iPhone 12 Pro Max Bluetooth keeps disconnecting

If the symptom you describe occurs with multiple devices, the most likely cause is external Bluetooth interference. This support link discusses that as an issue→Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference - Apple Support

Also, you did not mention what kinds of devices you are having a problem with. Note that iOS devices cannot connect to other iOS devices or to computers using Bluetooth; this is a security feature.

Can you quantify “plenty of people”? There are 2 billion iOS device users around the world. If the problem occurred to even a tiny percentage of them you would see thousands or tens of thousands of posts about it. If it was just 1%, for example, that would be 10 million users. Is your “plenty” that high? With that number of users no matter what problem you have there will be “plenty of people” who have the same or a similar problem.

If it happens in specific places in your drive, and the same places every time, it is almost certainly microwave interference→Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference - Apple Support. The frequency range used by Bluetooth is in an unlicensed band, and is also included in S band (2 to 4 GHz) radar. Uses include airport surveillance radar, air traffic control radar, surface ship radar, weather radar and ground penetrating radar. So if you are near an airport, body of water when larger boats and ships or weather stations that is the probably cause. Bluetooth’s 2.4 GHz is right in the middle of S band.

Phito11 wrote:

Wouldn't that also affect the iPad bluetooth connection though?

The only thing I haven't tried is disconnecting all my smart devices such as Alexa speakers and seeing if that helps. I'll give that a try and see if that changes anything

Ah, that’s a helpful hint. Bluetooth can support a maximum of 7 simultaneously connected devices. If you try to connect an 8th device one of the current connected ones will disconnect.

Did you try my previous post? “Forget” all of your devices, restart your phone, then add them back. And see this link about interference→Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference - Apple Support

Out of frustration I tried removing the apple mag safe case to see if the symptoms changed.

I may be experiencing the placebo effect, but it seems the Bluetooth connection is more stable.

I enjoy the feel of the phone without the case but now worry about dropping it:(

Call_me_boss wrote:

I am facing same issue from few months. Earlier I thought my Airpod has some issue but when I tried to connect with other device it only connects when my phone is very close to the device else it gets disconnected.

Looks like the Bluetooth connectivity range has decreased.

But I have observed this after I upgraded to ios 18. Might be a software bug for some models.

But we need solution for this ****** issue.

I fixed that by resetting the AirPods and re-pairing→Reset your AirPods - Apple Support. The link contains both the reset instructions and the pairing again.

“Forget” all of your devices, restart your phone, then add them back. And see this link about interference→Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference - Apple Support

This same thing is happening to me on my iPhone 12 Pro Max, and it has been happening for years. It happens on possibly every single Bluetooth device I pair it with. Most often in my vehicle when driving along certain roads, and at certain points during my drive the sound will cut out and back in a few times. It also happens on Bluetooth headphones, speakers, and even in two other vehicles. My husband’s iPhone 12 Pro Max never had this problem, my son’s iPhone SE never had it, and my husband’s new iPhone 15 doesn’t have it either, even when connecting to the same devices and driving along the same roads.

Is this the same problem you have?

I have also tried disconnecting/reconnecting, turning off and on Bluetooth, restarting my phone, completely forgetting the devices and repairing them, making sure my phone is charged and has the newest update. None of these tasks have made any difference in regards to this Bluetooth issue.

My next step may be to try going into the Apple Store and checking what they can do, but after reading your story I’m not hopeful.

I've got an iPhone 12 mini presently running IOS 17.3.1. It drops my Bluetooth devices during phone calls, about 15+ minutes into the calls. This happens with my PowerBeats Pro earpieces, an All-Terrain Pro stand alone bluetooth speaker and my Toyota Tacoma. I can play music from iTunes or SiriusXM from the same iPhone through the same PowerBeats Pros, All-Terrain Pro and Toyota for hours, no disconnect. But I can have them fully powered and start a call and the connection with whichever of those devices I'm using will just drop entirely at some point 15+ minutes into the call, as if they just powered down entirely mid-call. This just started two or three months ago for me. It used to be infrequent. Now it occurs with every call.

Hello Phito11,

Im sorry to hear about the issue you're experiencing. No worries I'll try to help in the areas that I can!

Troubleshooting:

• Try resetting the settings.

Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings

• See if a clean install of iOS has the issue

How to: Erase iPhone - Apple Support

• Check to see if multiple devices have the device in there bluetooth

Make sure that your Mac/iPad or other doesn't have the same bluetooth device (This might be causing the disconnecting)

• Re-connect that bluetooth device

Un-pair and re-connect that bluetooth device to reset the connection.

• Update your device

Make sure your iPhone is running the latest software.

Saying that apple has replaced and done repairs on this device I do feel like it might be a software or bluetooth device issue instead of hardware.

Hope this helps!

Phito11 wrote:

The annoying part in all of this, is that my iPad doesn't have this problem, I can connect to all my speakers without any issues with the iPad, the problem is only when I use my iPhone.

And have you followed the guidance about interference?

I think there are cases where it's more than just interference.

• impacted devices: I'm the only one in my house of 5 bluetooth users that has the problem (and my phone is the only iphone 12 generation)
• signal strength: interference still exists even when close (< 2 feet) between the device and phone
• timing: this started crapping out in late November / early December

I deleted all devices EXCEPT apple watch (which you can't delete) and it still happens with re-added devices.

Agreed on the "more than just interference" part, and ditto on the approximate start time for me. I use the Signal app for a lot of calls, and I can start a call on my iPhone 12 and PowerBeats Pro earpieces, and after 15-20 minutes my phone will lose connectivity with one or both earpieces. I can re-initiate the call via Signal from my MacBook, sitting directly in front of me at my desk, with the same PowerBeats Pro earpieces, and can continue my call to conclusion, no problem. I have more frequently started making and taking my Signal calls via my MacBook rather than my iPhone 12 when at my desk, without incident.