Your iPhone Bluetooth is not working after iOS 17 update and you don’t know why. You may be experiencing connectivity or pairing issues when you want to connect your car, Apple Watch, or Bluetooth accessory (wireless headphones, keyboards, speakers, etc) to your iPhone. In this article, I’ll explain why your iPhone Bluetooth is not connecting after iOS 17 update and how you can fix your Bluetooth issues on iOS 17.
Bluetooth issues on iOS are as old as the iPhone and iPad. Call it Apple’s failure or the nature of common problems in iOS 17 that most devices face, Bluetooth problems have a long history on iOS and iPadOS. No wonder a large number of users often take to various forums to complain about the ill-functioning of Bluetooth. While some say that their iPhone is unable to connect to Bluetooth devices after iOS 17 update, others report that their iOS 17 device automatically disconnects from Bluetooth accessories. Luckily, there are some trusted solutions to fix the Bluetooth issue on iPhone running iOS 17. If that’s what you are looking for, here are tried and tested solutions to fix the “iPhone Bluetooth not working” after iOS 17 update issue.
Common iOS 17 Bluetooth issues include:
- Bluetooth not Working after iOS 17 update
- Bluetooth Pairing Problem after iOS 17 update
- iPhone not finding bluetooth Devices after iOS 17 update
- Bluetooth unavailable or unable to connect to the Bluetooth accessory or car audio
- Crackling sound
- Skipping, stuttering of music tracks while connected to car Bluetooth or AirPods.
Why is iPhone Bluetooth not working in iOS 17?
Bluetooth issues on iOS 17 might occur due to a number of reasons such as software bugs, outdated software, and the ill-functioning of the Bluetooth accessories. Besides, the problem could also crop up if the Bluetooth device isn’t fully charged or if you have restricted the companion app from using Bluetooth on your iOS 17 device. Taking all these possible causes into account, we have mentioned solutions that can resolve the infamous iPhone Bluetooth not working after iOS 17 update issue.
Prerequisites
- Make sure that Bluetooth is enabled on your iPhone. To turn onBluetooth: head over to Settings > Bluetooth.
- Ensure that your Bluetooth accessory is turned on and plugged in (or charged). If it uses batteries, ensure its batteries are good.
- Ensure that your iPhone and your accessory are close to each other, within a range of five feet. Bring your iOS 17 device closer to the Bluetooth accessory to see if this helps.
- Ensure that your Bluetooth accessory supports Bluetooth and is compatible with your iOS
- Make sure your accessory is discoverable. If you don’t know how to do this, reach out to the manufacturer.
Troubleshooting bluetooth not working after iOS 17 update
If you are experiencing Bluetooth problems after iOS 17 update, follow the steps below. After every step, check if your issue is fixed or you still need help.
Toggle the Bluetooth connection
Whenever I face Bluetooth connection issues on my iPhone and iPad, the first solution I try to resolve the problems is to turn off/on the Bluetooth toggle. And I must say that it does rescue me more often than not. So, I’m going to count on this little but pretty effective trick to fix Bluetooth not working after iOS 17 update issue.
You can toggle Bluetooth by launching the Settings app, navigating to Bluetooth, and turning off the Bluetooth toggle. Wait at least ten seconds to turn it back on.
Make Sure the Companion App Can Access Bluetooth
If the Bluetooth accessory comes with a companion app, make sure the app can access Bluetooth on your iPhone. Open the Settings app on your device and choose Privacy & Security. Now, locate Bluetooth and tap on it. After that, ensure that the app (in question) can use Bluetooth.
Force Restart your iPhone
One of the most reliable solutions if Bluetooth is not working after iOS 17 update is to force restart your iPhone. So, it would be worth turning your iPhone off and on again as well. Follow the steps below:
If you have iPhone SE, hold the Home button and the Power button until you see the Apple logo. If you have iPhone XR, iPhone XS/Max, iPhone 11/11 Pro, iPhone 12/12 pro, iPhone 13 and iPhone 14, press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Then press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Finally, press and hold the Side button (Sleep/Wake button) until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
After your iPhone restarts, give the phone time to locate the nearby devices and attempt the connection again from Control Center or by launching the Settings app, navigating to Bluetooth, and tapping on the toggle to turn on Bluetooth.
Turn Off/On Bluetooth Device
Many a time you can get rid of the Bluetooth issue by simply turning off/on the Bluetooth accessory. So, give this a simple yet efficient solution a try. Most Bluetooth devices come with a power switch to let you enable/disable them with ease. So, look for the power switch and then press it to turn off the Bluetooth accessory. After that, press the power button again to turn it on.
