iPhone 3GS Bluetooth Not Working

Tuesday, 14 Jul 2009 at 12:28 pm 45 Comments
Categories: Gadgets
Tags: Apple, Bluetooth, iPhone

I was disappointed to find out that the iPhone bluetooth is Not working as expected. This is the first phone with bluetooth which I owned that is not connecting with my PC. I have used Nokia and Sony Ericsson bluetooth to connect my PC and backup my phones. With iPhone, the only way is to use the USB cable to connect to your PC.

The iPhone crippled bluetooth can use bluetooth earpiece or bluetooth headset.

iPhone does not support:
- Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP)
- Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP)
- Basic Imaging Profile (BIP)
- Basic Printing Profile (BPP)
- Cordless Telephony Profile (CTP)
- Device ID Profile (DID)
- Dial-up Networking Profile (DUN)
- Fax Profile (FAX)
- File Transfer Profile (FTP)
- General Audio/Video Distribution Profile (GAVDP)
- Generic Access Profile (GAP)
- Generic Object Exchange Profile (GOEP)
- Human Interface Device Profile (HID)
- Intercom Profile (ICP)
- Object Push Profile (OPP)
- Personal Area Networking Profile (PAN)
- Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP)
- Serial Port Profile (SPP)
- Service Discovery Application Profile (SDAP)
- SIM Access Profile (SAP,SIM)
- Synchronisation Profile (synch)
- Video Distribution Profile (vdp)
- Wireless Application Protocol Bearer (WAPB)
Source: iPhone’s Bluetooth is dumb, purposely crippled or both?

iPhone 3GS Bluetooth with Windows Vista

As for the new iPhone 3GS, Windows Vista may the the culprit that prevent proper communication over bluetooth. My Vista kept asking to look for “Bluetooth Peripheral Device”?! Apparently, Vista does not have a driver to support iPhone 3GS bluetooth profiles.

If you manage to connect using bluetooth for Internet tethering, leave a comment below.

[Update 18 Aug 2009] iPhone 3GS Bluetooth Internet Tethering
Managed to connect my MacBook Pro via bluetooth to iPhone internet tethering after performing latest software updates including the latest version of iTune 8.2.1 (6).

[Update 28 Jan 2010] Steve Jobs announced the Apple iPad yesterday. Will the iPad be another crippled device?

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Comments

16 Jul 2009 @ 12:34 am

Kynne says

It does not even work with my Macbook Pro.
20 Jul 2009 @ 6:28 pm

Akid Lee says

Hi, Does it mean there’s no way we can use bluetooth on iPhone 3Gs?
20 Jul 2009 @ 10:03 pm

wassup says

You can use bluetooth earpiece with iPhone 3GS. As for connecting to the PC, probably need to wait for Windows driver updates.
28 Jul 2009 @ 4:00 pm

Cyj says

but cn still transfer files(songs/pictures) from friends or to friends etc. right??
28 Jul 2009 @ 4:06 pm

wassup says

Should be but haven’t tried. None of my friends want to use BT to transfer files from phone to phone
29 Jul 2009 @ 11:25 am

Nhover says

my name is nhover o buy iphone 3gs but i cant see the blue tooth icon in my fone… where can i see it ????
29 Jul 2009 @ 8:21 pm

Dicko says

My Bluetooth handsfree works great in the car. But Definitely cannot connect with the Vista PC. Real bugger as I don’t like carrying extra cables to keep everything in synch.
3 Aug 2009 @ 12:54 am

NIck says

I am so sick of companies playing these types of games with us! $300 for an “advanced” phone that does not utilize legacy technologies found in phones much, much, cheaper! WTF is going on out there. And are we all just idiots for taking this!
18 Aug 2009 @ 3:23 pm

iPhone 3GS Internet Tethering via Bluetooth says

[...] you’ve read my earlier post on iPhone 3GS Bluetooth Function Crippled, I had no luck trying to connect the iPhone to my VAIO laptop via Bluetooth internet [...]
9 Sep 2009 @ 7:36 am

icekodiak says

I have successfully connected the iphone 3gs to my Dell XPS Laptop and have used the internet tethering via the bluetooth connection but still can’t get the PC to sync the phone due to the missing drivers.
12 Sep 2009 @ 11:42 am

sam says

Iphone’s internet tethering thru bluetooth works flawlessly!!!
Just need to know how to configure it, below are the steps.
Just follow and enjoy the iphone bluettooth service

I just bought an iphone 3gs and the bluetooth tethering option works magnificently, below are the steps for Windows Vista:

1) Make sure you computers wireless/bluetooth button is on by turning it on, when you turn on message will popup on right bottom of screen saying wireless/bluetooth on.

