Bluetooth connection issues on iPhone 16 Pro

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.)

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

PDL7 wrote:

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

Also, you CANNOT pair an iPhone and iPad via Bluetooth. It's NEVER been supported, so if this is your primary issue, there's a reason you can't pair your iPhone with your iPad via Bluetooth. Taking your iPad and iPhone to your Apple Store would be a waste of time when they aren't designed to pair via Bluetooth. This is why Apple has Continuity for moving from one device to another.

See this --> Use Continuity to work across Apple devices - Apple Support

Steve2272 wrote:

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?

You aren't writing anyone from Apple here. This is a user to user only forum, which Apple doesn't participate, nor read for user feedback.

What I find amazing is you've been waiting for what appears to be a long time for an update on this. What did Bose suggest when you contacted them about the issues you're having with connection? I would have contacted them long ago as opposed to thinking an update might come, especially since the vast majority of the millions upon millions upon millions of iPhone 16 owners aren't having any Bluetooth connectivity issues. Like me, on two iPhone 16s (16 Pro and 16 Pro Max) both with multiple Bluetooth devices paired with them reliably.

PDL7 wrote:

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

Paul, Handoff uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to link an iPhone to an iPad using the same Apple account, and no Bluetooth pairing should be necessary. Is there any chance that's what you're referring to?

This is the Bluetooth pairing modal I referred to in my earlier posts.

1. It seems to appear only if I have Bluetooth settings open when I start the car.
2. The pairing connection won't be restored at all unless this modal appears and I tap "Pair".

If I don't have the Bluetooth settings screen open so this modal can appear, my only option is to forget the car to remove it from the My Devices list, wait for it to reappear under Other Devices, and then re‑pair.

Is anyone else seeing something like this?

mgrad92 wrote:

1. This is the Bluetooth pairing modal I referred to in my earlier posts.

It seems to appear only if I have Bluetooth settings open when I start the car.

2. The pairing connection won't be restored at all unless this modal appears and I tap "Pair".

If I don't have the Bluetooth settings screen open so this modal can appear, my only option is to forget the car to remove it from the My Devices list, wait for it to reappear under Other Devices, and then re‑pair.

Is anyone else seeing something like this?

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/72f740ed-4658-4ad2-8f18-d4e1d09c8f95

Nope. My phone connects with my car and every other of the now more than 8 Bluetooth devices I have paired to my phone, reliably every time.

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.

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.

If you're asking why a particular post is listed as the "Top-Ranking" reply, that's because it got the largest number of up-votes. It's not pinned. If some other post in the thread gets more votes, it will change.

People are supposed to up-vote posts that are helpful. However, lots of people up-vote posts simply because the agree with them. Unfortunately, that results in some rants ending up as top-ranked.

Over the years, the forum has had a variety of different systems for recognizing the "best" posts. They all have their pros and cons.

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.

r4lf wrote:

I have noticed bluetooth issues with connecting a xbox game controller. I always have to do forget device before I can actually pair the controller. On a side note, I use the xbox game controller on many devices (iPad, MacBook, iPhone) and I understand that I have to repair when switching devices, however, this happens even if I want to connect to the same device I had it connected to before...

Interesting! Have you had this issue with more than one controller, or with more than just one Apple device? And if you power on the controller while you have Bluetooth settings open on your iPhone/iPad/MacBook, do you ever see a modal like this?