iphone 5 - not getting alert tone when using bluetooth

I have found this with my vehicle as well. I have a feeling this has to do with the Bluetooth going into a sleep mode in the vehicle. When my phone rings, it takes a short period before the ring actually starts in the car, but has already shown on the phone and the phone has vibrated. I believe it also has to do with the short SMS tones. By the time the Bluetooth in the car wakes up, the tone is already completed.

The fact you hear the tone while on the phone has to do with the same issue, the Bluetooth is awake because you are on the phone, and that is why you can hear it. I have realized the same thing with the mail tone.

I don't worry about it so much since we shouldn't be looking at our devices to text or mail while moving. Even reading these things is dangerous. I'm waiting for more vehicles to support texting through the vehicle. That is not that available yet. You would be able to have the vehicle "read" the message to you and you would be able to dictate a response without having to look at the device.

I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I have an iPhone 4S with iOS 6.1.3, so it is not just the iPhone 5. It has been this way for over a year, which would include several iOS versions. I can try the vehicle question you have later. I don't have access to the vehicle right now.

I'm not sure if any of the web based streaming apps will play over Bluetooth in a vehicle. Since this is a sound app, I'm not sure it Bluetooth supports that, but it would take someone other than me to test that, since I don't stream music that way. I do use Bluetooth on occasion to play my iTunes music in the vehicle and that works just fine. The restriction for text tones may be based in the ability of the Bluetooth stack to support it, if the device does not support the texting portion of Bluetooth.

If you believe this is something Apple needs to be aware of, then you need to let them know this. This can only be done via the feedback page at www.apple.com/feedback and click on the appropriate link.

EDIT: Here are the appropriate support documents about Bluetooth. One is about what profiles the iPhone supports, and the other is about Bluetooth FAQs. It could be also that the vehicle does not support the latest Bluetooth profiles. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3647 http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3887

Message was edited by: ChrisJ4203

When playing the app, you should have the option to choose what audio source you want for the app. That is what allows you to decide whether to use the phone or bluetooth when answering the phone. I would guess there is a small box in the lower right corner with an arrow in it. That should open the selection box.

I would be curious to know if your friend's phone works differently in your vehicle. This would be the true test. Or, if his device works in his vehicle and yours does not. It is kind of hard to say it is different with different phones in different vehicles. I know testing my son's iPhone 5 in my vehicle while on a trip resulted in the same behavior as my iPhone 4S.

The problem is that I have hearing aids and can play through them for phone calls. So I leave the bluetooth on all the time. But I get no text tones. This is not acceptable in any way. I am strongly considering going back to blackberry. It worked perfectly there.

JVH

Interesting. My 5 has stopped the sound alerts, wherever the iPhone is. However, I too was surprised that, although the phone sounds through Bluetooth and the handsfree system in the car, the music audio feature will not!

I have no solution to offer, though.

The reason you are having this issue is not only is your phone Bluetooth but now so is your audio. Any sound your phone makes is sent through Bluetooth to your car. This is why you hear it on your phone calls. if you changed your car to Bluetooth audio you would hear any sound your phone makes. Like alerts, music, etc.

To stop the alert tones from being sent to the connected bluetooth device, follow the steps below (I have tested them on iPhone 5 running iOS 7.1.2).

1) Swipe up to display and access the control center.

2) On the right of the AirDrop cell you should be able to see another cell with the name of your bluetooth device. For example, when my Sony MBH10 bluetooth hands-free device is connected, the name of that cell is "MBH10".

3) Tap on that cell and you should get a list that allows you to choose where alert tones should be sent to. Select "iPhone". The name of the cell should now become "AirPlay".

That's it 🙂! Alert tones should now be played by your iPhone instead of being sent to the connected bluetooth device.

Enjoy!

Thank you akoutalos. It worked, I'm so happy been trying to figure this out for months.

I was having this issue on my phone, not just in the car, but even in my home. This solution did the trick. Thanks for posting. Note to Apple: This should be more intuitive.

Sorry to revive an old thread.

While this will do the trick, it also routes all audio to the phone speakers, such as music or game sounds.

I spoke with Apple support and was told that this issue is either a bug in the iOS system that they haven't addressed yet, or it is how they designed it. My issue with this is, for me, the entire point of having a bluetooth with AD2P is to be able to listen to music or audio from movies through my headset but still be able to hear my ringer if the phone is in my pocket or belt clip.

The only solution I was given was to go to http://apple.com/feedback and request this be possible in a future update either as a feature or a bug fix. If tons of people start requesting this then they should put it in the next iOS update or the following one.

I had an HTC One M8 prior to getting my iPhone 6 and using the same BT headset I have now, I didn't have to change setting to be able to hear my alert tones from my phone or music through my BT. This shouldn't even be an issue, it should be standard.

An old thread, I know but I thought that if someone searched for a solution like myself they'd come across this.

The simple solution for me was to connect my iPhone to my car stereo via usb and bluetooth. Of course this only works if your stereo has ipod control, a usb connection and you're listening to your iPod.

I'm under the assumption that the reason alerts are silenced is due to safety concerns, a way to prevent people from checking their texts etc. while driving.

thanks guys for all the input! this thread has gotta win the award for being the most constructive thread I've seen to date - thanks for just accepting this issue how it is 🙂

A reminder to file a bug report with Apple - I did it just now and it only takes a minute:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

for the record, the issue still exists in iOS 8.1.3 on an iPhone 5s.

patience is a virtue 🙂

ps. I forgot to mention that I use my bluetooth speaker in my room all the time for convenience (look ma, no wires!) so i don't hear alerts just like you don't hear them in the car.

Hey all

I have an iphone 4/ios 6 that has decided not to play alerts or audio to the speakers.... Phone ringer works fine.

Will however play all those to bluetooth or headset.

I forgot to disconnect from a rental car and I think that was the cause.

I can't find an option like the one mentioned above.

When I have music player on phone speakers thee is no vol control bar as well. Shows up for BT and HS

I've done power downs etc. No luck.

Does anyone have any ideas.

Many thanks

hugh