Are you experiencing Bluetooth issues after iOS 18 update? Bluetooth is great when it works. You may be experiencing connecting or pairing issues when you want to connect your Apple Watch, car stereo, or Bluetooth accessory (wireless headphones, keyboards, printers, speakers, etc) to your iPhone after iOS 18 update. This article explains how you can troubleshoot your Bluetooth issues on iPhone running iOS 18.
Please note this article is about how to fix iPhone Bluetooth issues after iOS 18 update. If you are experiencing problems with CarPlay after iOS 18 update, see this article.
Common Bluetooth problems on iOS 18 include:
- Bluetooth accessory won’t pair or connect to iPhone.
- You may get an error that says “Connection Unsuccessful”.
- Bluetooth keeps disconnecting.
- Intermittent connectivity issues.
iPhone Bluetooth Not Working after iOS 18 update: Troubleshooting Tips
This is how i fixed Bluetooth problems on my iPhone after iOS 18 update,. The steps I’ve provided below can help you fix Bluetooth problems you are experiencing after the update too. Follow the troubleshooting steps below. After each step, see if your issue is fixed or you still need help.
Try these steps first
- To get help pairing a Bluetooth accessory, like a wireless keyboard, to your iPhone:
- Make sure that your Bluetooth accessory supports Bluetooth and is compatible with your iOS device. To get this information, again contact your accessory manufacturer or review its documentation.
- Make sure that your Bluetooth accessory and iPhone are close to each other. Your iPhone and your accessory should be within at least 30 feet of each other so that they can communicate well. Move your iPhone closer to the Bluetooth accessory to see if this helps.
- Make sure that Bluetooth is enabled on your iPhone. You can turn on Bluetooth by going to Settings > Bluetooth.
- Make sure that your Bluetooth accessory is turned on and in pairing mode. You may need to review your Bluetooth accessory documentation for help if needed.
- Make sure that your Bluetooth accessory is fully charged or connected to power. If your accessory uses batteries, make sure it’s batteries are good.
- If there’s an app that you use with the Bluetooth accessory, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Bluetooth on your iPhone, and make sure that Bluetooth is enabled for the app. You may also want to contact the App developer for further help.
If you still can’t pair or connect your Bluetooth accessory to your iPhone in iOS 18
- On your iPhone, turn off Bluetooth and wait about 15 seconds and turn it back on (Settings > Bluetooth).
- If you had connected this bluetooth accessory on your iPhone prior to iOS 18 update, go to Settings > Bluetooth. Find the accessory in your devices list. Is it saying “Not Connected”? Tap its name to try to connect again.
- If your accessory has a Bluetooth setting, then turn off Bluetooth and then turn it on.
- Restart your iPhone to fix Bluetooth issues on iOS 18. Here is how:
- iPhone XR, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 models: Press and hold the Side and volume up or down buttons simultaneously until the power off slider appears on the screen. Then drag the power off slider. Wait until your device is completely turned off. Then press and hold the power button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
- iPhone SE (2nd generation) and newer models. Press and hold the Side button until the power off slider appears. Then drag the power off slider. And press and hold the power button until you see the Apple logo on the screen.
- Turn your Bluetooth accessory off and back on again.
- If you previously connected your Bluetooth accessory to your iPhone prior to iOS 18 update, remove the old Bluetooth connection. Then reconnect again. Here is how:
- Unpair the accessory. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth. Under the My Devices section, find your device that you are having issues with or you are trying to connect or you are already connected, and then tap the info (I) icon and then tap Forget This Device.
- Put your accessory back in pairing mode.
- On your iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth. And stay on this screen. And then follow the onscreen instructions to pair and connect your Bluetooth accessory again (you may need to enter a PIN code).
- If you are using a phone case on your iPhone, try removing it to see if this helps.
- If you can pair your Bluetooth accessory with some devices but not your iPhone running iOS 18:
- Unpair the accessory from your other devices.
- Try to pair with your iPhone again.
- Make sure that your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS 18 software. You can check for updates by going to Settings > General > Software Update. And then follow the instructions if there is an update available.
- If your bluetooth accessory has an upgradeable firmware, update your accessory. Again, you may want to contact your accessory manufacturer or review its documentation.
- Reset Network Settings. Please note that if you reset your network settings, all of your network-related settings will be erased such as your Wi-Fi passwords, etc. Simply go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings and then follow the onscreen instructions.
- Reset your bluetooth accessory. If your accessory is resettable, try resetting it. For example, you can reset AirPods if you are having this problem with your AirPods. For this, again contact your accessory manufacturer or review its documentation.
Further help
If you still have any of these bluetooth issues, contact Apple for support and service options:
-
- You can’t turn on Bluetooth or the setting is grayed out.
- You can’t connect any Bluetooth accessories with your iPhone after iOS 18 update.
- The manufacturer of the bluetooth accessory confirmed that your accessory has no issues.
While it’s never fun to troubleshoot, hopefully these tips and tricks will help fix iPhone Bluetooth problems you are having after iOS 18 update.