One of the first things I do when I am setting up a new iPhone is connect it with my favorite Bluetooth accessories.
I use Bluetooth to connect my iPhone with my Apple Watch, with my Jabra Wireless Headphones so I can use it while on the treadmill, with my car audio system so I can stream my favorite music while driving, and with my Bose Bluetooth speakers while taking a shower.
But unlike Wi-Fi, Bluetooth is not very reliable; it can be a pain if your iPhone doesn’t pair or have a problem connecting with your favorite Bluetooth accessory.
If your iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus is not working with Bluetooth devices like Car audio system, Apple Watch, Bluetooth Speakers, Bluetooth headphones, then here are some basic troubleshooting tips you can try, to see if they help.
Test Bluetooth Accessory with Another Device
The first step you’d want to take is to ensure that the problem is with your iPhone or iPad and not with the Bluetooth accessory you’re trying to connect to. So try connecting to the accessory with your Mac, PC or any other device, and see if things work fine or not.
How to Fix Bluetooth Connectivity Problems with iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus
If you find out that the problem lies with your iPhone 7, here are a few solutions you could try:
Turn off Bluetooth and Reboot
The first thing to try is to turn off your Bluetooth and restart your iPhone or iPad:
- Turn off Bluetooth from Control Center, or by going to Settings > Bluetooth and turning off the switch.
- Reboot your iPhone by holding the Home button or Volume down button (for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus users) and the Power button until you see the Apple logo.
- Now enable Bluetooth again from Control Center or Settings > Bluetooth
Try connecting to the device now. If the problem still isn’t solved, try the next solution.
Forget Device
If the previous tip didn’t work for you, you can try forgetting the device you paired with from Settings, and then try reconnecting:
- Open Settings and go to Bluetooth
- Tap on the “i” icon against the device name you’re having problems connecting
- Tap on the “Forget This Device” button and confirm your action
- Now pair your iPhone or iPad with the device again, and see if the issue has been solved
Reset Network Settings
If none of the two tips worked, you could also try resetting your network settings. A side effect of doing this is that all your Wi-Fi settings will also be cleared, so you might have to rejoin Wi-Fi networks, and configure VPN all over again.
Here’s how to reset network settings:
- Open Settings and navigate to General > Reset
- Tap on Reset Network Settings
- You’ll be required to enter your passcode if you have one
- Confirm your action in the popup
Your iOS device will reboot. Once it starts up, try pairing to the device again. If your problem still isn’t solved, move to the next step.
BMW and Android Wear
Please note that BMW car owners have reported Bluetooth connectivity problems with iPhone 7. iPhone 7 also seem to be having problems connecting to several Android Wear watches such as Moto 360 (2015), Tag Heuer Connected, ASUS ZenWatch, the Fossil Q Founder, and the Michael Kors Access. BMW and Google have acknowledged the issue, so a fix should be released soon. I have included the tip shared by Steven Heisenberg, one of our readers below, which helped him resolve the Bluetooth connectivity issue with his BMW.
1. Erase the BMW Bluetooth connection from the iPhone.
2. Erase the iPhone Bluetooth connection from the BMW.
3. Resync both. You’ll likely find that you’re having the same issues.
4. At the screen that presents USB/Bluetooth/AUX connection options (Set Wireless Device Via), select “Connections”.
5. You’ll see your phone listed in under “Connected:”
6. Press the physical iDrive options button.
7. Deselect “Audio” and leave “Telephone” selected. Select OK.
8. The iPhone will unpair and the source will change.
9. Renter the previous screen and select “Audio”. Select “OK”.
10. Bluetooth audio returns to works again, business as usual.
Restore and Setup as new iPhone
This is not ideal, but if none of these tips fix your issues, the last resort is to restore your iPhone or iPad via iTunes and set it up as a new device. This way, you start afresh and get rid of possibly problematic customizations and settings on your device. Follow the instructions in the post linked below to do a clean restore to the latest version of iOS via iTunes.
➤ How to restore your iPhone or iPad with iTunes
Visit an Apple Store
Even after performing all these steps, you’re still having problems, then you might want to visit your nearest Apple Store to know of any possible hardware related issues.
Have you faced any Bluetooth issues with your iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus? Let us know in the comments below.
