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Level 1

9 points

my iPhone 5 doesnt see my MacBook Pro via Bluetooth

Anyone have any idea or steps or fixes to my bluetooth issue? While at the office, I was trying to tether my MacBook Pro to my iPhone 5 via bluetooth. My MacBook will see my phone, I attempt to pair, PassCode comes up on both devices, numbers match, but then my phone will say " The Bluetooth network is unavailable. There was an error connecting to your device's network. Make sure network access is enabled and available on your device" . I have checked my WFI network, Bluetooth network, and Personal Hotspot - Everything is set to "on" - I have reset the network connections on my phone - and I have also restarted my MacBook and reset the PRAM (press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys) but no change... this is quite frustrating.

HELP Please....

iPhone 5, iOS 6

Posted on May 1, 2013 2:15 PM

50 replies

rdalueg Author

Level 1

9 points

May 1, 2013 2:41 PM in response to wjosten

Yes it is.

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

May 1, 2013 2:42 PM in response to rdalueg

What happens when you select it, & is WiFi turned off, if not, turn it off.

rdalueg Author

Level 1

9 points

May 1, 2013 2:52 PM in response to wjosten

I click Connect (Ive turned WIFI off) - and nothing happens - It doesnt seem to try to connect for a second or anything.. just say Not Connected.

Ive just now tried to connect a new device again, Macbook discovers the phone, message says " This computer is already paired with this phone... do you wish to remove this pairing and setup the device again, i click ok - passcodes both come up and match. Macbook say "Conclusion - Congratulations! Your mobile phone is now setup with your computer. Pairing was completed successfully, a computer serial port was created, use as a personal are network (PAN). - Setup another device or Quit ... As soon as i click quit my phone comes with and says " Connection Unsuccessful " This Macbook Pro" is not supported - Forget Device.

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

May 1, 2013 3:02 PM in response to rdalueg

OK, try this:

Make sure WiFi & Bluetooth are both off on your phone. Now, turn Bluetooth on & try to pair with your Mac, while Personal Hotspot is off. If it pairs, then turn Personal Hospot on & select Bluetooth. Now, go into Network Preferences on your Mac, & select the Bluetooth PAN, and click the "connect" button.

Work now?

rdalueg Author

Level 1

9 points

May 1, 2013 3:17 PM in response to wjosten

same issue - I get to the same point "Conclusion - Congratulations! Your mobile phone is now setup with your computer..... " then my phone says "Connection Unsuccessful ...." So i dont even get to the point of turning PAN back on.

rdalueg Author

Level 1

9 points

May 1, 2013 4:23 PM in response to rdalueg

Ive got an appointment with Apple - I will let you know what the end result is.

rdalueg Author

Level 1

9 points

May 2, 2013 2:40 AM in response to wjosten

So I had the guys at Apple look at both my MacBook Pro and my iPhone 5 - MacBook needed to be looked at because there was something rolling around inside the system (the reason i brought it in) and made mention of the bluetooth issue. MacBook gets sent to the back - iPhone - Genius Tech was able to connect BT Speakers to my phone, however, he could not get the iPhone to connect to any of the MacBooks - Ran a quick diagnositcs on my phone, and (as they always do, push and suggest so i did it before i booked the Genius Bar in) DFU Restore (check) completed (setup as new phone not restored from backup) and No change. The results were never discussed however, the tech without even a second though replaced my phone with a new one, and replaced the outlet brick (was making a squeeling noise) - However i need to return tomorrow to pick up my MacBook - Was advised that the top cover w/battery and bottom cover was somehow defective, which as a result things were making a rattle? So theyre replacing all the parts. - I will post an update once i can verify the problem is resolved

May 28, 2013 2:25 PM in response to rdalueg

I'm haing exactally the same problem. I've got an iPhone 5 with a macbook pro 2013 15inch retina display and can't connect, but I can connect them both to my Apple TV.

Did you manage to get it sorted out?

rmsolis

Level 1

8 points

Jun 13, 2013 9:21 AM in response to Teflontony123

I have exactly same problem, I had been working properly with the set up for over a year. Now I cannot connect to the Internet through my iPhone neither via Bluetooth, or USB.

I am sure this is not a hardware problem, but a bug. Apple need to work on this urgently. It's affecting my work capacity, as well as I'm sure of others

Jun 17, 2013 5:50 PM in response to rdalueg

EXACT same problem here. It was working just fine three days ago and now it pairs, but refuses to connect. "Mark's Macbook Pro not supported."

I've rebooted the Mac, restarted the phone...the only thing I haven't done is the PRAM reset. Will try that next...