Install the Latest iOS Update
If none of the tricks has worked in resolving the Bluetooth issues on your iOS 17 device, I suspect the problem could very well be due to a software bug or outdated software. In either case, you can get rid of the issue by upgrading to the latest iteration of iOS 17.
Go to settings > General > software update. Now, let your device check if there is any update available. If it shows the latest update, download and install the software update as usual.
Update Your Bluetooth Accessory
To improve performance and also fix common issues, accessory makers often release software updates. So, if you haven’t updated your Bluetooth device for a while, there is a high chance that the problem could be due to outdated software. Most Bluetooth devices come with a companion app that lets you customize the settings. Open the App Store > Your Profile to check if there is any software update available.
Updating AirPods is pretty straightforward. The earphones are automatically updated to the latest firmware versions when they are connected via Bluetooth to your iPhone.
Forget The Device and Pair Again
If the Bluetooth issue still persists, then make the Bluetooth accessory forget your iOS 17 device. Then, reconnect the Bluetooth accessory to your iPhone. This can sometimes fix Bluetooth problems by clearing out the Bluetooth cache.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap on Bluetooth.
- When your Bluetooth is on, you see a list of devices paired to that device.
- Tap on the gear icon next to a paired device.
- Select forget this device and confirm your action.
Now pair your iPhone with the device again, and see if the issue has been solved.
The above solution should help fix issues such as skipping, stopping, or stuttering while playing music tracks in your car over Bluetooth.
Reset Bluetooth Accessory
No solution as yet? Do not worry as we still have a handful of pretty reliable solutions to get rid of the iOS 17 Bluetooth problems. Now, try to reset the Bluetooth accessory. If the problem is with the accessory, you can get rid of the issue by resetting it.
Do note that the process of resetting Bluetooth accessories varies. So, be sure to check the user manual if you need assistance. If you have AirPods, you can reset them with ease. With the lead open, hold down the setup button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds until the status light flashes amber and then white. After that, you need to reconnect your AirPods to your device. With the lead option, simply place your AirPods close to your device and then follow the instructions.
Reset Network Settings
Whenever network-related issues seem to become persistent on my iPhone, I reset the network settings as the last resort. In most cases, it doesn’t disappoint me. So, if the Bluetooth issues haven’t yet been fixed on your iOS 17 device, give this solution a try. Be warned that it will wipe out all the network settings including those of Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth. So, be prepared to set them up again.
- Start the settings app.
- Go to General.
- Click Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap reset.
- Select Reset network settings.
- You’ll be required to enter your passcode if you have one.
- Confirm your action in the popup.
Your iPhone will reboot. Once it starts up, try pairing to the device again. If your problem still isn’t solved, move to the next solution.
Factory reset your iPhone
If nothing else works, you can try to fix the issue with this last resort. By factory resetting your iPhone, you are basically using a catch-all solution for your iOS 17 Bluetooth woes, and it should hopefully fix the problem.
- Launch the settings app.
- Tap General.
- Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Select Erase All Content & Settings.
Once the reset process is complete, test the Bluetooth one more time.
Contact Apple support
Even after all that, if you can’t turn on Bluetooth on your iOS 17 device or the setting is grayed out or you can’t connect any Bluetooth accessories with your iPhone, and the accessory manufacturer has confirmed that your accessory supports iOS 17, you will have to contact Apple for a solution. You can head into your nearest Apple store, or contact Apple support. If your iPhone is still under warranty, you might get a replacement phone.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do you reset Bluetooth on iPhone?
If you want to reset the Bluetooth radio on your iPhone, you can do so by erasing network settings of your iPhone. The method to do this is described above.
2. Why won’t my iPhone find Bluetooth devices?
First, check if Bluetooth is on. If it is, and your iPhone still can’t find new Bluetooth devices, make sure the device is turned on and in pairing mode. Moreover, try the fixes mentioned above.
3. How do I put my iPhone in pairing mode?
You can pair new devices to your iPhone by going to Settings -> Bluetooth. As long as you’re on this page, you will be able to see new devices and your iPhone will be in pairing mode.
Troubleshoot Bluetooth Issues in iOS 17
That’s all there is to it! So, these are the tried and trusted ways to troubleshoot Bluetooth problems on iOS 17 device. Hopefully, Bluetooth has returned to its usual self on your device. Would you like to tell us which one of the above solutions worked for you? Share your experience in the comments below.