Blue tooth connect issue

I have an 2018 IPad Pro, model MPDY2LL/A, running IOS version 17.1.2 (21B101). I have a IPhone 13 model NLAA3LL/A running IOS version 17.1.2 (21B101). They were connected thru Bluetooth until the most recent update on the IPhone 13. I have restarted both many times. I have made both forget they were once connected many times. I am able to connect other things to both thru the Bluetooth on each of them. They will not connect to each other no matter what I have tried. I can find no documentation saying they should not connect. Any advice on what to try next?

Many thanks for your help and time.

iPad Pro, iPadOS 17

Posted on Dec 3, 2023 1:09 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 3, 2023 3:13 PM

What, specifically, are you attempting to achieve by pairing an iPhone and iPad over a Bluetooth connection?


Whilst it is technically possible to do so, for the majority of applications, Bluetooth pairing of an iPad and iPhone is entirely pointless. If your intention is to use Cellular Hotspot features of your iPhone, this link is optimally achieved using the native WiFi hotspot connection - this being a largely automated process. Hotspot connections over WiFi offer substantially greater throughput, range and reliability.


How to set up a Personal Hotspot on your iPhone or iPad – Apple Support


If you still wish to pair your iPad and iPhone over Bluetooth, you first need to manually enable the hotspot feature on your iPhone:

Settings > Mobile Data > Personal Hotspot > Allow Others to Join - set to ON


Next, Bluetooth for both the iPad and iPhone must be placed in Discovery mode:

Settings > Bluetooth (accessing this page will automatically place the device in Discovery mode)


Whilst both iPad and iPhone are in Discovery mode, you can mutually pair the devices.


Again, I must stress, unless you have an unusual “edge case”, pairing of iPad and iPhone over Bluetooth has no benefit.


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3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 3, 2023 3:13 PM in response to Dogbone69

What, specifically, are you attempting to achieve by pairing an iPhone and iPad over a Bluetooth connection?


Whilst it is technically possible to do so, for the majority of applications, Bluetooth pairing of an iPad and iPhone is entirely pointless. If your intention is to use Cellular Hotspot features of your iPhone, this link is optimally achieved using the native WiFi hotspot connection - this being a largely automated process. Hotspot connections over WiFi offer substantially greater throughput, range and reliability.


How to set up a Personal Hotspot on your iPhone or iPad – Apple Support


If you still wish to pair your iPad and iPhone over Bluetooth, you first need to manually enable the hotspot feature on your iPhone:

Settings > Mobile Data > Personal Hotspot > Allow Others to Join - set to ON


Next, Bluetooth for both the iPad and iPhone must be placed in Discovery mode:

Settings > Bluetooth (accessing this page will automatically place the device in Discovery mode)


Whilst both iPad and iPhone are in Discovery mode, you can mutually pair the devices.


Again, I must stress, unless you have an unusual “edge case”, pairing of iPad and iPhone over Bluetooth has no benefit.


Jan 1, 2024 5:14 AM in response to Dogbone69

I also have an iPhone 13 and since the last 2 updates my Bluetooth won’t connect to my AirPods or my car or any other speakers. I have turned on and off multiple times, I have reset my network settings. It’s incredibly frustrating as I can’t utilise hands free in my car and I am unable to play music or audio books through AirPods or any speaker including my car.


There are a lot of people complaining that this is a bug from the last couple of updates. It’s not really good enough that Apple hasn’t released another update to rectify.

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Blue tooth connect issue

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