You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

My ipad and iphone won’t pair

Don’t know why my ipad and iphone won’t pair, they were paired before but now they’re not and I can’t pair them

anymore. Everything is the same, wifi, apple user name etc. iphone and ipad shows in devices, but when I click on them to pair, message pops up, pairing unsuccessful

Posted on Jan 12, 2023 4:22 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 12, 2023 4:29 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:  Bluetooth: Why can't I pair my iPhone or … - Apple Community

                 

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: Use Continuity to connect your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch - Apple Support

 

Also see Share files between your Mac and Bluetooth devices - Apple Support


2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 12, 2023 4:29 PM in response to Esorter

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:  Bluetooth: Why can't I pair my iPhone or … - Apple Community

                 

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: Use Continuity to connect your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch - Apple Support

 

Also see Share files between your Mac and Bluetooth devices - Apple Support


Jan 13, 2023 8:31 AM in response to Esorter

Expanding upon Foxfifth’s comments…


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 offers no technical benefit.

My ipad and iphone won’t pair

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.