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baughman.uf Author

Level 1

41 points

Bluetooth not connecting on iOS 10 and OS sierra

I just bought a iphone 7, apple watch 2 and I updated my computer to sierra yesterday.

I wanted to do the auto unlock with my watch, but my phone is not connecting to the Mac with bluetooth. it wants to connect and the phone appears in the bluetooth settings, it says on my phone to pair if the numbers are the same and then it "fails to connect". so im lost and I can't use my watch.

I have reset my watch (by unpairing), iphone (by restting all settings) and turned restarted my computer.

it seems like the "it just works era" for apple is over.

Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Oct 1, 2016 11:34 AM

Best reply

what ever guy

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Apr 26, 2017 4:52 PM

There is no reason to "pair" you iPhone to you Mac.

The functions that require bluetooth (namely AirDrop, Handoff, and AutoUnlock) do happen over bluetooth connection, but they are not "paired". So, even though it does not list your devices as connected in Settings or System Preferences as a devices being "paired" they are communicating. This communication is done via iCloud servers, local wifi networks, and bluetooth.

iPhone and Mac Bluetooth pairing.

If you notice, in Apple's article Use Continuity to connect your Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple Watch - Apple Support it does not list "pairing" as a requirement for setting up Handoff. The word "pair" does not appear anywhere on the article. This is because "pairing" is not needed for this function. It does, however, require that bluetooth is simply turned on as well as wifi, handoff, and iCloud being signed in.

So, if you are having trouble with any of these features, and your bluetooth is turned on, ensure that the other settings are set up as needed.

System requirements for Continuity on Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple Watch - Apple Support

Automatically unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Use Messages with your Mac - Apple Support

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39 replies

Nov 1, 2016 6:14 PM in response to baughman.uf

Fun fact, Apple Airport express card/adapter is fancy name for broadcomm a/b/g/n dual band card (dont quote me but i believe they also used intel ones also)... At least it isn't a realtech..

Nov 25, 2016 7:53 PM in response to baughman.uf

I also recently purchased a MacBook and an iPhone 7 and haven't had much luck trying to pair the devices unitil I attempted the following.

On your iOS device, tap ‘Settings‘ > ‘Bluetooth‘ on your iOS device and turn on ‘Bluetooth’.
Tap ‘Settings‘ > ‘Cellular‘ / ‘Mobile Data‘.
Tap ‘Personal Hotspot‘ and turn it on.
Then select ‘Bluetooth and USB only‘ for connecting your iOS device via Bluetooth to your MacBook.
Turn on Bluetooth on your MacBook: Click on the Apple Logo. Go to ‘System Preferences…‘ > ‘Bluetooth‘ and turn on Bluetooth to make sure that your MacBook is discoverable.
Now you should see your iOS device under ‘Devices‘ as ‘not connected‘. Make a double-click on this iOS device for connecting via bluetooth. If the connection is successful you will see ‘connected‘.
If the message ‘Connection unsuccessful – Please pair this device again‘ on your MacBook appears, then click on ‘Pair‘.
A window with ‘Waiting for “name of your iOS device” to accept pairing‘ with a dedicated 6 digit number should appear.
On your iOS device, the ‘Bluetooth pairing Request‘ with the equal 6 digit number should appear. Tap on ‘Pair‘. If the connection is successful you will see ‘connected‘. If the connection is unsuccessful proceed to step 10
Go back to system preferences > bluetooth double click on the device and go to the Wifi Icon and connect the MacBook to the hotspot.
Reconnect the MacBook to wifi from the hotspot and the connection should hold successfully.

Nov 26, 2016 8:39 AM in response to Sununguro

Thank Sununguro! Step 3 above fixed my unsuccessful pairing issues with my mid 2013 MB Air & late 2015 iMac.

Dec 6, 2016 11:19 PM in response to baughman.uf

None of the above solutions work for me.

My iPhone 7 keeps telling me that my MacBook Pro is not supported.

Please help !

Jan 2, 2017 8:57 AM in response to Sununguro

Thanks to me works too 🙂

Apr 23, 2017 12:57 PM in response to baughman.uf

I have exactly the same problem. I thought it was a joke but apparently it isn't. Unbelievable.

Apple please help!

godkcalb

Level 1

4 points

Jun 1, 2017 1:21 AM in response to another_tanya

It works. I just did what you said and it works. What is wrong?

Jun 7, 2017 10:37 AM in response to baughman.uf

I have the exact same behavior on my pair of devices. Why is that? Both have been updated to the latest software versions. Did any one get this working?

Jun 7, 2017 10:40 AM in response to what ever guy

That's right, pls ignore my message below. I wanted to sen a photo over to my MBP and it works without "pairing". 🙂

Bluetooth not connecting on iOS 10 and OS sierra