Mystery bluetooth device on iPhone that cannot be deleted or changed

This morning I notice that I have a mysterious bluetooth device connected to my iPhone that does not have the little "i" icon next to it. I cannot delete it or find out anything about it. As I investigated through the Apple Community, I learned that by going into Settings > Privacy and Security > Bluetooth I can see every app that has access to my Bluetooth. It was a disturbingly high number of apps that have no associated bluetooth device, such as hotel rewards apps. Hilton does not need to connect to my phone via Bluetooth. I also saw and recognized instantly what the mysterious device is, and it's something I'm using and it's safe.


Still, I am very disturbed by the fact that I cannot: rename it, see any details about it, or manually disconnect from it. Even though it is a safe device, Apple should not be giving that level of control to anything and taking power away from me. This needs to be fixed. It's a security risk. If a good app can do that without my knowledge and leave me with no control, what can a malicious app do?


If you have one of these mysterious bluetooth devices connected to your phone, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Bluetooth, view all of the apps that have access to bluetooth, and then start turning them off one at time. Each time you turn one off, go back to Bluetooth and see if the mysterious device disappears. This will tell you which app has created it. You will likely find some apps that don't really need bluetooth access to your phone, so you'll improve your security. If you turn one off and find an undesirable result, you can go back to that area of your settings and turn it back on. It's just an on/off toggle switch.


Apple, please do not let any apps create something in my phone that I cannot manage!!! Especially bluetooth access!! That seems beneath Apple's basic security policy.

iPhone 13 Pro Max, iOS 17

Posted on Aug 13, 2024 10:19 AM

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2 replies

Aug 13, 2024 10:57 AM in response to sventek_

Thank you! For clarity, my concern is not apps having Bluetooth permissions. I do think it’s important for users to review what apps have those permissions and ask ourselves if it is really needed. My real concern is Apple allowing a Bluetooth device to be created that I cannot toggle off/on, rename, or view the details. This device, as you can see in the screenshot, does not have a name that identifies it in any sort of logical way and I cannot rename it or learn anything about it. When I allow Bluetooth access, I do not expect that Apple gives primary control of the access to the app, leaving me with only the ability to turn it off entirely. If that is what we should expect, why doesn’t apple do the same with my AirPods or other BT devices? All of those have recognizable names and controls within Bluetooth settings. I don’t necessarily want to turn it off, I want it controllable at the same level Apple gives me for its own branded devices. Why aren’t these app developers held to the same standards Apple sets for itself?

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Mystery bluetooth device on iPhone that cannot be deleted or changed

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