If your iPhone to iPhone Bluetooth is not working, start by checking Bluetooth on both phones and keeping them close together. Then restart both iPhones and try again. If you are trying to send photos, videos, or other files, you may actually need AirDrop rather than a regular Bluetooth connection.
This can be confusing because iPhones use Bluetooth for several features, but they do not work like older phones that let you pair two devices and send files directly over Bluetooth. The right fix depends on what you are trying to do.
Here are the most useful things to try before assuming something is wrong with your iPhone.
Make sure Bluetooth is turned on
It sounds obvious, but this is worth checking first.
Open Settings > Bluetooth on both iPhones and make sure Bluetooth is turned on. While you are there, leave the Bluetooth screen open for a moment and see whether the other device appears when appropriate.
You can also turn Bluetooth off, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on. Sometimes the connection simply needs to be refreshed.
Also make sure both phones are unlocked while you are testing them. If one iPhone is sitting locked on a table, some features may not behave the way you expect.
Put the two iPhones close together
Bluetooth is designed for nearby devices, so keep the two iPhones next to each other while troubleshooting.
You do not need to put them directly against each other, but there is no reason to test a connection with one phone in another room. Move them away from other electronic devices if you are having trouble and try again.
If the phones work when they are close together but lose the connection as you move away, distance or interference may be contributing to the problem.
Restart both iPhones
A restart is one of the easiest things to try, and it can clear temporary software problems affecting Bluetooth.
Turn off both iPhones, wait a few seconds, and turn them back on. Once they have started up, turn Bluetooth on again and test the connection.
This is especially worth trying if Bluetooth was working earlier and suddenly stopped. A temporary iOS or connection issue does not necessarily mean the phone has a hardware problem.
Disconnect other Bluetooth devices
Take a look at what else is connected to each iPhone.
Your phone may already be connected to AirPods, a car stereo, wireless headphones, a speaker, or another Bluetooth accessory. Disconnect anything you do not need while testing the connection between the two phones.
Go to Settings > Bluetooth and check the list of connected devices.
You do not necessarily need to forget every device. Disconnecting the accessories temporarily is enough to see whether they are causing a conflict.
Did the iPhones connect before?
If these two iPhones worked together previously and suddenly stopped, an old connection may be part of the problem.
Where a Bluetooth pairing is available, open Settings > Bluetooth, find the device, tap the information button, and choose Forget This Device. You can then try connecting again.
However, there is an important point here: two iPhones are not normally paired together for standard Bluetooth file transfers in the same way you might pair an iPhone with a speaker or headphones.
If you are trying to move pictures, videos, contacts, or documents from one iPhone to another, there is a much easier option.
Use AirDrop when sending files between iPhones
If the reason you searched for iPhone to iPhone Bluetooth not working is because you are trying to send something from one phone to another, try AirDrop.
AirDrop is Apple’s built-in way to share photos, videos, documents, contacts, and other supported content with nearby Apple devices. Bluetooth helps the devices discover each other, while Wi-Fi is used for the transfer.
On both iPhones, go to:
Settings > General > AirDrop
Choose the appropriate receiving option and make sure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are turned on.
The receiving iPhone should also be unlocked and reasonably close to the sending phone.
For a quick test, you can temporarily select Everyone for 10 Minutes on the receiving iPhone. Once you have finished sharing, you can change the setting back.
If AirDrop works, there may not actually be a Bluetooth problem with the phones.
Check your iOS version
If Bluetooth or AirDrop suddenly stopped working, check whether either iPhone has an iOS update waiting.
Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
If an update is available, follow Apple’s instructions to install it. It is a good idea to have the phone connected to power or have enough battery before starting the update.
If one iPhone is running an older version of iOS and the other has been updated recently, updating both devices can also help rule out software compatibility problems.
Turn Bluetooth off and back on
If you have not already tried it, give Bluetooth a clean restart.
Go into Settings, turn Bluetooth off, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on.
It is better to use the Bluetooth setting inside the Settings app while troubleshooting rather than relying only on the Control Center shortcut. The Control Center Bluetooth button does not always behave the same way as completely disabling the feature from Settings.