2) On the Iphone, go to settings->general->network->internet teethering and tap on button, it will show you 2 options, bluetooth or USB, tap bluee tooth.

3) On the Iphone , go to settings->general->bluetooth and tap on to turn it on, it it will say bluetooth on and now discoveratble.

4) On Windows Vista, right click network icon on right bottom tray and choose network and sharing center, it will open window, choose manage network connections. It will shown you bluetooth network devices in the bottom, right click that and choose view bluetooth devices, there click add to Add iphone as a bluee tooth device.

Now enjoy your Iphone internet service through blue tooth.
16 Sep 2009 @ 5:25 am

Big Dog Knew says

Does anyone have any advice for when the iPhone doesn’t appear in the PAN device list? using the 3G S
20 Sep 2009 @ 2:22 am

Hitsugaya says

Is it possible for the iPhone to connect to other phone devices to send files?
27 Sep 2009 @ 10:31 pm

booket says

iphone bluetooth is a joke it is locked and will never be able to connect to other models other than iphone, you need cydia to jail break and a bluetooth application to use bluetooth as normal person, apple are a joke.
3 Oct 2009 @ 11:39 pm

sagar says

we can connect only by iphone to iphone..in 3GS…
3 Oct 2009 @ 11:40 pm

sagar says

no other devices are found on iphone except iphone..
11 Oct 2009 @ 10:46 am

What3GS says

Anyone have problem sysn the 3gs with the gps with Bluetooth ? I am able the sysn my 3g but not the 3gs at all. The 3gs cannot find my gps bluetooth. Anyone can help?

Thanks
21 Oct 2009 @ 11:42 am

3gsboy says

i totally agree to all of you guys here….my iphone 3gs can connect with our cars even with BT Audio….no hassle but…when pairing to our windows vista pcs….it coudn’t even be detected …..very disappointing!!!
4 Nov 2009 @ 12:52 pm

Bilal says

I recently bought iPhone 3gs and I am pretty much disappointed by the fact that Apple has not been fair to its customers in terms of providing this basic technology that is even available in the cheapest mobile these days.

The bluetooth on my iPhone does not even find other iPhones in the range… what a piece of crap.. I would have thrown it away if I never got in love with the UI of this phone.
7 Nov 2009 @ 5:36 am

Cat says

I want to transfer my photos and contact list from my Palm Treo Pro to my iPhone via Bluetooth. As I am now reading here, it’s probably impossible. Am I right?
8 Nov 2009 @ 6:25 am

Andy says

I only have an Iphone 3G and you can’t bluetooth from iphone to anyother phone. The only way I did it when I upgraded from Nokia N95 to Iphone was to back up contacts onto pc via outlook then sync your iphone to PC via USB and it will sync the contacts to your iphone and then it will auto sync when changes are made. I am very disappointed in Apple and the only way you can get round it is to jail break it through software which is available on the internet as far as I know.
12 Nov 2009 @ 5:40 pm

rocke says

It was really disappointing and embarrassing when I wasnt able to transfer songs/photos from/to my friends having much cheaper phones while they could do it like in fraction of a second.

I hate Apple and their policies !!!
15 Dec 2009 @ 7:31 pm

Dariel says

I bought the iphone 3gs 2 weeks ago and tried using the bluetooth. Somehow it doesn’t seem to be able to find any device at all. Can someone please advise how can I make it work? My friend who has the phone also can’t seem to get the bluetooth working
15 Dec 2009 @ 7:32 pm

Dariel says

to add, we can’t even find each other when we are holding 2 iphones side by side….
15 Dec 2009 @ 9:33 pm

Hanniepie says

Me and my Husband bought Iphone 3Gs 32GB, and both bluetooth function can’t be used nor work! I’m so mad! I didnt have iphone before so I didnt know this bluetooth flaws! I used LG and samsung, it works wonderful in their bluetooth features. THis Iphone sucks if you consider using bluetooth other features are OK, i been using this a lot! and now I dont have choice but to use usb cable instead! not convenient, if you want to transfer or share files to your friends wirelessly!
15 Dec 2009 @ 9:38 pm

Hanniepie says

And, I tried to pair it with my Mac Book, its the same problem! Iphone to Iphone same problem, can’t transfer anything. Pairing doesn’t work! Iphone always into searching devices…….

