Arestine93

Q: Macbook Air (mid-2012) won't pair with iPhone 6

I didn't see anyone ask this so far.

 

I checked the criteria for Continuity between devices. My Macbook Air and my iPhone 6 (obviously) meet the criteria. (By the way, I wasn't able to AirDrop ever because my devices wouldn't pair).

 

1) I make sure both the Macbook and iPhone has Hand-Off checked. I am running OS X Yosemite & iOS 8.

2) I turn Bluetooth on for both devices

3) Macbook shows up on iPhone list on Bluetooth and vice versa.

4) Try to connect on Macbook, clicked "Pair" the iPhone. The message comes up to check the code and pair if the code matches.

5) I check iPhone. Code matches.

6) I pair and it would say the connection was unsuccessful because the MacBook isn't within range. Ok. I did all suggestions Apple gave on the help page like moving the device closer or finding the interference. I cannot see any interference. Both the iPhone and Macbook connect to my same Bluetooth speaker perfectly fine (just for the record). And the phone is literally a few inches away from the Macbook.

 

That doesn't work, then I tried again and at one point, the popup message changed to "not connected because Macbook Air not supported".

 

Clearly, this doesn't just "work" for me and it's really annoying me. Is anyone else having this problem? I was looking forward to this feature for months.

MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2012), OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Posted on Oct 16, 2014 9:31 PM

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Q: Macbook Air (mid-2012) won't pair with iPhone 6

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  • by simonweldon,

    simonweldon simonweldon Nov 19, 2014 9:33 AM in response to Lawrence Finch
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 19, 2014 9:33 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

    You're right - I was being liberal with my language.  But you must agree Apple are interested in what is posted.  And no one has been able to resolve mine (and lots of other people's) problem - the iPhone 6 won't do what they say it will do with a MacBook Air.  Whether non-technicians like me call it 'pairing' or otherwise, neither I nor Apple can get my MacBook Air to dial out through my iPhone 6, nor send messages to non-Apple recipients (a normal text) through Messages.

     

    I just want it to work - it was a major reason why I bought the iPhone 6.

  • by Bob H.,

    Bob H. Bob H. Nov 21, 2014 10:27 AM in response to Arestine93
    Level 4 (2,099 points)
    Apple TV
    Nov 21, 2014 10:27 AM in response to Arestine93

    Network is unavailable.  Make sure network access is enabled. 

     

    What network?  All my other bluetooth stuff works, but I can't get my iPhone 5 running 8.1.1 to connect to my iMac running Yosemite 10.10.1.  Help!

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Nov 21, 2014 2:39 PM in response to Bob H.
    Level 8 (38,086 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 21, 2014 2:39 PM in response to Bob H.

    Bob H. wrote:

     

    Network is unavailable.  Make sure network access is enabled.

     

    What network?  All my other bluetooth stuff works, but I can't get my iPhone 5 running 8.1.1 to connect to my iMac running Yosemite 10.10.1.  Help!

    Bluetooth: Why can't I pair my iPhone or iPad with another iOS device or with my computer?

  • by Bob H.,

    Bob H. Bob H. Nov 22, 2014 5:58 AM in response to Lawrence Finch
    Level 4 (2,099 points)
    Apple TV
    Nov 22, 2014 5:58 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

    Larry -- thanks so much for the helpful reply.  However, it is still a bit of a mystery to me why it was working just fine before a recent update of either Yosemite on my iMac or OS 8 on my iPhone 5.

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Nov 22, 2014 7:49 AM in response to Bob H.
    Level 8 (38,086 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 22, 2014 7:49 AM in response to Bob H.

    iPhones have NEVER EVER paired with computers, Mac or Windows, except for Internet tethering. It was not working before any recent updates.

  • by Bob H.,

    Bob H. Bob H. Nov 22, 2014 12:40 PM in response to Lawrence Finch
    Level 4 (2,099 points)
    Apple TV
    Nov 22, 2014 12:40 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

    OK --- I must have misunderstood the function of Bluetooth in use of my iMac as a phone.

     

    What was working was using my iMac as a phone via FaceTime.  It rang and worked just like my phone.  I thought it was using the Bluetooth connection via my iPhone to make and receive calls -- maybe not. This feature was lost during a recent update.   Everything worked fine until one of the recent updates, either on Yosemite or the OS 8, seemed to disabled it.  At any rate, I can no longer use my iMac as a phone via FaceTime.

