Connect headphones, a speaker or your car to an iPhone or iPad

For: iPhone or iPad

Last checked October 14, 2026 against official help from Apple. Written for iOS 27 and iPadOS 27.

Bluetooth lets your iPhone or iPad talk to headphones, speakers and the car without a cord. You pair it once and it should connect on its own after that.

This page is for you if

  • New headphones or a speaker won't show up
  • The car won't connect to your phone
  • It used to connect and now it won't

Good to know first

Hearing aids have their own steps. See our hearing aid steps for iPhone and iPad.

Do these steps

  1. Step 1: Put the accessory in pairing mode

    Follow the accessory's instructions to make it ready to pair. This is often called pairing mode or discovery mode.

  2. Step 2: Turn on Bluetooth

    Open Settings and tap Bluetooth. Turn it on.

  3. Step 3: Tap the accessory

    Wait for its name to show up, then tap it. If it asks for a PIN, look in the accessory's instructions.

  4. Step 4: Stay close

    Keep the accessory and your iPhone or iPad close together while they connect.

If it won't connect

  1. Step 1: Turn the accessory off and on

    Turn it off, then back on. Charge it or put in fresh batteries.

  2. Step 2: Forget it and pair again

    In Settings, Bluetooth, tap the More Info button (i) next to the accessory. Tap Forget This Device. Then pair it again from step 1.

  3. Step 3: Unpair it from other devices

    Some accessories can only connect to one device at a time. Disconnect it from your other phones, tablets or computers.

Check it with the source

We wrote these steps from these official pages. If your screen looks different, the official page is always right.

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