iPhone Bluetooth Spinning Wheel in iOS 17/16? Here is the Real Fix

Video Guide: Fix iPhone Bluetooth Not Working without Data Loss

Tip 1. Turn Bluetooth Off And Then Back On

The first and easiest thing that you can do to fix the Bluetooth won't connect problem is to turn it off and switch it back on. There might be some connection error which is disrupting the device working. There are two methods which you can use to turn the Bluetooth on and off on the iPhone.

Way 1: Slide up to get to the Control Center and you will see the Bluetooth icon there. Click on the icon and make sure that the white light around the icon goes off. Wait for a few seconds and then tap on the icon again to switch it on.

     

Way 2: You can also turn Bluetooth on and off from Settings. Just go to Settings> Select Bluetooth> Toggle the bar to turn it off. Wait for a while and toggle the bar again to turn Bluetooth on.

     

Tip 2. Restart Your iPhone

Another fix that you should try immediately when the Bluetooth not working on iPhone X is a simple restart. The method to restart the iPhone models differs slightly. So, make sure that you follow the right steps.

For iPhone X and later:

Start by pressing and holding the Side button and either of the volume buttons. Wait until the slider pops up on the screen. Drag the slider to the right side and turn off your device. Now again press the Side button and wait until you see the Apple logo.

     

For iPhone 8 and earlier:

For the earlier models, you have to press the Top or side button and hold it. As the slider appears on the screen, drag it to the right side and the device will turn off. Turn on the device by pressing the Top or Side button. The apple logo on the screen is the indication that your device is restarting.

     

Tip 3. Update iOS 16 Software on Your iPhone

If you are still unable to get rid of iPhone Bluetooth spinning wheel or other problems, it is a sign that your device needs an update. It is recommended to regularly update your device to avoid software related issues. To update the software on your iPhone, you can follow two simple ways.

Update iPhone without iTunes:

Connect your device with a strong internet connection and open settings. Click on the General Settings and then Software Update option. Click on the Download and Install option to start the update and enter the passcode if any to confirm the update.

     

Update iPhone in iTunes:

The users can also update their iPhone with the help of iTunes. It is easy and fast as compared to the other method. Just launch iTunes on your system and open Summary tab. Click on the Check for Update option and iTunes will display the impending update.

     

Tap on the Download option and enter the passcode if any to update your device to the latest iOS 15 version.

Tip 4. Disconnect From Your Device And Reconnect Again

If the iPhone Bluetooth still not working, then you should try disconnecting it from a particular device and reconnecting it. To do so, follow the steps below:

Open Settings and go to Bluetooth option. There you will see the list of devices which are paired with your iPhone. Select the device you are trying to connect with and click on the "i" icon for more options. You will see the Disconnect option on the screen. Tap on it and the device will be disconnected from your iPhone.

     

Now, turn off Bluetooth and turn it on again. As the device is listed on the screen, click on it to pair with it. Keep the device within 33 feet and everything will be fine.

Tip 5. Forget the Bluetooth Device And Repair It Again

When you are facing problems with a particular device and the iPhone Bluetooth keeps disconnecting, it means the problem is on the other end. Try forgetting the device and pairing it again to see if the problem is fixed.

Step 1: Open Settings> select Bluetooth> and select the paired device which is showing a connection problem.

Step 2: Click on the "i" icon and select the Forget the Device option. Wait for a minute and pair the device with Bluetooth again.

There is a 50-50% chance that this will fix the problem.

Tip 6. Reset Network Settings:

At this point, you have tried the easy fixes, so it is time that you restore the device settings. It will fix all the network problems in iPhone along with Bluetooth. So, if the Bluetooth is not connecting, follow the steps as:

Step 1: Launch the Settings app and click on the General option. Scroll down and find the Reset option at the bottom of the list.

Step 2: In the Reset menu, click on the Reset Network Settings option. You will be prompted to enter your device passcode to confirm the action.

     

The network settings reset will restore the default settings of the iPhone and hopefully, the device will be able to connect with devices via Bluetooth.

Tip 7. Re-pair Bluetooth with Another Device

If the Bluetooth is paired but not connected, the problem might be with the other device. In order to confirm that your iPhone is exhibiting the problem, try to connect with other devices. It will give you assurance whether you need to repair your device or the Bluetooth feature on the other device.

Tip 8. Restore iPhone in iTunes (Data Loss)

As one of the last resort to iPhone not connecting to Bluetooth issue, you can try restoring the device in iTunes. So, whatever file or bug is causing the problem, it will also be eliminated from the device. But keep this mind that you will lose your data entirely.

Step 1: Run iTunes on the system and connect your iPhone with it. Go to the Summary tab and click on the Restore iPhone option.

     

Confirm the action and iTunes will clear all your device settings and data completely. Furthermore, you can restore the device from the recent backup of iTunes or icloud where the problem didn't exist during the setup process.