iPhone 16 pro with iOS 26.0.1 bluetooth connectivity issues

"Do you happen to have Windows Phone Link installed? I did, which was set up about the same time as when iOS 26-26.0.1 came out. I uninstalled Phone Link and everything works fine now."

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Are you getting this issue with iOS26.1?

Report your Findings to Apple:

These are just user-to-usr forums. So, if you are still not getting this issue, then I recommend informing Apple of this bug and its fix. Apple may not get back to you directly, but the more feedback they receive on this, the more they will know what is occurring, and what bug fixes to include in updates to come. Apple will know nothing of your findings, if you don't report it to them.

1. Go Here: Feedback - iPhone - Apple
2. Select: "Bug Report" for the "Feedback Type"
3. Comment: on the issue, and the fix, and how you came across the fix. Include the URL of this thread.
4. Proceed from there as necessary

This isn’t a device issue, it’s an IOS 26 issue with Bluetooth - Bluetooth disconnects, freezes, won’t connect to anything, and only an iPhone reboot will short term resolve the issue, until it happens again

has been happening since the Beta version

“iPhone 16 pro with iOS 26.0.1 bluetooth connectivity issues“

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To the OP and ALL those Affected…

Report this to Apple:

This seems to be catching on. So, Do your Part: Provide Apple with feedback on this, letting them know about this issue.  Apple may not get back to you directly, but the more feedback they receive on this, the more they will know what is occurring, and what bug fixes to include in updates to come. Apple will know nothing of this, if you don't report it to them.

1. Go Here: Feedback - iPhone - Apple
2. Select: "Bug Report" for the "Feedback Type"
3. Comment: that this all began after installing an update. Include the URL of this thread.
4. Proceed from there as necessary

Yep, all bluetooth connectivity is impacted. For airpods pro 2, I need to restart my phone 50% of the time I attempt to use with with my iPhone on ios 26.

I don’t use AirPods, but I’m still experiencing Bluetooth issues. Updating from version 26 to 26.0.1 provided some improvement, but it didn’t fully resolve the problems. My continuous glucose monitor now works intermittently, and my phone continues to randomly disconnect from CarPlay.

Updated to 26.0.1 and using Iphone 14 . After the update major Bluetooth issues. Cannot take calls, does not find bluetooth devices, cannot sync, loses connection once connected. Super frustrating. Have submitted tickets with Apple. Its so frustrating its moments when you need to get a new phone and start thinking about Android options. Apple seem to release only the latest iPhones have bluetooth issues, simply not true. I cannot wait for them to recognize the issue. Issue is with EVERY bluetooth device including wireless Carplay

Also - I have done every reset possible including deleting my entire phone data and settings and starting again. Still the problem exists.

17 Pro Max with AirPods Pro 2 here. As of 26.0.1 now get stuttering even when the AirPods are only 15-20 inches from the source (iPhone or Watch Ultra). The stuttering is intermittent and persistent.

Yep, I’ve got a similar issue with my AirPods 4. When I try to use them, the iPhone recognizes the AirPods, but the audio doesn’t work and Spotify (and other apps) crash. I also found a strange file in the Data folder named: stacks+audiomxd

The update didn't fix Bluetooth connectivity issues on my 17 Pro Max either. Connection to my son's Apple Carplay unit (one of those "on the dashboard" jobs for older cars) drops in and out every 20 seconds or so making it completely unusable. I have no problems though connecting to my more modern Carplay in my EV.

Iphone 14 pro at 26.0.1 stutters when connected to Toyota 2014 Tacoma. Worked great prior to iOS 26. Tried 26.0.1, unpairing and forgetting all devices on truck and iPhone, reset network settings, forgot all data on truck audio. Still stutters, unusable.

I am even having bluetooth audio issue with my bluetooth car device. It is a standard Volvo media device built in 2019. I am always listening to a podcast on my daily commute and since iOS 26 I am experiencing a kind of audio scramble after around 1 to 2 minutes of listening to the podcast. It takes 15-20 seconds and after that, the audio stream is fine again. Does not make any sense to me. I did not have that with previous iOS Version. I am also using an iPhone 16 Pro.

This is the issue I'm experiencing.

My wife's phone keeps connecting to my AirPods Pro 2... that's clearly not the weird part.

The weird part, is that she has, on three separate occasions, forgotten the device (my airpods) on her phone, which simultaneously removes the connection from my iPhone! I have to go through pairing my airpods back to my phone.

We just experienced the 3rd instance and we're going to watch her bluetooth devices list and see when/if my airpods reappear; we just confirmed they don't immediately appear after pairing to my phone.

I don't understand how this can even happen.

PS - This may not be related, but she had two other pairs listed in her devices that she didn't recognize... Our guess (a wild guess) is that these were old pairs of airpods (1 pair stolen and 1 pair warrantied by apple) that have been reactivated and the names we're seeing may be the new users of the devices.

I am having similar Bluetooth connectivity issues with the iOS 26. I have tried all the same troubleshooting techniques to no avail. And I can’t use any of my Bluetooth speakers with my iPhone 16 because of the software upgrade. There are so many glitches with iOS 26, I wish I would’ve waited another three months.

I purchased my phone back in August, and I’ve had this issue since purchasing it on iOS 18. Was recommended to upgrade to iOS 26 by support, but still haven’t tested it on the new iOS.

this thread has me concerned it will persist. Support verified there’s no hardware issue via the diagnostics, so it’s clearly a software, firmware, or codec issue. What’s the deal?