Bluetooth not connecting on iOS 10 and OS sierra

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

I can verify the solution from Pepeon, but I only had to turn off wifi on the iphone, then pair again, then select connect to iphone from the bluetooth toolbar icon in osx.

Macbook Pro with OSX Sierra 10.12.1

iPhone 6 with iOS 10.2

This made the connection stay up, but it gave an error when trying to connect to the personal hotspot.

However, it now says that the bluetooth is disconnected between the phone and Mac (on both devices), but when I turn on the Personal hotspot on the phone, it allows me to connect to it from the Mac and use the Personal Hotspot. Despite the bluetooth setting showing as disconnected.

No other Bluetooth services work though (Handoff, Airplay, etc)

This is so disappointing as I bought the iPhone exactly because I had a Mac and wanted all this extra functionality that having them both should bring.

I don't have the Apple Watch so I can't speak to that, but handoff was not working for me until I did the following... I pasted this from another response I gave someone having handoff issues. Maybe it's your same problem but it is resulting in the auto unlock problems. Hope you get it fixed. //////////// Same problem but now mine is fixed!!! I was experiencing similar issues with my new MBP 13 2017, iPad Pro 9.7, and iPhone 7+. I was so extremely frustrated. I tried PRAM SMC library files and everything I could come across to no avail. Then tonight I was able to get it working!! My iPad and iPhone just updated to 10.2.1, they were on 10.2 but I don't think that was it. I noticed on one of my devices that the Keychain was not turned on in the iCloud settings. (I use Lastpass so many times haven't really cared about Keychain for password purposes). The iPad was not allowing me to turn on Keychain. I ended up having to reset the Keychain and then authenticate or activate Keychain on all devices again. I also ended up signing out of iCloud on all three devices and logging them back in. I know they were all logged in fine originally, because files were syncing across all three devices. Somehow though a combination of some of these steps worked. Again, it could be the latest iOS update, but I really feel something was off with Keychain and iCloud accounts/syncing. I guess that makes sense because that's the only way one device would even know who the other devices belonged too. Hope this helps...

It is really surprising to see newer devices like iPhone 6s and on are having pairing issues. I had iPhone 5 a month back and it worked well with OS sierra very well. I could call or FaceTime right from my MacBook. Then I bought iPhone 6s and nothing work now. I can not connect to bluetooth, Hotspot is working though but can not make calls or FaceTime from MacBook anymore.

So in my case I can not say its an issue with Mac OS but there may be an issue with IOS or devices.

Apple please rectify this issue?

Hello I am having the same issue. Bought a macbook a week ago and it wont communicate with my iphone 7plus thru bluetooth. It is so frustrating ! was wondering if you found any solution ? Thanks

Kate

Hi All

I just bought a Bose bluetooth speaker and was having some intermittent connectivity issues (was using 10.10.2). Just come from Apple Store (had a few other issues) where they reformatted HD and installed Sierra. Now bluetooth isn't even looking for anything and hence my new speaker currently acting as a paperweight.

Any ideas for the non technically minded among us? At this stage considering time capsule and go back to old OS, at least that worked (mostly).

Any instructions/ideas gratefully accepted but please keep it simple if possible/detail any steps to fix if anyone has an idea.

Thanks

I wanted to pay for Groupon with apple pay via phone I couldn't connect MacBook with iPhone 6 via Bluetooth. It came back withMacBookk not supported or out of range. Macbook provided passcode and iphone asked me to accept that code and it connected for a second and then failed.

It worked if I connected them via the iphone personal hotspot and then connected via the Bluetooth

Any solutions!!!! on the Bluetooth pairing for iphone 7 and Sierra

>> Macbook Pro not supported

Having the same issue on sierra 10.12.5 (on a Mac book pro) and newly updated iphone 7 iOS 10.3.2...

Once again Apple nowhere to be found....

almost a yr later

>> Basic functionality <<😠

If misery loves company, here I am!! Just posted my new iphone 7+ BLUETOOTH setting is not "discovering" any of my bluetooth devices (in 2015 Lexus and Bose radio/speaker system). In addition my iPad and iPad air are also not "discovering" devices!! I believe this happened once I installed the latest software ios 10.0.2 on all my devices. Please respond if you receive any "hints" from someone in the "know"! Thanks!

Yes, I found that to be the case also; very disappointed in Apple releasing all this new stuff that doesn't work properly with absolutely no resource for getting the problem resolved!!

I'm facing the same problem. iOS: 10.0.2, macOS Sierra: 10.12