Bluetooth connection issues on iPhone 16 Pro

ALL new iPhones have a one year warranty. Apple will replace a defective iPhone for either a new or refurbished iPhone, at their option.

I seen a comment that if you used the backup from cloud you will have this issue. I used that option and have had no problems at all with Bluetooth connection. However my husband wasn’t able to use the backup from cloud option and has had nothing but issues. So that is definitely not a 100% guaranteed issue.

I went from the iPhone14 Pro Max to the iphone16 Pro Max and had the same Bluetooth connectivity issues that everyone seems to be having. I came to this forum for the “fix”, which didn’t work. I was still within the 14 day return window, so I returned it and went back to the iPhone14. Never had an issue with that version. I’m going to wait until they get this figured out before investing a small fortune in a device that should have superior performance!

Same. The devices that worked fine on my iphone 12 can no longer keep connection with iphone 16. It seems to be a software issue as it connects once in a while but forgets how to connect again. A restart can fix it for one more time which shows the issue is on iphone's side

Bluetooth connectivity has not been optimum for my iPhone 16 Pro. I couldn't connect to my car's Bluetooth from the phone, BUT it can connect if I attempt connection from my car to the phone. Once, my Airpods Pro 2 suddenly stopped emitting sounds even though it showed it was still connected. When I restarted my phone, my Airpods made the "disconnected" sound, which means it wasn't the Airpods' problem.

My phone also regularly sends me notifications of my Airpods being "left behind" although it's right next to me, unused.

Somehow fixed the issue on my own, don’t ask me how. I guess I just got lucky. I kept tinkering with my 2950-20 Milwaukee pack out. On my truck I deleted every thing that was stored for Bluetooth and reconnected. My hearing aids, I got help from Starkey/Thrive.

Good afternoon. My case was. I've restored the network settings a few times without success. I did the restore without copying data and to no avail. However, today I tried it again after a while without pairing my iPhone with the car's Bluetooth and it worked. I can listen to music via Spotify and the music doesn't stop. I hope it stays that way.

I have an iPhone 16 Pro Max running iOS 18.2.1, and I’m still having issues with certain (but not all) of my devices — even after resetting network settings and forgetting/re-pairing them.

For the Bluetooth kit installed in my car:

• Bluetooth will not reconnect automatically.

• If I forget the device on the phone but not the car, I get an “XXXX wants to pair” modal to show on the phone when my car starts only if keep Bluetooth settings open on the phone.

For a Eufy smart scale:

• Bluetooth connection was spotty.

• Forgetting the device on my phone left me unable to re-add it via Bluetooth, so the smart scale is now a dumb one.

Apple devices like my watch and AirPods have experienced no issues. I’m also having no issues automatically reconnecting to a cheap Tribit Bluetooth speaker. This feels like a software bug that’s as yet unaddressed.

For your smart scale, you say bluetooth is spotty. I'm assuming this means it works sometimes, right? How far from your iPhone is your scale? Bluetooth has limited range. Depending on the Bluetooth version in the scale, it can be as short as 30 feet. For example a device with Bluetooth 5.3 has a range of 33 feet and if there are metal, brick or block walls between your phone and the scale, that can be significantly lower.

Even if you forget a device, all you have to do is put is in pairing mode per the manufacturers directions to pair it again. It simply won't connect unless it's in pairing mode first. Then you open bluetooth settings, look for the device and tap it to connect. Having a fatalistic view won't help you. Doing the right steps will.

This was never a problem on my 10 before I upgraded. My watch, HRM, and speakers could all be operating simultaneously with no issue. Now, my phone is constantly kicking my watch off the Bluetooth connection all through out the day and won’t reconnect. Same problem with the dog collars. Again the only device that changed in my personal configuration is the phone, and this was never a problem before

I was very lucky that the Tech Person at my local Apple Store was, in fact, a Genius! I am not sure exactly what he did, but I have not had any issues since (knock on wood). I am thinking that maybe you might consider going back to your local store if you have the issue again. But from what I am reading, we have to get lucky with who helps us. Good Luck!

lobsterghost1 wrote

… 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.

Thanks. Contacting Apple Support, and/or leaving a bug report at apple.com/feedback, is very good advice for anyone experiencing this issue — or any other hardware or software problem — who hasn't done so already. I think it's advice that has been offered in this thread a few times already, in fact.

These forums have always been a fantastic resource for users to share their experiences, and I can certainly see how any particular thread would seem irrelevant — or even useless — to a user who didn't share its particular issue. However, since this thread's topic is an issue I'm experiencing, it's a useful place for me to hear from other users about what they're doing to troubleshoot, isolate, or resolve it.

(And for my part, I hope sharing my own user experience is similarly useful to other users who find their way to this thread because they're having the same problem. I think that seems likely, in fact, given that as of today this thread has been live for five months, is 279 posts long, and has been viewed more than 68,000 times.)

But I agree — if I didn't have any relevant experiences of my own to share, or advice to offer that was specific and relevant to this issue, it would be best for everyone if I just moved on.

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?

Recently got the 16E. Don’t think this is isolated to just the 16 but an IOS issue. Have been to the Apple Store 4 times. Spoke with apple support. Every time it’s the blame game not what is the issue. Tried wiping the phone, using a backup, factory reset, resetting networks settings, resetting all settings. Nothing has worked