Bluetooth issues on iPhone after iOS 26.5 update

Perhaps a long shot:

Do you have a 3rd party VPN installed, even if you are not using it? If so, delete the VPN profile in Settings/General/VPN & Device Management/VPN, then restart your device. Don't just turn it off; delete the profile. Updates sometimes "break" VPN, and it needs to be removed. If that fixes it, you can try reinstalling VPN, but probably shouldn't.

Perhaps a long shot:

Do you have a 3rd party VPN installed, even if you are not using it? If so, delete the VPN profile in Settings/General/VPN & Device Management/VPN, then restart your device. Don't just turn it off; delete the profile. Updates sometimes "break" VPN, and it needs to be removed. If that fixes it, you can try reinstalling VPN, but probably shouldn't.

That sounds like you may have an issue with the Bluetooth radio in your iPhone. I'd schedule an appointment at your Apple Store Genius Bar to have your phone tested --> Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Had exact same problem with Oticon hearing aids, phone could not even find them, much less pair with them.

I removed then reinstalled the Oticon Companion app. Followed the steps on the app to pair the hearing aids, and now my phone has paired to them

I was having Bluetooth connection issues. Sometimes to devices I have been using for years. It seemed to correspond with installation of phone link on my computer and link to windows on my phone. Yesterday, I got rid of phone link on my computer and link to windows on my phone. Restarted to be sure. Seems to be working again. It wasn't the restart, I had done that previously.

Good news and bad news! I earlier reported that I could no longer pair my hearing aids after upgrading to iOS 26.5. I had my aids checked (at a cost of $85) and they said they needed repair about $700 each. Fortunately, I decided to wait for an iOS upgrade. After upgrading to 26.5.2 the other day my hearing aids once again work perfectly.

However, now I’m having email issues. After numerous test sequences (with the help of Chat) it is clear that Apple's Mail is failing when I send email from my Yahoo account and indicate a backup to that same account in the cc or bcc fields. Apple (and it is Apple) fails to recognize any of the addresses as legal and doesn’t send the message!

BertieLagerschmecken wrote:

Having exact same problem with Oticon hearing aids. No issues for years pairing hearing aids until the 26.5 update.

We've seen a lot of people come on here with issues about Oticon Hearing Aids. This is something you'll need to address with Oticon. Apple doesn't make them and Apple can't control them. They may simply need an update to work with iOS 26.5. But Oticon is who you need to reach out to.

Having exact same problem with Oticon hearing aids. No issues for years pairing hearing aids until the 26.5 update.

Check out the Top Ranking reply at the top of this page, and read the rest of the thread.

Since updating to iOS 26.5 (iPhone 16 pro) I can no longer pair my Oticon hearing aids. I’ve tried all the suggestions; phone, hearing aid, Bluetooth - on and off. I’ve done a network reset. Rarely one of my aids shows up and I actually connected once but it immediately dropped out. But almost 100% of the time my aids aren’t found. (I had no problems connecting before 26.5.)

Any thoughts?

I have these issues too with my iPhone 16 Pro, and cannot connect to my airpods since yesterday, and also can’t connect to the car’s bluetooth. But if I restart my phone, it will work for excactly 1 time after the restart, but then refuse to connect on subsequent attempts. I’m hoping an update solves this…

Reset network did not work for me.