Quick answer
If Bluetooth won't connect on your iPhone or Mac, turn Bluetooth off and on in Settings, then restart both your device and the accessory. Check the accessory is charged, in range and not connected to another device. If it still fails, forget the device and pair it again. A network settings reset is the last step before contacting support.
Why Bluetooth stops connecting
Most Bluetooth failures come from a handful of simple causes, and the error message rarely tells you which one. The accessory is out of range, not in pairing mode, low on battery or still connected to another device. Or the saved pairing record on your iPhone or Mac has become damaged. The fixes below start with the quickest and work up to the more disruptive ones, so try them in order.
Quick fixes to try first
Turn Bluetooth off and on
- Open
Settings › Bluetoothon your iPhone or iPad. Use Settings rather than the Control Center button for this. - Turn Bluetooth off.
- Wait about five seconds.
- Turn it back on and try connecting again.
Restart both devices
Restart your iPhone, iPad or Mac and the accessory. Turn the accessory off completely, wait ten seconds and turn it back on. Starting both fresh clears temporary glitches on either side. If your iPhone is frozen, use a force restart.
Move closer and cut interference
Bluetooth reaches about 10 metres (30 feet) in open space, and walls, metal and other radios cut that sharply.
- Bring the accessory within a few metres of your device.
- Remove obstacles between them.
- Move away from Wi-Fi routers, microwave ovens and USB 3 devices, which can all interfere.
- Take a thick or metal case off your iPhone and test again.
Charge the accessory
A low battery is an easy cause to miss. Some accessories refuse to connect when they are nearly flat. Charge it for 15 to 30 minutes and try again.
Is the accessory connected to another device?
Most Bluetooth accessories connect to one device at a time. If your headphones are connected to your iPad or Mac, they may not connect to your iPhone until they let go of the other device. Disconnect the accessory on your other devices, or turn Bluetooth off on them for a moment, then connect from the device you want to use.
Put the accessory in pairing mode
An accessory has to be in pairing mode to appear in the Bluetooth list. How you get there varies:
- AirPods: put them in the case, open the lid, then press and hold the button on the back until the light flashes white.
- Most speakers and headphones: hold the power or Bluetooth button for several seconds until a light blinks.
- Anything else: check the manual for the exact button.
Many accessories only stay in pairing mode for a couple of minutes, so have your iPhone's Bluetooth screen open before you start.
How to forget and re-pair a Bluetooth device
If a device that used to work suddenly won't connect, forget it and pair it from scratch. That clears a damaged pairing record, which is one of the most common causes.
On iPhone or iPad
- Open
Settings › Bluetooth. - Find the device under My Devices.
- Tap the info button next to it.
- Tap Forget This Device and confirm.
- Put the accessory into pairing mode.
- Tap it when it appears under Other Devices and follow any prompts.
On a Mac
- Open Bluetooth in Control Center, or go to
System Settings › Bluetooth. - Click the info button next to the device.
- Choose Forget This Device and confirm.
- Put the accessory in pairing mode and click Connect when it appears.
How to reset AirPods that won't connect
AirPods sometimes need a full reset, not just re-pairing.
- On your iPhone, forget the AirPods in
Settings › Bluetooth. - Put both AirPods in the case and open the lid.
- Press and hold the button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds, until the light flashes amber and then white.
- Keep the case open next to your iPhone and follow the setup prompt.
Reset network settings on iPhone or iPad
If the problem survives a restart and re-pairing, reset network settings. This clears every saved wireless setting, Bluetooth included.
- Make sure you know your Wi-Fi password, because this erases saved networks.
- Open
Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Reset. - Tap Reset Network Settings and confirm with your passcode.
- After the restart, pair your accessories again and rejoin Wi-Fi.
Your photos, apps and personal data are not touched. Our guide to resetting network settings lists exactly what is cleared on iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Fixing stubborn Bluetooth problems on a Mac
Once you have toggled Bluetooth, forgotten the device and restarted, the next step depends on the chip in your Mac. On an Intel Mac, resetting the SMC and NVRAM can clear persistent Bluetooth faults. On an Apple silicon Mac, a normal shut down and restart does the equivalent job. Our guide to resetting the SMC and NVRAM shows the method for each type. If several wireless features misbehave at once, the Wi-Fi troubleshooting guide and our AirDrop fix guide cover the overlap.
Bluetooth problems on the iOS 27 beta
Early betas can bring Bluetooth bugs, including with AirPods and CarPlay. If trouble started after you installed a beta, update to the newest build first. The current beta is iOS 27.2 beta 4 (24B5110a). Then forget and re-pair the accessory. If the problem keeps coming back, report it through Feedback Assistant so Apple can see it. If you depend on the accessory every day, the public iOS 27.0.1 release is the steadier option. Our iOS 27 bugs and known issues page tracks problems reported on current builds.
When to contact Apple or the accessory maker
If nothing above works, the fault may be hardware. Use this rule of thumb:
| Symptom | Likely cause | Who to contact |
|---|---|---|
| Your iPhone or Mac won't connect to any Bluetooth device | The iPhone or Mac | Apple Support |
| Only one accessory fails, and it fails with every device | The accessory | The accessory manufacturer |
| One accessory fails with only one device | The pairing between them | Forget, re-pair and reset network settings first |
What to do next
Most Bluetooth problems end at one of three steps: toggling Bluetooth in Settings, restarting both devices, or forgetting and re-pairing. If you got as far as a network reset, remember to rejoin your Wi-Fi networks and pair your other accessories again.
Frequently asked questions
Why won't my Bluetooth device connect to my iPhone?
The usual causes are simple. The accessory may not be in pairing mode, or it may still be connected to another device. Its battery may be too low, it may be out of range, or the saved pairing record may be damaged. Toggle Bluetooth off and on in Settings, restart both devices, and make sure the accessory isn't connected elsewhere. If it still fails, forget it and pair again.
How do I forget a Bluetooth device on iPhone?
Open Settings › Bluetooth, find the device under My Devices and tap the info button next to it. Tap Forget This Device and confirm. Then put the accessory back in pairing mode, wait for it to appear under Other Devices and tap it to pair again. Forgetting clears a damaged pairing record, which is one of the most common reasons a device that used to work stops connecting.
Does resetting network settings fix Bluetooth?
Often, yes. Resetting network settings clears all saved wireless settings, including Bluetooth pairings, so it can fix problems that survive a restart and re-pairing. Go to Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Reset › Reset Network Settings. It erases saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, but not your photos, apps or other personal data. You will need to pair your accessories again.
How do I reset my AirPods if they won't connect?
Put both AirPods in the charging case and open the lid. Press and hold the button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds, until the status light flashes amber and then white. That resets them. Keep the case open next to your iPhone and follow the setup prompt to connect again. On an iPhone, you may need to forget the AirPods in Bluetooth settings first.
Why does Bluetooth keep disconnecting after an iOS update?
A major update, and especially a beta, can bring Bluetooth bugs, and accessories with their own firmware sometimes need an update too. Install the newest build in Settings › General › Software Update, then forget and re-pair the accessory. If drops continue on a beta, report it with Feedback Assistant. The current public release, iOS 27.0.1, is the steadier choice if you rely on the accessory.
How do I fix Bluetooth on a Mac?
Turn Bluetooth off and on from Control Center or System Settings › Bluetooth. Then forget the device using the info button next to it and pair it again. Restart the Mac and the accessory. On an Intel Mac, resetting the SMC and NVRAM can help with stubborn problems. On Apple silicon, a normal shut down and restart covers the same ground.