Digge

Level 1

0 points

Jun 24, 2013 12:35 AM in response to rdalueg

yes, I also have the same issue, with nay iPhone, be it 3GS, 4S or 5. It worked until a few days back and all of a sudden I get the error message MacBook not supported - forget device on my iPhone.

No Error Message though on the MBP.

Jun 24, 2013 6:42 AM in response to Digge

Same issue here, just switched from Nokia to iPhone 5 and realized that I can't connect my APPLE MacbookPro with my other APPLE device: iPhone 5. Isn't it strange?

I had no troubles connecting my Nokia N8 with MacBP.

Don't have time to go to the apple store and inquire about that, hopefully someone will post any solution to this issue here.

Thanks

Jun 24, 2013 8:50 AM in response to mordka1922

You cannot connect an iPhone to another device for file transfer; the only profiles supported are hands-free and tethering. (Read the rest of the thread for details). There are many ways to transfer data between an iPhone and other devices, but BlueTooth is not on the list.

The message you responded to was reporting a tethering problem.

Aug 27, 2013 3:13 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

Folks, I too am having this issue with a Verizon iPhone 5 and a brand new MacBook Pro Retina (15" display, as if that matterd). I was not wanting to transfer files (although that could come in handy), but do a bluetooth tether for an internet connection through the iphone's personal hotspot, which otherwise works great.

I chatted with an Apple agent who investigated and came back and said, and I kid you not, that the bluetooth "protocol" (not sure if that's the correct term) of the iphone 5 is not compatible with that of the MacBook Pro Retina. I said that was insane, and that surely, people at Apple on the design teams have a way of making sure that connectivity, which is nowadays pretty darned basic (i.e., bluetooth), between 2 flagship devices of the company would actually work.

He then proceeded to tell me that the OS (Mtlion) was designed so that it wouldn't be compatible. I have never heard that kind of BS from an Apple Support agent before. I couldn't believe it. I ahve not tried to tack the issue on the iphone support side, but will.

So, replace all the parts you want, but according to this guy I chatted with, it ain't gonna work. I will probably also go to the local Genious Bar to see what they have to say.

OZones

rdalueg Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 27, 2013 4:14 PM in response to OrogenousZones

Alright - Sorry I havent posted a reply online - But YES you can tether your iPhone 5 via bluetooth with your MacBook Pro Retina (im using it right now). Not sure why this can only work one way but YOU CAN NOT CONNET YOUR PHONE AND MACBOOK PRO RETINA FROM THE PHONE. YOU HAVE TO CLICK CONNECT TO NETWORK FROM YOUR MACBOOK NOT THE PHONE. CONNECTING FROM THE PHONE WILL AWAYS SAY IT CANT CONNECT. Please read the below to get your setup working.

Print or write this down as your trying this out so that your not stuck without a connection while your going through the setup.

You might not have to disable all of them, but just to humor me and for the sake of doing it like this cause thats how i did it to get it to work, On your iPhone 5 - go into the bluetooth settings - Turn it to off, Wifi settings - Turn it to off, and finally Personal Hotspot - Turn it off. ...... Go back to the bluetooth settings and switch it back on (dont pair with anything yet) - Go back to Personal Hotspot and turn it back on. You'll get a box come up " Wi-Fi is Off " Personal Hotspot will only be available......... tap on Bluetooth and USB only. Now go back into the bluetooth section (dont doi anything more on your phone once your in the bluetooth settings)

Go to you MacBook - go to your bluetooth settings and setup a new device. When your device comes up select it/double click it to pair them. The code will come up on the macbook and then a pop up on the phone with a message and that same code - be sure theyre the same code, if they are, tap PAIR. When the message on the Macbook Pro (not your iphone) Congratz, Your mobile phone is now setup to use with your computer click quit. On your phone it will appear in the deivces list but says not connected.. This is fine.. leave it. Exit out of the bluetooth settings and go to your home screen. On your Macbook / Macbook Pro w/Retina - open your bluetooth settings in the System Prefs, you'll see your phone listed. Select it and then click the gear looking icon next to the + - (plus and minus ) icons or at the top on the task bar next to the wifi symbol and a menu will come down, select Connect to Network. It will change on the macbook to "Connected" and now you should see the blue banar Personal Hotspot on your phone. You can also click the bluetooth icon at the top of your screen and go down to your phone under devices, and click on Connect to network. You cannot connect to your phone from the phone.. You can only connect to your phone over bluetooth from your MacBook Pro. While its connected you can check the bluetooth settings on your phone to see if its connected. It should work fine. Oh, and you can turn the Wi-Fi back on in the WiFi settings on your phone.

my iPhone 5 doesnt see my MacBook Pro via Bluetooth