Bluetooth iPhone <=> iPad will not connect

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Bluetooth iPhone <=> iPad will not connect

My iPad Pro iOS16.6 will noo longer connect to my iPhone 12 iOS16.6

Bluetooth works fine on both devices and connects without issue to my speaker, car, etc. It’s just stopped working between my phone and iPad…? The failure message on both devices is the same. Kevs gizmo is my iPhone which is right next to me and Bluetooth is on. My devices appear as selectable but the same error occurs on which-ever device initiates the pairing

I’ve been through all the setup guides on Apple support and still it fails.

I noticed the problem when my airdrop between my devices just stalled in a ‘waiting’ state on the sending device. No notification of an ‘incoming’ appears in the target device

the community’s thoughts on this issue gratefully received.

please and thanks

scotch x

iPhone 12 Pro

Posted on Sep 4, 2023 8:58 AM

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LotusPilot

Community+ 2025

Level 10

301,766 points

Sep 4, 2023 9:20 AM in response to Scotchkev

What, specifically, are you attempting to pair with your iPad and iPhone via a Bluetooth connection?

Whilst it is technically possible to do so, be aware that Bluetooth pairing between an iPad and iPhone is generally 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 has no benefit.

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Bluetooth iPhone <=> iPad will not connect

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