     

    Thanks again for your help.

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Nov 22, 2014 1:09 PM in response to Bob H.
    Level 8 (38,086 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 22, 2014 1:09 PM in response to Bob H.

    Here are the official instructions: Get help using Continuity with iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite - Apple Support

     

    What some people have found is that you may need to Quit Messages on your Mac, then relaunch it. Also make sure Handoff is on in the iPhone's settings. And it may be obvious, but they have to be on the same WiFi network.

  • by Bob H.,

    Bob H. Bob H. Nov 24, 2014 8:37 AM in response to Lawrence Finch
    Level 4 (2,099 points)
    Apple TV
    Nov 24, 2014 8:37 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

    Larry -- I carefully tried and double checked all the instructions and advice.  I now am able to receive calls on my iMac, initiating calls on the iMac still doesn't work. 

     

    "iPhone Calls Not Available

    Your iPhone must us the same

    iCloud and FaceTime account."

     

    However, the advice in this dialogue box has already been followed and double checked.

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Nov 24, 2014 8:43 AM in response to Bob H.
    Level 8 (38,086 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 24, 2014 8:43 AM in response to Bob H.

    On the phone go to Settings/Facetime and verify that iPhone Cellular Calls is on, and note the Apple ID.

    Open System Preferences on your Mac, iCloud settings. Verify that the Apple ID is the same.

    Open Facetime preferences on your Mac. Make sure your phone number and iCloud address are checked, and that your Facetime email address is the same as your iCloud email address. Then quite Facetime and relaunch it.

  • by simonweldon,

    simonweldon simonweldon Nov 24, 2014 8:51 AM in response to Lawrence Finch
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 24, 2014 8:51 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

    People say 'paired' because they are not technicians and most people would think that as things worked fine before the update to Yosemite, it was because everything was paired.  Its a fair assumption if you're not into the technicalities of how Apple devices talk to each other. 

     

    More importantly, do you have any suggestions as to what the problem is?

  • by simonweldon,

    simonweldon simonweldon Nov 24, 2014 8:55 AM in response to Bob H.
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 24, 2014 8:55 AM in response to Bob H.

    I had EXACTLY the same problem.  After 3 lengthy telephones calls with Apple, no one could solve the issue.

     

    BUT ... someone earlier in the thread suggested turning off the firewall on the Mac, and since I did this, everything has worked fine.  I don't even have to have everything on the same wifi (but just on the same network).

  • by Bob H.,

    Bob H. Bob H. Nov 24, 2014 8:59 AM in response to Lawrence Finch
    Level 4 (2,099 points)
    Apple TV
    Nov 24, 2014 8:59 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

    Everything checks out, and I have done this many times at this point.  The only part of your instructions I can't follow completely is  --

     

    "Make sure your phone number and iCloud address are checked, and that your FaceTime email address is the same as you iClound email address."

     

    The FaceTime preferences do not have a phone number to check, but the "iPhone Cellular Calls" is checked.

  • by Bob H.,

    Bob H. Bob H. Nov 24, 2014 9:17 PM in response to simonweldon
    Level 4 (2,099 points)
    Apple TV
    Nov 24, 2014 9:17 PM in response to simonweldon

    Simon -- I appreciate the input on your experience with this issue.  When you say turn off the firewall, I assume you mean not to use a wireless security option.

  • by simonweldon,

    simonweldon simonweldon Nov 24, 2014 11:03 PM in response to Bob H.
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 24, 2014 11:03 PM in response to Bob H.

    Hello.  I turned off the firewall on my MacBookAir.  Its in system preferences, security and privacy, and then firewall. After I did this, everything works.  I don't even have to be on the same wifi network so long as the MBA is on the same network via Ethernet.

     

    it worked for me having tried everything else on this thread, several times over, and after Apple guided me thru everything over the course of 3 lengthy phone calls.  So I'm delighted it all fine now. 

  • by Bob H.,

    Bob H. Bob H. Nov 25, 2014 10:45 AM in response to simonweldon
    Level 4 (2,099 points)
    Apple TV
    Nov 25, 2014 10:45 AM in response to simonweldon

    Status report -- Turning off the firewall does not work in my case.  I give up!

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