Bluetooth not working on IPhone XS

I just upgraded to the new iPhone XS, and the Bluetooth on my phone won't discover my devices, including a Fitbit and a portable speaker. I've tried all the troubleshooting for previous problems related to Bluetooth issues listed for the IPhone X and IPhone 8 via Apple--ie, restarting the Bluetooth on the phone, restarting all the devices, resetting network settings, making sure my Bluetooth devices are discoverable, etc. Are others having this problem? Is there a solution I am missing?

iPhone Xs, iOS 12

Posted on Sep 23, 2018 4:35 PM

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Posted on Oct 22, 2018 11:46 AM

I had the same problem with my new iPhone XS. I had transferred everything over from my iPhone 7. It wasn’t until I went back to my iPhone 7 and unpaired/forgot all of my previously paired devices and then turned Bluetooth on my old iPhone that I was able to connect to my Bluetooth devices on my new phone.

164 replies

Oct 3, 2018 7:45 AM in response to holly34

I’ve been having the same issues. My bluetooth has been saying “unavailable”. I preordered the phone and got it the day it came out. It worked the first day, but after that first day, the Bluetooth has said “unavailable”. Went to the Apple store last Thursday, they said it was a problem with the phone, switched it out with a brand new phone. That phone worked from Thursday til Monday, then the Bluetooth on this phone says the same thing, “unavailable”. Pretty aggravating.

Nov 24, 2018 4:47 PM in response to lobsterghost1

Yes, the apple store replaced my x max phone that I bought at AT&T with a brand new x max. The problem continues. Idk what phone you have but you are lucky. If you read this thread you will see that other people also have a problem connecting. Maybe you don’t personally know anyone. It is a legitimate problem. Many people have written on this forum with the same complaint as me. It’s a very frustrating problem. Imagine driving in a big city and not being able to use your phone......

Nov 30, 2018 5:48 PM in response to holly34

Has everyone in this thread called AppleCare and reported this problem directly to Apple? If not, PLEASE report the issue to Apple directly at 800-692-7753.

They don’t read these forums, so please report this issue directly to them. Over a thousand people have come to just this one thread with this issue, but if no one calls Apple to tell them about it, in their eyes this problem doesn’t even exist because they haven’t heard about it.

Please call them. Everyone call them.


Thanks

Dec 4, 2018 4:31 AM in response to holly34

Not sure if this will help everyone but it worked for me!!! 😁 I couldn’t get my new xs to pair with my car bluetooth... finally and luckily I still had my 7 plus, I opened it to Bluetooth, it was scanning for I it and I tapped “forget this phone”... then I opened my xs bluetooth, it took a while then a number popped up, I tapped yes and voila!!! It worked! Good luck to all! Good thing I still had my old phone! 👍-1F3FB;

Jan 10, 2019 5:26 AM in response to TheCribzter

I have tried this step multiple times and it doesn't work for me. This is a very frustrating issue for sure. I have a 2012 Hyundai Elantra GLS and almost every time I start my car I have to repair the iPhone Xs. I never have this problem with my iPhone 8 that I use for work.


My other car (Ford Expedition with Sync) hasn't had the same frequency of this issue. Over the last month I have had to re pair the iPhone Xs twice.


I have also noticed a couple of other interesting bluetooth issues with the iPhone Xs. I have a wireless speaker and I have had no issues having to re pair the Xs to the speaker, but if I take a call and select to use the iPhone instead of using the speaker, the phone at some point will try and switch to using the bluetooth speaker during the call. I switch back to using the iPhone Xs and it will again switch to the speaker. I have to either turn off the bluetooth speaker or I have to disconnect the speaker in the bluetooth setting of the iPhone.


I have none of these issues on my work iPhone 8 and never had an issue with my iPhone 7 before upgrading to the iPhone Xs.


My wife also got an iPhone Xs at the same time I did and she is also having these same issues on the Elantra and with bluetooth speakers.


I have ensured I have the latest software on my iPhone Xs.

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Bluetooth not working on IPhone XS

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