After updating my iPhone 14 Pro to iOS 26.2.1, I stopped receiving notifications on my Bluetooth accessory. Calls work fine, but all other alerts are missing.
I’ve already reset "Location & Privacy" and re-paired the device, but the "Allow Notifications" prompt never appears. Any advice on how to fix this without a full factory restore?
Not all third-party Bluetooth devices support notification mirroring. For instance, third-party headphones or audio devices typically do not transmit notification alert sounds, whereas smartwatches and car infotainment systems often do.
When you connect a Bluetooth device that does support notifications (such as a smartwatch), iOS will prompt you to allow notification sharing. Was this permission granted?
Also, you haven’t mentioned which Bluetooth device you’re trying to send notifications to—this detail matters, since notification support depends entirely on the device.
The notification sync issue cannot be attributed to the iOS 26.2.1 update. Many things can cause phone problems. If you tell people you think it's an iOS update, it might make it harder to fix or find a solution for the real issue.
Remember, the right question often leads to the solution!
Was/Is your device Jailbroken? If that's the situation, please be informed that attributing the issues to iOS updates may not be accurate.
iOS updates aim to enhance user experience, boost security, and fix bugs rather than disrupt core features. The majority of the issues after updates might stem from underlying, unmentioned factors. Updates won't typically alter personal data but may refine settings or features. Backup before major updates for safety. Review Apple's update details and backup advice for a smooth process.
Kindly consider checking your settings and addressing any device issues before attributing the issue to external factors. This could be a pure coincidence that the iOS update affected the iPhone functions.
Before initiating a standard iOS update, it's advisable to create a backup. Have you completed this step? If yes, proceed with the restoration from the backup.
See what each update does: OS — iOS 26, About iOS 18 Updates, About iOS 17 Updates, About iOS 16 Updates, About iOS 15 Updates, About iOS 14 Updates, About iOS 13 Updates, About iOS 12 Updates, and so on...
Pair a Bluetooth accessory · Go to Settings, then tap Bluetooth and turn on Bluetooth. · Under My Devices, look for the accessory you want to ...Read more
Connect a third-party Bluetooth accessory to your iPhone ...
Thank you for the suggestions. To clarify the technical side of the issue:
Compatibility & History: The accessory is a Redmi Watch 5, Crucially, notification sync worked flawlessly on this specific iPhone 14 Pro with this same accessory prior to the iOS 26.2.1 update
Cross-Testing: I have also confirmed it works with another iPhone 15 Pro on the same iOS 26.2.1 build, which isolates the issue to the software state of my specific unit.
Permissions & UI: I granted all permissions during pairing. The 'Share System Notifications' toggle is ON, and global 'Show Previews' are set to 'Always'.
Despite these settings, the ANCS service fails to push alerts. This points to a corrupted TCC/Bluetooth database index on this device following the update. Is there a way to force a re-index without a full restore?
Notifications sync failed on iPhone 14 Pro after iOS 26.2.1 update
