Bluetooth connection issues on iPhone 16

lobsterghost1 wrote:

… If it was an iPhone specific issue, it would be happening to everyone, …

(And I'm sorry I can't just let it go, but that's just false. Anyone who's spent time working in IT can tell you they've encountered countless issues that weren't that simple to isolate — whether they're working with Apple's hardware/software or any other manufacturer's.)

Certainly. I was just pointing out that if it was an iPhone issue, it should affect just about everyone. The trouble with issues like this is Apple has no control over the infotainment systems in peoples cars. So for you, this is a doubly difficult issue to isolate. Is the iPhone? Possibly, but I'd hazard a guess if we were to connect your iPhone to my car, it would connect reliably. So that would kind of rule out iPhone as the culprit.

Since we are all users on this user to user only forum, I'm not sure anyone here can diagnose or fix this issue for you. I'd contact Apple Support and your car manufacturer for help with this.

jeckcs55 wrote:

I spending hours and hours trying to connect my iphone 16 but still unable to connect to bluetooth. I upgraded from 11 to 16. Any idea other idea how to work this bluetooth? Thanks!

What have you tried? The single biggest reason Bluetooth Devices don't connect with a new iPhone is they didn't put the device in Pairing Mode per the manufacturers direction on how to pair their device. We'd be happy to help you, but you need to explain what you've done and what isn't working for you.

This worked for me on a BMW X5. Start connecting iphone 16 to car's BT, when asking for pin, type either 0000 or 1234 and click OK (don't wait to any more messages on car's dash) as soons as you see the option to input those number on your phone, go ahead and do it. Should work. Good luck!

I have tried all my manufacturer's instructions to the tee on my iPhone 16 for my iPad, car connection, and my wife's for her ear buds, but no connection. It is not just the precise instructions detail, but Apple's software failure in connectivity. I also did complete network connectivity reboots and tried other possbile fix methods, no success. I had no issue whats so ever with my iPhone XR.

Apple, PLEASE assist in resolving this or I will simply return our phones or put in a warranty claim on the carrier's warranty and let them deal with Apple after those claims start to multiply rapidly.

Cpurinton,

Thank you for the video. I did that previously with a non-connectivity to a CD Boombox and it helped to connect to that but this does not help with my iPhone 16 connecting to my iPad. Any suggestions in that area?

Paul

Ordered my phone in November, immediately can’t connect to my home Bose setup, assume gremlins be gremlins, next update will clear it up. Come to see this has been an issue since September.

It’s now February 2025, and 2 updates have been released, still not fixed.

Apple, there’s a considerable number of people facing this problem, any official plans to fix this glaring issue before you release *another* phone?

This worked for me on a BMW X5. Start connecting iphone 16 to car's BT, when asking for pin, type either 0000 or 1234 and click OK (don't wait to any more messages on car's dash) as soons as you see the option to input those number on your phone, go ahead and do it. Should work. Good luck!

I don’t know why this is pinned. Many users are reporting this doesn’t address the issue. If there is no fix, that should be stated.

This falsely gives the impression that this issue can be resolved using this forum and in this specific case, that is not true.

Please revise this, thank you.

FruitHate wrote:

I don’t know why this is pinned. Many users are reporting this doesn’t address the issue. If there is no fix, that should be stated.

This falsely gives the impression that this issue can be resolved using this forum and in this specific case, that is not true.

Please revise this, thank you.

This is a user to user only forum. No one here can change the rankings of replies as no one here works for Apple or the forum.

It feels like Apple is massively ignoring this problem by not posting on it or putting out a livewire notice of its issues. I am guessing it is a major manufacturer defect they are not owning up to. My wife and I upgraded to iPhone 16 (model: MYD23LL/A) to get away from older hardware and software issues...only to run into multiple problems with iPhone 16 issues. We are ready to throw them away. I have gone through all the "recommended" fixes, made sure my software is fully up to date, even tried manufacturer's recommendation for their specific product, as well as other efforts...all to NO avail, NO success!

I NEED bluetooth connectivity to run my business and my personal life. Apple support has been no help.

So much for the claim of superirity of apple products compared to others. Been an apple user for about 6-7 years now coming over from android...thinking of going back. Apples non-response and quietness on this subject speaks volumes!

Yours,

A "tired" apple iPhone user.

-PDL

My updates are through 18.3.1 and still same problems...even after retrying all the "fixes" ...Guess it's a universal issue that affects all bluetooth so fixing one at a time by Apple generates some fixes. That means the issue was on them, not other manufacturer's.

PDL7 wrote:

You obviously haven't been reading the massive amount of posts to the contrary....

Of course I have. I'm on this forum every single day. If you think this is a massive number of people out of the millions upon millions upon millions upon millions of people who iPhone an iPhone 16 model, you haven't done math too well. The number of people complaining (and I'm not saying they don't have issues) is statistically insignificant in relation to the all the iPhone 16 owners out there.

I get that you're angry, but this is a user to user only forum. Apple isn't here, so complaining about Apple Support here won't help you. I do remember you were upset because you seemed to think you should be able to pair your iPhone with your iPad via Bluetooth. If you recall, I responded to you that this is not supported. Being upset something doesn't work the way you want it to work and something not working the way you want if not supported aren't the same thing.

In my case, I own iPhone 16 Pro Max. I now have 14 Bluetooth devices paired with my phone, with ZERO issues connecting to any of them. So no, it is NOT a universal issue. If it was, it would affect every iPhone 16 model and yet, it is not.

You're not writing anyone from Apple here. This is a user to user only forum. If you want Apple to help you, schedule an appointment at your Apple Store Genius Bar, take your phone and however many Bluetooth devices you can't pair with you and let Apple help you in-person.

-point taken lobsterghost1. It still is a shame so many software’s of today are not vetted properly anymore. Or released and the public used to vet them while the public suffers after paying for higher end products.

I go way back in this area and while I understand the numbers, it’s a low quality product world anymore.

PDL7 wrote:

You're not writing anyone from Apple here. This is a user to user only forum. If you want Apple to help you, schedule an appointment at your Apple Store Genius Bar, take your phone and however many Bluetooth devices you can't pair with you and let Apple help you in-person.

-point taken lobsterghost1. It still is a shame so many software’s of today are not vetted properly anymore. Or released and the public used to vet them while the public suffers after paying for higher end products.

I go way back in this area and while I understand the numbers, it’s a low quality product world anymore.

I don't necessarily disagree with you. But please keep in mind if this was a software issue on iPhone 16, it would be happening to everyone who has an iPhone 16. But it's not. There are several people in my office with iPhone 16. I have several friends with iPhone 16. No one I know is having any Bluetooth connectivity issues. That doesn't mean you're not. But you can't assume this is a software issue with iPhone 16. It COULD be a hardware issue however. You could have an issue with the Bluetooth Radio in your iPhone.

That's just reason I would recommend you take your phone and devices you can't pair (except your iPad, because you can't pair an iPad and iPhone via Bluetooth) to your closest Apple Store Genius Bar and let them help you in person.