This article teaches you how to connect your iPhone to an external Bluetooth speaker and what to do if your iPhone won’t recognize the speaker. 

What to Know

  • Press the pairing or power button on your Bluetooth speaker to initiate pairing. Tap Settings > Bluetooth > select your Bluetooth speaker to pair up.Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your iPhone first. Tap Settings > Bluetooth > toggle on Bluetooth.

How to Enable Bluetooth on iPhone

Before you connect your iPhone to a Bluetooth speaker, it’s important to make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your Apple device. Here’s how to enable Bluetooth on iPhone.

  • Tap Settings.
  • Tap Bluetooth.
  • Tap the toggle next to Bluetooth until it’s green.
  • Your iPhone now has Bluetooth enabled.

How Do I Get My iPhone to Recognize a Bluetooth Speaker?

To pair up a Bluetooth speaker with your iPhone, you’ll need to set the speaker up into pairing mode, so it’s ready to respond. Here’s what to do and how to pair up the two devices. 

These steps apply to all iOS devices including all models of iPhones and iPads.

Tap Settings.

Tap Bluetooth. 

Tap the toggle next to Bluetooth until it’s green.

Your iPhone now has Bluetooth enabled. 

  • On your Bluetooth speaker, look for a Bluetooth logo on a button. Press and hold the button until a light begins flashing.
  • Some devices may require you to press a different combination of buttons. Check the speaker manual for more details on how to put the Bluetooth speaker into pairing mode.
  • On your iPhone, tap Settings.
  • Tap Bluetooth.
  • Tap the name of the Bluetooth speaker once it appears.
  • Wait a moment for the iPhone to pair up with the speaker.
  • Your Bluetooth speaker and iPhone are now connected to each other.
  • Switch off your Bluetooth speaker to temporarily disconnect at any time.

Why Is My iPhone Not Connecting to My Bluetooth Speaker?

If you’ve followed the above steps and your iPhone won’t connect to your Bluetooth speaker, there’s usually a relatively simple solution. It could be the devices are too far from each other, or your iPhone’s Bluetooth isn’t on. Other possibilities may be the problem. Check our guide for when your iPhone Bluetooth is not working for more details. 

On your Bluetooth speaker, look for a Bluetooth logo on a button. Press and hold the button until a light begins flashing.

Some devices may require you to press a different combination of buttons. Check the speaker manual for more details on how to put the Bluetooth speaker into pairing mode. 

On your iPhone, tap Settings.

Tap Bluetooth.

Tap the name of the Bluetooth speaker once it appears.

Wait a moment for the iPhone to pair up with the speaker. 

Your Bluetooth speaker and iPhone are now connected to each other.

Switch off your Bluetooth speaker to temporarily disconnect at any time.

How Do I Play Music Through My Bluetooth Speaker?

You don’t need to do anything extra to play music through your Bluetooth speaker. Once the audio device pairs up with your iPhone, play music on your iPhone like you usually would, and the audio will play via your Bluetooth speaker. 

How to Unpair Your Bluetooth Speaker From Your iPhone

If you decide you no longer want to have your Bluetooth speaker paired to your iPhone, it’s simple enough to unpair the device. You may wish to do this if you’re selling the speaker or no longer use it. Here’s what to do.

  • Tap Settings.
  • Tap Bluetooth.
  • Tap the device name.
  • Tap Forget This Device.

Once unpaired, you’ll need to repair and reconnect the speaker to be able to use it again via your iPhone.

Tap the device name. 

Tap Forget This Device. 

  • How do you change your Bluetooth name on iPhone?
  • There are two methods you can try to change the Bluetooth name on an iPhone. One, go to Settings > General > About > Name and give your phone a new customized name. Or, two, go to Settings > Bluetooth > Choose connected Bluetooth accessory > Name.
  • How do you connect multiple Bluetooth speakers to an iPhone?
  • You can connect multiple smart speakers to your iPhone using a third-party app like AmpMe, Bose Connect, or Ultimate Ears.
  • How do you connect an iPhone to a car’s Bluetooth?
  • If your car supports CarPlay, plug your iPhone into the USB port, then press and hold the voice command button. In your iPhone, go to Settings > General > CarPlay > Available Cars and choose your vehicle. Check your vehicle’s manual for more information on how to pair with a Bluetooth device.
  • How do you connect two Bluetooth speakers to one iPhone?
  • Generally, you can only connect one Bluetooth speaker to a device at a time. A few apps, like AmpMe, Bose Connect, and Ultimate Ears, let you connect multiple speakers. You can also use Apple’s HomePod Stereo Pair feature to pair an iPhone with two HomePod speakers.

There are two methods you can try to change the Bluetooth name on an iPhone. One, go to Settings > General > About > Name and give your phone a new customized name. Or, two, go to Settings > Bluetooth > Choose connected Bluetooth accessory > Name.

You can connect multiple smart speakers to your iPhone using a third-party app like AmpMe, Bose Connect, or Ultimate Ears.

If your car supports CarPlay, plug your iPhone into the USB port, then press and hold the voice command button. In your iPhone, go to Settings > General > CarPlay > Available Cars and choose your vehicle. Check your vehicle’s manual for more information on how to pair with a Bluetooth device.

Generally, you can only connect one Bluetooth speaker to a device at a time. A few apps, like AmpMe, Bose Connect, and Ultimate Ears, let you connect multiple speakers. You can also use Apple’s HomePod Stereo Pair feature to pair an iPhone with two HomePod speakers.

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