I thought just my setting! But its really a known Iphone Bluetooth problem!

Apple co. should pay attention and do some fixes! SOOOOON!
31 Dec 2009 @ 5:04 am

Glenn says

Is der nt an app u can get t send via Bluetooth n recurve tru Bluetooth the fella in the shop told me it does send and recurve so there fore I tink I am goin t bring it bak?!
4 Jan 2010 @ 9:49 am

gustavo Leon Madrigal says

I am not sure, but, looks like apple doers not care…My Iphone 3gs is not connecting to anything…I am getting tired…
6 Jan 2010 @ 6:57 am

Edgar says

I lost my iphone and even though I was really dependent on it, I was able to survive, now I don’t miss it. But I do want to get a 3gs, but have heard that the bluetooth feature still does not work. Is it worth it?
6 Jan 2010 @ 10:26 am

iPhone App Developer says

I have a good time laughing, obviously too many of you did not do any homework before jumping onto the iPhone wagon.

There are many functions Apple products come without, especially when compared to Windows side of things — not that it is bad, mind you, coz Apple almost always see far ahead and mercilessly remove technology that is going obsolete, like being the first to sell a computer with Floppy Disk Drive in 1997. Many cried murder back then, I took Apple’s words for it and never use a floppy disk since then, only to see those angry protesters slowly joining me.

Apple may or may not let us transfer files or sync with our PC via BT in the future, but for now, if you look carefully, there are, IMHO, better ways to get the job done.

Enjoy your iPhone!
6 Jan 2010 @ 10:29 am

iPhone App Developer says

Correction:

Line 7: “like being the first to sell a computer with Floppy Disk Drive in 1997.”

should be “like being the first to sell a computer WITHOUT Floppy Disk Drive in 1997.”

I am referring to the original iMac, I might add.
13 Jan 2010 @ 10:29 am

Fidah says

hi..
i tried to bluetooth a song from Sony Ericsson to I-Phone but cannot. And I’ve already paired the devices. From I-phone it says connected to the Sony Ericsson device but bluetooth still fails. Any help? Thanks
17 Jan 2010 @ 1:48 pm

Stephen Collins says

Sorry to all you guys and gals out there for your BT woes! I felt cheated when I bought mine, my local electronics store said yeh it has BT…it says so on the box! Well yes it does say so on the box? it does pair with a BT earpiece “great for taxi drivers!!?) so not a complete lie, but not exactly honest either is it?

Point of my story is this…I sold mine cos’ I was pissed off with lack of BT & SD and really hated iTunes with a passion!! 6 weeks later…….can’t find any other smartphone that even comes close to that beautiful screen, I’ve demo’d all of them HTC HD II, Storm II and all the others. Sad but true, gonna have to get another iPhone!!!!! funny eh, that damn screen and those apps are just too hard to beat…..right now, but I live in hope.
19 Jan 2010 @ 1:24 pm

Captcunny says

You know, I just spent 1000 USD for a 3GS/32. It is so nice but…the limitations are well worth the attributes.
My wife is beautiful….and only has one leg. ALL the other stuff works REALLY well….and I love her. I love my iphone too even though it only has one leg.
20 Jan 2010 @ 11:46 pm

nasir says

i thnk apple ahould bring some software so dat we can use bluetooth wid other devices of different companies or else i m goin to throw my i pone 3gs
26 Jan 2010 @ 2:30 pm

