Bluetooth connection issues on iPhone 16 Pro

I have a fix. I just keep my old iPhone 11 Pro in the car. I use WiFi to update it, so I have all my music on it. It still connects to all my Bluetooth devices, unlike my 16 Pro Max.

So now I can listen to music while driving.

I visited the Apple Store too. Tried to get my issues addressed, but they said my phone was fine.

Suggested maybe getting a newer vehicle may help with Bluetooth. (not joking).

Use your old iPhone, the one that works, maybe at some point in the future Apple will address this.

I made a video demonstrating me connecting the 11 Pro and playing music in my car, filmed with the 16 pro Max, but I can’t post it here.

After studying this issue for over a year I’ve narrowed it down to a Bluetooth issue with the Qualcomm cell modem in the pro max models since the 15. How I diagnosed this is that in Airplane Mode the issue disappears. In the EU, traveling with the same 16 pro max no issues. Only on the US. So, airplane mode disables the cell modem. In the EU the cell towers broadcast differently. Don’t know exactly how. But it seems to be an issue only on the US, which leads me to the conclusion it’s an incompatibility between the cell modem and 2.4 GHz interference. BT operates at 2.4 GHz btw. Further analysis: The Bluetooth protocol of AAC that the iPhone uses seems to be the key. So, my $179 workaround was to purchase LDAC Bluetooth headphones (Anker earbuds) and use a USBC dongle from Questyle (found it via a YT review on Amazon, released in September 2025). I setup the earbuds as normal, set up the Questyle USBC device, disconnect the earbuds from the iPhone BT settings, connect them to the Questyle device. VOILA! No more Bluetooth issues. Zero. Also works with other Anker LDAC Bluetooth headphones btw. Took me more than a year and endless frustration to solve this. Hopefully with the 17 pro max Apple will be using a new cellular modem that addresses this issue but I’m not holding my breath. Their support is non responsive on this issue. I suspect they know about it but don’t intend to fix it via a replacement. So, LDAC, 2.4 GHz interference from US cell towers, and a poorly tested cellular modem. Thanks, Apple. Bang on lack of thorough testing.

Had several issues with Bluetooth connection migrating from 13Pro to 16Pro. Disconnect of Bluetooth and resetting all network settings solved them all except one. My TagHeuer connected won’t connect still (ios18.0.1). Genius send me to developer of watch. But new connection on my wife’s 13 running 18.0.1 goes smootly???? So Apple fix this!

Reset network settings worked

I have a 16 promax. The other day my car bluetooth would play but no sound was coming out.

i “forget this device”. Restarted phone. Reconnected to the car. In the bluetooth setting on the phone, chose the car, clicked the info button, went to device type and chose the car stereo. Worked fine after that.

hopefully this might help someone else!

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!

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.

Remove the old iPhones from your head unit. Name your iPhone correctly in Settings > General > About > Name (first item). Restart your iPhone and pair with head unit.

I just spoke to Apple support .

Turn off everything

Turn phone back on .

Turn bluetooth device on .

Then it connected .

Go figure.

Turn it off and turn it back on !

Case solved with the update 18.1.

Upgrading to IOS 18.1 solved my problem. My phone connected via Bluetooth to my Cadillac Cue Infotainment system and no more issues.

Is the 15 Pro nearby and powered on?

Finally got all my bluetooth devices to connect reliably. It turns out the iPhone 16 pro max was fine all along even if the transition from the previous model was not seamless as before. The fix for me was to use the Google search bar with a query such as "XXX issues with iPhone 16?" where XXX is the Bluetooth device or its app. The resulting advice worked for me but is specific to each device.

After hours fighting with this and with tech support from Apple and Verizon, I found a fix for connecting to my car. If I start a phone call before I start my car, it will transfer to bluetooth and stay connected. So until there's a real fix, I will make a call to a dummy number right before going anywhere