Mac via Bluetooth

Question

iPhone Paired but Won't "Connect" with Mac via Bluetooth

iPhone 12 Pro (iOS 16.2) and M2 MacBook Air (macOS Ventura 13.1) are paired but will not "Connect" despite:

Turning Bluetooth on/off on both devices;
Forgetting and re-pairing on both devices;
Rebooting/restarting each device; and
Running terminal command sudo pkill bluetoothd (on Mac).

Same devices using same operating system connected over Bluetooth (two hours ago) before the first time I used the iPhone as a webcam via Continuity Camera, which seemed to work flawlessly.

Now they pair just fine but will not connect.

I think that the problem is with the MacBook Air (as opposed to iPhone) since iPhone connects to my Apple Watch (Series 7 watchOS 9.2) but Mac does not even see it so can't pair (much less connect). Likewise, watch used to connect and supported automatic login on Mac before playing with Continuity Camera.

What else can I try?

MacBook Air, macOS 13.1

Posted on Dec 26, 2022 12:01 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

phra

Level 1

8 points

Dec 27, 2022 12:34 PM in response to Nello Lucchesi

Same issue here. iPhone 12 Pro Max (iOS 16.2) and M1 MacBook Pro (macOS Ventura 13.1).

Spent 2-3 hours on trying to solve this, nothing has worked and your post was the only result in Google for the "Pairing Unsuccessful <name of mac> is not supported." search phrase. I too am trying to use Continuity Camera, no luck...

Reply

Answer 2

Dec 26, 2022 12:15 PM in response to Nello Lucchesi

Apparently, pairing is not symmetric.

What I mean by this is that on the Mac I can Forget the iPhone and re-pair it. Yes, on the iPhone, after Forgetting the Mac, the Mac soon appears in the list of "Other Devices) in the iPhone's Bluetooth settings. However, why I try to pair the two devices from the iPhone, I get this error message: <bold>Pairing Unsuccessful</bold><newline> "<name of Mac>" is not supported.

Reply

Answer 3

Dec 29, 2022 4:20 PM in response to Nello Lucchesi

The problem was that I wasn’t listed in my MacBook Air’s Contacts so limiting discoverability to Contacts found no matches. 🤦🏼‍♂️

After adding a Card for me (including the email address that I use for my Apple ID) and designating the Card as “me,” AirDrop now works flawlessly.

Reply

Answer 4

Dec 27, 2022 12:52 PM in response to phra

To use Continuity Camera, launch an app that uses video, e.g., either FaceTime or Zoom, and then look at the app’s preferences for video. You will see your iPhone there as long as: (1) both the Mac are on the same WiFi network, both have Bluetooth turned on, and (3) you are longed into the same Apple ID on both.

Once selected as a video input, you will find Continuity Camera settings in your Mac’s Control Center.

For more details, see:

Continuity Camera: Use iPhone as a webcam for Mac - Apple Support

Reply

Answer 5

Dec 27, 2022 12:41 PM in response to phra

Turns out that pairing is NOT necessary for Continuity Camera (or AirDrop for that matter).

search for my thread on: talk TidBITS com.

(My prior links to this domain are flagged as “commercial“ and removed.)

Reply

iPhone Paired but Won't "Connect" with Mac via Bluetooth

Similar questions