After turning Bluetooth back on, give the phone a moment and test the connection again.
Reset network settings if nothing else helps
If Bluetooth is still acting up after the basic fixes, resetting network settings is an option.
On the iPhone, go to:
Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings
There is an important catch. This does more than reset Bluetooth. It also removes saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords along with other network-related settings.
That means you will need to reconnect to Wi-Fi afterward.
For that reason, it is better to leave this step until you have already tried the simpler fixes above.
Find out whether the problem is the iPhone itself
One of the easiest ways to narrow down a Bluetooth problem is to test the phone with another compatible Bluetooth device.
For example, if iPhone A cannot connect to iPhone B, see whether iPhone A can connect normally to a pair of Bluetooth headphones or another accessory.
You can also test iPhone B separately.
This gives you a better idea of where the problem is coming from. If one phone has trouble connecting to several different Bluetooth devices while the other phone works normally, the issue may be specific to that iPhone.
The same applies if Bluetooth will not stay enabled, nearby devices never appear, or several wireless features stopped working at the same time.
Could physical damage affect Bluetooth?
It is possible.
If Bluetooth problems started after dropping your iPhone, exposing it to liquid, or having another type of physical damage, there may be a hardware issue involved.
Software troubleshooting will not repair a damaged component. If the phone has other symptoms at the same time, such as charging problems, microphone issues, Wi-Fi problems, or unexpected shutdowns, it is worth having the device checked.
For Orlando customers, Fast Money Electronics offers iPhone repair and can inspect an iPhone when a connectivity problem does not go away with normal troubleshooting.
What if Bluetooth works with other devices?
If your iPhone connects normally to AirPods, a car stereo, or another Bluetooth accessory, but you cannot get two iPhones to connect, that does not automatically mean the Bluetooth hardware is faulty.
The more likely issue is that you are trying to use Bluetooth for something iPhones handle through another feature, such as AirDrop.
This is why it helps to start with what you are actually trying to accomplish.
If you simply want to move a photo from one iPhone to another, open the photo, tap the Share button, and use AirDrop. There is usually no reason to create a traditional Bluetooth pairing first.
What if AirDrop is not working either?
If AirDrop is the feature giving you trouble, check both phones rather than focusing only on Bluetooth.
Make sure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are turned on. Keep the phones nearby and make sure the receiving iPhone is unlocked.
Then check Settings > General > AirDrop.
You can also restart both phones and try again. If Personal Hotspot is active, turn it off while testing AirDrop.
For a quick test, set the receiving phone to Everyone for 10 Minutes and try sending a small photo.
If AirDrop still does not detect the other iPhone, check whether both phones are updated and whether either device has other wireless connectivity problems.
When should you have the iPhone checked?
If you have restarted the phone, checked Bluetooth, updated iOS, tested another Bluetooth device, and tried the other steps above without any improvement, it may be time to stop troubleshooting and have the phone inspected.
This is particularly true if the problem started after physical damage.
You do not want to keep changing settings if the underlying issue is hardware-related.
If you are in Orlando and need help diagnosing an iPhone problem, Fast Money Electronics can help with iPhone repair. You can also contact Fast Money Electronics to ask about the issue before bringing the device in.
Need help with an iPhone that still will not connect?
If Bluetooth is not working with multiple devices, or the problem started after damage, professional diagnosis can help determine whether the issue is software or hardware. Contact Fast Money Electronics to discuss the problem and find out what repair options may be available.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Bottom Line
When iPhone to iPhone Bluetooth is not working, first figure out whether you actually need a Bluetooth connection. If you are trying to transfer photos, videos, contacts, or other files, AirDrop is usually the right tool.
For a genuine Bluetooth problem, start with the basics: check the settings, keep the phones close, restart both devices, disconnect other accessories, and make sure iOS is up to date.
If Bluetooth has stopped working with several devices or the problem began after physical damage, the issue may need more than a settings change.
Still Having Bluetooth Problems?
If your iPhone still will not connect after trying these fixes, it may be time to have it checked by a professional. Fast Money Electronics provides iPhone repair in Orlando and can help diagnose connectivity and other iPhone issues.