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iPhone pairing with iMac via bluetooth not working

My iPhone 6 with the latest release of iOS will not pair up via bluetooth with my iMac having the latest release of osx.


Apple Support informed me this is "expected behavior" which I found to be a curious response when the phone connects without problems in my car.


Anyone having a similar experience?

Imac, null

Posted on Aug 30, 2015 9:59 AM

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Posted on Aug 30, 2015 10:40 AM

Everyone is having a similar experience. An iPhone will not pair via Bluetooth to a computer (Mac or Windows) except for personal hotspot and then only if your cellular plan supports it. See the following for more information. https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-7722


If you are attempting to use Handoff/Continuity or AirDrop, that does involve Bluetooth but the devices are NOT paired; Bluetooth just needs to be on and the devices in range of each other. The following may help with Handoff/Continuity issues: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204678

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Question marked as Best reply

Aug 30, 2015 10:40 AM in response to JeffSp8

Everyone is having a similar experience. An iPhone will not pair via Bluetooth to a computer (Mac or Windows) except for personal hotspot and then only if your cellular plan supports it. See the following for more information. https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-7722


If you are attempting to use Handoff/Continuity or AirDrop, that does involve Bluetooth but the devices are NOT paired; Bluetooth just needs to be on and the devices in range of each other. The following may help with Handoff/Continuity issues: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204678

Aug 30, 2015 3:39 PM in response to JeffSp8

JeffSp8 wrote:


My iPhone 6 with the latest release of iOS will not pair up via bluetooth with my iMac having the latest release of osx.


Apple Support informed me this is "expected behavior" which I found to be a curious response when the phone connects without problems in my car.


Anyone having a similar experience?

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

Sep 3, 2015 3:33 AM in response to JeffSp8

Yes, you are not alone,

I did not ever use iTunes, I was happy with backup to the cloud, and happy with bluetooth to move files and date between my mac, iPad and iPhones..

Oh, I dropped my Nokia phone and turned to iPhone(s) for my wife and I just for the easy connectivity between devices via bluetooth.

I kept up with OS updates fine without iTunes. Really? Is this step forward? Or change for the sake of change?

Sep 3, 2015 7:22 AM in response to athlone5

athlone5 wrote:


Yes, you are not alone,

I did not ever use iTunes, I was happy with backup to the cloud, and happy with bluetooth to move files and date between my mac, iPad and iPhones..

Oh, I dropped my Nokia phone and turned to iPhone(s) for my wife and I just for the easy connectivity between devices via bluetooth.

I kept up with OS updates fine without iTunes. Really? Is this step forward? Or change for the sake of change?

It is not a change. The iPhone has never supported pairing with a computer or other devices via Bluetooth for file transfers.

You can use AirDrop for transfers between iOS devices and between iOS devices and Mac computers that meet the system requirements:

Share content with AirDrop from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

Use AirDrop to send files from your Mac to another nearby Mac or iOS device - Apple Support

iPhone pairing with iMac via bluetooth not working

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