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Manually add and sync a Bluetooth device to your iPhone with this user-friendly guide
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Do you have Bluetooth accessories you want to link to your Apple iPhone? Once you put your Bluetooth device in discovery mode, you can easily pair it with your iPhone or iPad in the Bluetooth menu. This menu can be quickly accessed in the Control Center, or you can find it in the Settings app. This wikiHow will show you how to connect your Bluetooth headset, speaker, wearable, or any other accessory with your iPhone or iPad. You'll also learn some simple troubleshooting tips in case something doesn't go as planned.
Things You Should Know
- Turn on your Bluetooth accessory and, if needed, put it in discover mode. This may be done by pressing the Bluetooth button.
- Swipe down (or up) on the screen to open the Control Center. Long-press the Bluetooth icon, tap it, and then long-press again.
- Select your Bluetooth accessory from the list. If you don't see it, go to "Settings" → "Bluetooth" → toggle it off and on again.
Steps
Section 1 of 2:
Pairing a Device
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Turn on the Bluetooth accessory. Make sure your Bluetooth accessory is fully charged and turned on before attempting to pair. Depending on the accessory, you may have to press a button or activate a switch to power it on.- Make sure your Bluetooth accessory and the iPhone are within close range. The range may vary by accessory, but no more than 30 feet apart is recommended.
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Put the accessory into pairing mode. The accessory must be in pairing mode so that your iPhone can detect it. Some accessories automatically go into pairing mode when turned on, while others require you to press a button or select an option from a menu. You can usually figure out if an accessory, such as a speaker , is in pairing mode by checking the behavior of an LED light. For example, sometimes a light will blink on a device when it's ready for pairing.- If you're not sure how to enable pairing mode, check the device's manual.
- "Pairing mode" is sometimes referred to "discover mode" or "making the device discoverable."
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Open your iPhone's Control Center. If you're using an iPhone X or later, swipe down from the top-right corner of the home screen. [1] X Research source On earlier iPhones, swipe up from the bottom of the home screen. -
Tap and hold the Bluetooth icon. A pop-up screen with more icons will appear.
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Tap Bluetooth to turn it on (if it's off). If you see the word "Off" below the "Bluetooth" icon, tap the icon once to turn it on. Bluetooth is enabled once the icon turns blue.- If you don't see this option, you may be using an older version of iOS. To pair your accessory, open the Settings , select Bluetooth option, and slide the "Bluetooth" switch to the On (green position). Then, skip to Step 7.
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Tap and hold the Bluetooth icon. This time, your iPhone will scan for nearby accessories in pairing mode and display them in a list.
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Tap your accessory's name to start pairing. If a pairing password is not required, you should be able to start using your Bluetooth accessory with the iPhone immediately. If you are prompted to enter a password, the password may be in your accessory's manual (or on its screen, if there is one). Common factory-generated passwords include 0000, 1111, and 1234. If you can't find a password, try one of these.- Now that the accessory is paired, it will always appear as a pairing option in your Bluetooth settings. You will not have to go through the process of pairing the two again unless you tell your iPhone to unpair or "forget" the accessory.
- Keep the accessory in range of your iPhone when in use. You'll need to stay within range to maintain the connection.
- When not in use, Bluetooth will stay on. To completely turn it off , you'll need to open the Settings app, tap Bluetooth , and toggle it off.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionCan I use Bluetooth for transferring songs or images?Community AnswerYes, but you can only transfer songs or images between two iPhones. If you want to transfer files between an iPhone and an Android, you will need to download some apps to help you transfer the files.
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QuestionWhat do I do if it says connection unsuccessful?Community AnswerMake sure airplane mode is turned off and that the Wi-Fi is on. Wait a few minutes and try pairing it again. Don't keep pushing the button for that will mess it up and might make it load longer.
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QuestionHow do I disengage my phone ringer/text when using Bluetooth speakers?Community AnswerUse Do not Disturb (the Moon icon in the swipe-up Control Center).
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About This Article
Article Summary
X
1. Put the accessory into pairing mode.
2. Open the iPhone's Control Center.
3. Tap and hold Bluetooth
.
4. Turn on Bluetooth.
5. Tap and hold Bluetooth again.
6. Select the Bluetooth accessory.
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- "I had trouble. My iPhone somehow became unpaired and this article helped me pair it again! I wouldn't have figured it out without these instructions!" ..." more
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"I had trouble. My iPhone somehow became unpaired and this article helped me pair it again! I wouldn't have figured it out without these instructions!"
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