Bluetooth on IPhone16Pro won't connect - worked fine until about 2 months ago

I have tried it all. My phone paired perfectly with my car and earbuds. Now, I cannot get the earbuds to work and the car works sometimes, but I usually have to forget the device and wait forever to it to pair again. It is not the earbuds as they are charged and pair with other phones that I tested to be sure. As far as I recall, I did not change any settings. I have walked through every possible possibility with AI assisiting me. I just want to be able to use these devices that used to work fine. Any suggestions?

Posted on Nov 5, 2026 11:01 AM

1 reply

lobsterghost1

Level 10 (233,174 points)

Nov 5, 2026 11:18 AM in response to SuzWilliam

Sometimes the simplest solutions can help. Such as, unpair the devices, then pair them again. And Force Restarting your iPhone can often cure oddities --> https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/force-restart-iphone-iph8903c3ee6/ios

Also, see the suggestions here --> https://support.apple.com/en-us/111804

If you have a VPN installed on your iPhone, they too can and most often cause connectivity issues. Unless required by your school or employer, they are not recommended and the best advice is to remove it completely at Settings > General > VPN & Device Management - remove the profile and any associated app, then restart your iPhone.

If nothing helps, then it would be advisable to schedule an appointment at your Apple Store Genius Bar to have the Bluetooth Radio tested in your iPhone --> https://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/