Bluetooth issues are usually not that hard to fix, although they’re also pretty common. Some iPhone 11 users reported that the Bluetooth on their devices are not working properly. There were those who said that they can no longer connect or pair with their accessories, while others complained that they cannot listen to music as their iPhones keep disconnecting.
In this post, I will walk you through in troubleshooting your iPhone 11 with Bluetooth that’s not working properly. We will try to look into all possibilities and rule them out one after another until we can figure out the reason why this issue is happening. So continue reading this post and we may be able to help you one way or another.
Before we move on to our troubleshooting, if you happen to find this post while looking for a solution to a different problem, then visit our iPhone 11 Help Guides page for we have already addressed some of the most common issues with this device. We may have already published articles that could help you fix your problem. Find issues that are similar to yours and feel free to use our solutions.
Troubleshooting an iPhone 11 with Bluetooth that’s not working properly
Compatibility is the least of your concerns here. Yes, there are Bluetooth accessories that might not be compatible with your phone but if you’re trying to pair a Bluetooth headset or speaker, rest assured that they’re compatible with your phone. Assuming that this problem occurred without apparent reason or cause, here’s what you need to do about it…
First solution: Disable and re-enable Bluetooth on your iPhone 11.
Minor Bluetooth issues particularly not connecting or not pairing are usually remedied by turning Bluetooth feature on the iPhone off for a few seconds and then back on again. It’s like giving a quick pause and refreshes the phone’s Bluetooth functions. If you haven’t already, disable Bluetooth on your iPhone 11 then re-enable with these steps:
- From the Home screen, tap on Settings.
- Tap Bluetooth.
- Tap or slide the Bluetooth switch to the OFF position.
- After about 30 seconds, toggle the switch to turn Bluetooth back ON again.
- Wait for a list of available Bluetooth devices to show up.
- Select the Bluetooth device that you want to pair with your iPhone.
- If prompted, enter the correct passcode. Usually the defaults set by manufacturers of Bluetooth devices are 0000 and 1234. Or just enter the correct passcode if you already have it.
Also make sure that the device you’re pairing with your iPhone is set to Pairing mode. Otherwise, your iPhone won’t be able to recognize it. You can refer to the user guide that came with your Bluetooth accessory to find out how to place it in pairing mode.
An alternative way to disable and re-enable Bluetooth connections on your iPhone is through the Airplane Mode toggle. Turning Airplane mode on disables the phone’s wireless radios along with other wireless features like Bluetooth and turning Airplane Mode off re-enables them. This trick effectively eliminates random flaws affecting various wireless functions of the phone and this could likewise be the key to rectifying Bluetooth pairing errors on your iPhone 11 at the moment.
To access and manage this feature, simply head over to Settings-> Airplane Mode menu then toggle the switch to turn Airplane Mode on and off.
After turning Airplane Mode off, you may have to re-enable it so you can start pairing. If Bluetooth is still not working properly after this, then try the next solution.
Second solution: Reboot your iPhone and Bluetooth device.
Various types of software issues can be resolved by a simple restart or soft reset on the phone. Hence if you haven’t already, consider a soft reset as your next potential solution to try on. This will clear out junk files that are stored among other Bluetooth caches including those that have caused conflicts and ruined its normal pairing sequence. Here’s how to soft reset your iPhone 11:
- Simultaneously press and hold the Side and Volume Up buttons for a few seconds.
- Release both buttons when the Slide to Power off bar appears.
- Swipe or drag the bar to turn your device off.
- After about 30 seconds, press and hold the Side button and then release when the Apple logo appears.
Your iPhone will now enter the boot sequence. While waiting for your iPhone to finish rebooting, go to your Bluetooth device then find the power switch to turn it off for a few seconds and then turn back on again. Once both devices are rebooted, retry pairing them and see if the pairing is successful already. If your iPhone still can’t pair with the device or if Bluetooth is still not working properly, then try the next solution.
Third solution: Delete Bluetooth connection and re-pair
One of the possible reasons as to why Bluetooth pairing doesn’t and can’t work is because the connection is corrupted. This is usually the case if you’ve already connected to that same Bluetooth device with your iPhone 11 and then suddenly you can’t get it to pair again. If this is the case, forgetting the problematic Bluetooth connection would be necessary. So here’s what you should do next:
- Go to your iPhone Settings-> Bluetooth menu and make sure that the Bluetooth switch is enabled so you can view the list of available Bluetooth devices within range.
- Select the Bluetooth device that you wish to forget.
- Tap the information “i” icon next to the name of the device.
- Tap Forget This Device.
- If prompted, tap Forget Device to confirm action.
The selected Bluetooth device will then be removed from the list. Repeat the same steps to forget other unused Bluetooth peripherals saved on your iPhone. Doing so will prevent any of these devices from causing conflict with your current Bluetooth connection.
Reboot your iPhone after forgetting all saved Bluetooth devices. As soon as it boots up completely, head back to Settings-> Bluetooth menu, then enable the Bluetooth switch. Wait for the list of available devices to populate then select the Bluetooth device that you want to pair with your iPhone 11. If your device is still not working properly after this, then perhaps that next solution will.
Fourth solution: Reset network settings to fix Bluetooth that’s not working properly
Network connectivity issues including network errors on your phone’s current network setting can also be underlying cause. To clear this out, resetting the network settings on your iPhone 11 can help. Doing so will erase all your current network configurations including any errors and then restores the original network values and options. Your Bluetooth connections will also be deleted along with other network information and Wi-Fi networks, hence you’ll need to set up Bluetooth like the first time you did after the reset. If you wish to proceed, just follow these steps:
- From your Home screen, tap Settings.
- Select General.
- Scroll down to and tap on Reset.
- Select Reset Network Settings from the given options.
- Enter your device passcode if prompted to continue.
- Then tap Reset Network Settings again to confirm that you want to reset network settings on your phone.
Your iPhone should restart when the reset is finished and then loads up the default network values and options. By then you can start enabling necessary features and set up a new Bluetooth connection.
Fifth solution: Reset your iPhone and Bluetooth device to factory defaults.
If none of the previous methods help and Bluetooth pairing still doesn’t work on your iPhone 11, resorting to a factory reset can be considered among the last options. This will erase everything from your iPhone including downloaded apps and files, saved contacts, customized settings, and other data stored on the internal memory. To recover all important files, be sure to back them up before you start erasing your device. Once you’ve secured the backup, continue with these steps to factory reset your iPhone 11 through settings:
- From the Home screen, tap Settings.
- Select General.
- Scroll down and tap on Reset.
- Select the option to Erase all content and settings. This will erase all customized options and new settings overrides from the recent update, including all saved information on the phone storage.
- Enter your device passcode if prompted to continue.
- Tap the option to Erase iPhone twice to confirm that you want to erase and restore factory default settings on your device.
On your Bluetooth device, find the reset button then long press on it to reset the device. This button is different from the power button and the label vary between devices. For further instructions on how to reset your Bluetooth device, refer to the user manual that came with it.
After resetting and restoring both devices to factory defaults, go to your iPhone and set up your Bluetooth connections as new. Be sure to place your Bluetooth device within range, if not, next to your iPhone and that it’s set to pairing mode.
Connect with us
We are committed to helping our readers fix the problems with their phones as well as learn how to properly use their devices. So, if you have other issues, you may visit our Help Guides page so you can check by yourself the articles we’ve already published that contain solutions to common problems. Also, we do create videos to demonstrate how things are done on your phone. Visit our Youtube Channel and please subscribe to it. Thanks.
ALSO READ: Five Common iPhone 11 Connectivity Issues and How to Fix Them
