iPhone and iPod touch: Third-party headsets, headphones, and car kits

Summary

You can also use iPhone with other Bluetooth headsets and Bluetooth stereo headphones. If your car has a Bluetooth car kit, you can talk in your car hands-free without using a headset.

Products Affected

iPhone Accessories, iPhone, iPod touch (Late 2009), iPod touch (2nd generation)

You must first pair a Bluetooth device with iPhone before you can use it for your phone calls.

Pairing a Bluetooth headset, Bluetooth stereo headphones, or car kit

Pairing sets iPhone to work with a specific device. While iPhone can maintain multiple pairing records, it can connect to only one headset/hands-free device at a time. This prevents iPhone from sending your calls to some other headset.

Pair iPhone with a Bluetooth headset, Bluetooth stereo headphones, or car kit

Follow the instructions that came with the headset or car kit to make it discoverable or to set it to search for other Bluetooth devices. This may involve entering a passkey or PIN number.
From the Home screen, choose Settings > General > Bluetooth and turn Bluetooth on. iPhone searches for nearby Bluetooth devices.
Choose the headset or device on iPhone and enter a passkey or PIN number. The instructions that came with the headset or car kit should tell you how to get the passkey.

Routing calls through a Bluetooth headset, Bluetooth stereo headphones, car kit, or iPhone

After you’ve paired a Bluetooth device* to work with iPhone, you must make a connection to have iPhone use the device for your calls. To connect with a third-party Bluetooth device, see the documentation that came with the device.

When iPhone is connected to a Bluetooth device, all outgoing calls are routed through the device by default. Incoming calls are routed through the device if you answer using the device, and through iPhone if you answer using iPhone. In some cases, your contacts list transfers to the car kit and you can start a call by looking up a contact on the car kit’s display.

Once you have paired iPhone with a Bluetooth car kit, iPhone connects to the car kit automatically when you start your car (if you have iPhone with you and Bluetooth is turned on).

Only one Bluetooth device at a time can connect with iPhone.

Bluetooth status

You can see whether Bluetooth is on or off, and whether a Bluetooth device is connected to iPhone, by looking at the Bluetooth icon in the iPhone status bar at the top of the screen:

or (white): Bluetooth is on and a device is connected to iPhone.
(gray): Bluetooth is on but no device is connected. If you’ve paired a device with iPhone it may be out of range or turned off.
No Bluetooth icon in status bar: Bluetooth is turned off.

Stop using a headset, stereo headphones, or car kit

There are a few ways to stop using a headset or car kit and go back to hearing calls through iPhone.

Route calls through iPhone

Answer a call by tapping the iPhone touchscreen
During a call, tap Audio on iPhone. Choose iPhone to hear calls through iPhone, choose Speaker Phone to hear calls through the speakerphone, or choose a connected Bluetooth device.
Turn off Bluetooth.
Turn off the headset, stereo headphones, or car kit, or move out of range. You must be within 30 feet of a Bluetooth device for it to be connected to iPhone.

To turn off the iPhone Bluetooth Headset, press and hold the button until you hear the falling tones.

Unpairing a device from iPhone

If you’ve paired iPhone with a device and no longer wish to use that device, you may unpair the device. If you wish to leave the device paired, but route calls through a second, paired device, power off the first device and power on the second device. Then in Settings > General > Bluetooth tap on the device you wish to use.

From the Home screen choose Settings > General > Bluetooth. If Bluetooth isn’t on, turn it on.
Choose a device and tap Unpair.
Until you pair the device with iPhone again, iPhone doesn’t route calls through it.

* Use of Bluetooth stereo headphones requires iPhone OS 3.0 and an iPod touch (2nd generation), iPod touch (Late 2009), iPhone 3G, or iPhone 3GS. Not all Bluetooth stereo headphones include a mic. Only those with a mic and that support headset profiles or handsfree Bluetooth profiles can be used to make and receive calls.

Additional Information

Below are some simple steps you can take to troubleshoot Bluetooth connectivity between iPhone and Bluetooth devices.

Removing pairing records

When troubleshooting an issue with a previously paired accessory, first remove the pairing record from the iPhone or iPod touch.

1. Access the Bluetooth settings screen: Settings > General > Bluetooth.

2. Tap the arrow next to the accessory on the Bluetooth Settings screen.

3. Tap "Forget this Device" to delete the pairing record.

Unable to find nearby Bluetooth devices

If a pairing record already exists, the device does not appear as discoverable. Try to connect the device using that pairing record, or delete the record and pair again.
Ensure that the firmware or software on the Bluetooth device is up to date.
Ensure that the Bluetooth device is charged or connected to power.
Verify that the Bluetooth device is using a profile that works with the iPhone or iPod touch, such as Headset, Handsfree, or A2DP**.
Turn off both the iPhone or iPod touch and the Bluetooth device, then turn both devices on again.
If the issue persists, test Bluetooth with another device or consult the manufacturer’s documentation.

Unable to pair with Bluetooth device

Ensure that the Bluetooth device is in range. Most devices have a range of approximately 30 feet.
If a pairing record already exists with the Bluetooth device, the device will not show up as discoverable. Try connecting the device using that pairing record, or delete the record and try to pair again.
Ensure that the firmware or software on the Bluetooth device is up to date.
Verify the PIN code for the device. You may need to refer to your manufacturer’s documentation for this.
Ensure that the Bluetooth device is charged or connected to power.
Turn off both the iPhone or iPod touch and the Bluetooth device, then turn both devices on again.
If the issue persists, test Bluetooth with another device or consult the manufacturer’s documentation.

Cannot connect to a paired device

Ensure that the Bluetooth device is in range. Most devices have a range of approximately 30 feet.
Delete the pairing record and pair again.
Ensure that the firmware or software on the Bluetooth device is up to date.
Ensure that the Bluetooth device is charged or connected to power.
Turn off both the iPhone or iPod touch and the Bluetooth device, then turn both devices on again.
If the issue persists, test Bluetooth with another device or consult the manufacturer’s documentation.

Intermittent iPhone-to-Bluetooth device connectivity

Check for possible sources of radio-frequency (RF) interference.
See Avoiding radio frequency interference.

Difficulties with music playback through Bluetooth stereo headphones or car kits

If you have difficulties with music playback through your Bluetooth stereo headphones or car kit, take the following steps to resume music playback. First, attempt to pause and resume music playback. Then, if the issue persists:

Delete the pairing record, and pair again.
Ensure that the firmware or software on the Bluetooth device is up to date.
Ensure that the Bluetooth device is charged or connected to power.
Turn off both the iPhone or iPod touch and the Bluetooth device, then turn both devices on again.
If the issue persists, test Bluetooth with another device or consult the manufacturer’s documentation.

Difficulties with VoiceControl through Bluetooth headsets or car kits

VoiceControl with a Bluetooth car kit requires support for the BVRA protocol. This feature is not available with all Bluetooth car kits, or with all vehicles that offer built-in voice-control features. Refer to the manufacturer’s documentation for additional information.