Back in early March of 2025, my IPhone said it was connected to a “Pixel 8 Pro” via bluetooth. I noticed it as i was going to connect my IPhone to my truck to listen to music. I have never owned a google phone, nor does anyone i live with or know personally. Some clarification on why this has happened would be greatly appreciated, as i have been worrying about this too much. Thanks.
iPhone 16 Pro, iOS 18
When you allow an App to access Bluetooth, they can create a bluetooth connection. This does not use the pairing process and the one I would suspect is Google Home. The protocol they use for the Bluetooth connections is BLE and those are not removed from the Bluetooth settings page by tapping the blue info button, they are removed from the App that allowed the connection and in your case that would be Google Home. You may be able to review the previous devices that Google Home used in the app or settings for the app. It would be listed under Devices.
Users who bought a Tesla were concerned when they noticed strange alphanumeric devices showing connected in Bluetooth Settings and they were unable to remove them, but then they realized that the connection was the Tesla and it was the Tesla app that allowed it to be connected to their phone.
Spotify uses BLE for connections to speakers for audio output and you connect those speakers in the Spotify app, not by pairing in Bluetooth. I am not aware of Spotify using another phone as a speaker though. It may have identified a Google speaker as a phone, but I have seen no evidence that would be the case. Just revoke the Bluetooth permission unless you do connect to a speaker when using the app.
Since you no longer use the Google Home app, then delete it and turn Bluetooth back on. I suspect you will not see that appear in your Settings again and if you do, then come back here immediately so we can figure this out for you.
When you allow an App to access Bluetooth, they can create a bluetooth connection. This does not use the pairing process and the one I would suspect is Google Home. The protocol they use for the Bluetooth connections is BLE and those are not removed from the Bluetooth settings page by tapping the blue info button, they are removed from the App that allowed the connection and in your case that would be Google Home. You may be able to review the previous devices that Google Home used in the app or settings for the app. It would be listed under Devices.
Users who bought a Tesla were concerned when they noticed strange alphanumeric devices showing connected in Bluetooth Settings and they were unable to remove them, but then they realized that the connection was the Tesla and it was the Tesla app that allowed it to be connected to their phone.
Spotify uses BLE for connections to speakers for audio output and you connect those speakers in the Spotify app, not by pairing in Bluetooth. I am not aware of Spotify using another phone as a speaker though. It may have identified a Google speaker as a phone, but I have seen no evidence that would be the case. Just revoke the Bluetooth permission unless you do connect to a speaker when using the app.
Since you no longer use the Google Home app, then delete it and turn Bluetooth back on. I suspect you will not see that appear in your Settings again and if you do, then come back here immediately so we can figure this out for you.
iPhone doesn’t automatically connect to Bluetooth devices. Outside of some connections related to Apple devices sharing the same Apple Account, manual steps are required for Bluetooth connections.
iPhone will display other nearby devices offering Bluetooth audio.
iPhone does also connect to previously-paired devices, and previously-connected device names can be changed from “Headphones” to ”Pixel 8 Pro”, for instance.
If it happens again, screenshot the offer.
Also review apps that you have allowed Bluetooth connections at Settings > Privacy & Security > Bluetooth. Anything listed there?
You will need to have the Pixel 8 Pro showing connected to your phone to troubleshoot. Trying to troubleshoot something that happened 2 months ago is going to be very difficult.
You will only get a Pairing Unsuccessful message when it was initiated on your device. You will not get a message if another device attempts to pair to your phone.
Now that your Google app is deleted, the only thing that should be showing under Settings > Privacy & Security > Bluetooth is your Spotify app. Turn off the Bluetooth access for Spotify and try connecting to your Truck again like you did yesterday. If you don't see the connection like you did, then turn on Bluetooth access for Spotify and if it pops up again, you have found the source of the problem.
Did it actually say it was connected, or did you just see the Pixel in the list when you opened bluetooth settings?
More than likely, you were just seeing a device nearby in discoverable mode. It wasn't actually connected to it.
ProppedDaisy2728 wrote:
Im not sure what you mean by in messages? It was listed in my devices as connected. I rarely use bluetooth so it was the only device there. The “i” symbol in the blue circle that’s supposed to be on the right hand side of a connected devices under my devices, was not there. Meaning i could remove it.
Is this Pixel device presently listed in the My Devices section shown in Settings > Bluetooth ?
This listing in the My Devices section, and not in the Other Devices section.
Is the Apple Account you are using shared with any others?
ProppedDaisy2728 wrote:
it 100% was connected. It said connected. Nobody has ever used this phone except me and i did not authorize any connections. The blue i in the bubble wasn’t there either.
You know a lot about Apple, it was 100% connected, and it was shown in blue.
Was this showing in blue in Messages?
Is this Pixel device listed in the My Devices in Settings > Bluetooth, as would be expected?
Im not sure what you mean by in messages? It was listed in my devices as connected. I rarely use bluetooth so it was the only device there. The “i” symbol in the blue circle that’s supposed to be on the right hand side of a connected devices under my devices, was not there. Meaning i could remove it.
No, this happened in early march. I immediately turned off bluetooth to remove it. Its not listed anywhere on my phone anymore as i have kept bluetooth turned off for my safety. I’m thinking it could’ve been bluesarfing, or some other kind of bluetooth hack.
ProppedDaisy2728 wrote:
No, this happened in early march. I immediately turned off bluetooth to remove it. Its not listed anywhere on my phone anymore as i have kept bluetooth turned off for my safety. I’m thinking it could’ve been bluesarfing, or some other kind of bluetooth hack.
If the device does not show as paired, it was not paired, or was previously unpaired via Settings > Bluetooth
The thing is, I don’t use bluetooth much anyways. I now don’t want to use it at all anymore because i am nervous that it will happen again. Yesterday, as i was trying to connect my phone to my truck again, something popped up and said pairing unsuccessful with a device that was many random numbers and letters like D2CE6:G6L7R: and more letters and numbers after. I have already deleted the google home app. I don’t know how it would be called a pixel 8 pro and be connected. The google home has been unplugged for years.
i know a lot about apple, but this i’ve never seen before. it was connected fully, and the blue i wasn’t there so i couldn’t remove it
it 100% was connected. It said connected. Nobody has ever used this phone except me and i did not authorize any connections. The blue i in the bubble wasn’t there either.
it was paired, then i removed it? i said CONNECTED lol
Nothing had access to my bluetooth except spotify and google home for some reason, i had a google home that i haven’t used in years but never a google phone. Just worried i was hacked.
Why did my IPhone’s bluetooth auto connect to another phone?
