Q: iphone 5s cannot bluetooth pair with macbook air

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jdrobnsn1

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Q: iphone 5s cannot bluetooth pair with macbook air

I just upgraded my iPhone from 4 to 5s. I am trying to use Bluetooth to pair to my mid-2011 MBA (OS X 10.9.4). The MBA sends a pairing code to the phone, then lists the phone as connected, which displays the MBA on the device list as Not Connected. If I try to connect, the phone pops up an alert: 'Connection unsuccessful "MBA" not supported'.

Why can't I connect? I need it for tethering, not data transfer.

iPhone 5s, iOS 7.1.2

Posted on Aug 14, 2014 2:58 PM

I have this question too

Solved

sberman

Level 8 (41,043 points)

A:

From your Mac's point of view, tethering will set up a WiFi (hotspot) network that the Mac connects to.

iOS: Understanding Personal Hotspot

Posted on Aug 14, 2014 3:00 PM

Q: iphone 5s cannot bluetooth pair with macbook air

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by jdrobnsn1,

jdrobnsn1 Aug 14, 2014 2:59 PM in response to jdrobnsn1
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Aug 14, 2014 2:59 PM in response to jdrobnsn1

Whoops. The PHONE lists the MBA as not connected.
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by jdrobnsn1,

jdrobnsn1 Aug 14, 2014 3:12 PM in response to sberman
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Aug 14, 2014 3:12 PM in response to sberman

This is too weird... The MBA is listed as not connected on the phone, except when tethering. The status changes to Connected while tethered, then back to Not Connected when tether is broken.
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by sberman,

sberman Aug 14, 2014 3:18 PM in response to jdrobnsn1
Level 8 (41,043 points)

Aug 14, 2014 3:18 PM in response to jdrobnsn1

Bear in mind the MacBook Air and iPhone cannot use Bluetooth to communicate ... other than for tethering. I think when you refer to "connected" above, you're talking about Bluetooth from the Mac.

See: iOS: Supported Bluetooth profiles

Again, Bluetooth is only used for tethering between a Mac and an iPhone. So actually your observation makes perfect sense.
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by sberman,

sberman Aug 14, 2014 3:20 PM in response to jdrobnsn1
Level 8 (41,043 points)

Aug 14, 2014 3:20 PM in response to jdrobnsn1

To further clarify, Mac's Bluetooth is used for such things as external keyboards or headsets.
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Accepted Answer · Aug 14, 2014 3:00 PM

sberman

Level 8 (41,043 points)

Aug 14, 2014 3:00 PM in response to jdrobnsn1

From your Mac's point of view, tethering will set up a WiFi (hotspot) network that the Mac connects to.

iOS: Understanding Personal Hotspot

Q: iphone 5s cannot bluetooth pair with macbook air

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by jdrobnsn1,

by sberman,Solvedanswer

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