Brown says

I’m really sick and tired of listening to sycophants espousing the attributes of an iPhone whose technology is ridiculously under developped. People use BT to send files wirelessly in EUROPE and ASIA. US well leaves much to be desired as they just discovered SMS. NO I do not wish to only have the choice of connecting to the internet only to have to share files with my computer. How ridiculously outdated is this notion? What happens you simpletons that point that out when there is no internet connection. Would you like to pay my 3G bill for sharing my file, if so, please leave me your details and I’ll be glad to send you the bill. So shut up and LISTEN to what people are asking. NO I did not buy an iPhone to play games. I am not a 20 year old with an IQ of a chair. I bought it like many others have pointed out on this blog for a replacement to my Nokia Eseries and NO this paperweight called an iPhone does not even compare to half the features that Nokia or Blackberry offers. In today’s day and age, all they had to do was take a Blackberry or Nokia Eseries phone and re-engineered it while adding some of the new features that iPhone has. But instead gave us nothing more than a playstation and touted it to be like a BlackBerry or iPhone. This is not the case for the MAC. Moreover, how silly are they that they ask us to go and buy a competitor’s office docs when they have a proper office doc on their MAC called iWorks? Who does this? It’ll be like Microsoft telling people to go and buy Office from a competitor to use on their phones. iPhone, for all those sycophants, if you remove your blinders, there are phones that are much much much better. Like Samsung or LG which have touch screens and all the myriad functions that iPhone espouses and have coupled it with the functions of Blackberry and Nokia. Had I known this at the time I would have bought either a Samsung or an LG but now I’m stuck with this papeweight, and I currently have gone back to using my Nokia. Moreover, having 5 pages of emoticons, accounts as only 1 APP not each is an app as they are all based on the same app “EMOTICONS”. So that to me is already misinformation as there are no 400,000 apps based on what I described above. Now having 200,000 mindless games does not constitute a proper app store nor would I want an app that tells me my BMI on my iPhone. I want a phone that works as a phone that I can access wirelessly with Bluetooth, that allows me to reply, forward or cancel an SMS WHILE THE PHONE IS IN A DORMANT STATE not simply tell me of the SMS as is the case. So YES as the person succinctly put it we are buying a phone circa 1999 in 2010 and that is the same as buying a Laptop with no USB because hey, to the moron “iphone Developer”, firewire is the technology of the future. So moron, what about the entire marketplace that’s still using USB are we supposed to play with our genitals until the technology catches up with us. Moreover, marketing 101 dictates that you should listen to the marketplace and they’re all asking for BT so who are you to argue otherwise and you call yourself an iPhone Developer. Let me guess you’re in your bloody twenties, mooching off your mother and father sitting bare naked in your flat in front of your computer and most likely have an IQ of a chair like everyone of your generation.
31 Jan 2010 @ 3:47 pm

dana says

We cannot use bluetooth with iPhone 3GS. As for connecting to the PC or connecting to mobile
3 Feb 2010 @ 12:49 pm

Larry says

Jebus, must have found the retard thread here…unless it’s just an American thing. lol
BT on 3GS wll connect to PC & various devices. The bells n whistles will vary. Now hand in your thumbs & please exit the gene pool
6 Feb 2010 @ 5:41 am

Damon says

I could connect my 3GS to my PC at one time but the BT adapter failed on my pc …replaced it and now I can not.

Something has changed somewhere. Either a windows update or iphone update is preventing it from seeing my pc.

My PC finds my iphone fine but asks for a driver. My iPhone is not seeing my PC.
6 Feb 2010 @ 5:44 am

Damon says

BTW Larry your post was most helpful, thanks for that great advice. My BT still does not work with my PC
10 Feb 2010 @ 12:15 pm

Essential iPhone Accessories says

[...] am thinking of getting a bluetooth headset for my iPhone but really concerned if the iPhone bluetooth connectivity and voice [...]
11 Feb 2010 @ 6:50 am

Karmita says

Someone mentioned there were apps available via cydia that give normal functionality to the bluetooth. Could someone give the names of these apps?
And I must say that I agree with everyone, iPhone’s Bluetooth sucks
14 Feb 2010 @ 2:38 pm

caleb wynn says

It all depends on what kind of bluetooth your PC has and what version of windows you are running. I have a new sony vaio and it has stereo bluetooth so I can play a song on my Iphone 3GS and here the sound out of my vaio speakers via bluetooth. I am running windows 7 64 bit. The Iphone also connects via bluetooth to my mp3 deck in my car to play music from my Iphone and to talk hands free when I get a phone call. iPhone Support:

Hands-Free Profile (HFP)
Headset Profile (HSP)

iPhone Does Not Support:

Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP)
Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP)
Basic Imaging Profile (BIP)
Basic Printing Profile (BPP)
Cordless Telephony Profile (CTP)
Device ID Profile (DID)
Dial-up Networking Profile (DUN)
Fax Profile (FAX)
File Transfer Profile (FTP)
General Audio/Video Distribution Profile (GAVDP)
Generic Access Profile (GAP)
Generic Object Exchange Profile (GOEP)
Human Interface Device Profile (HID)
Intercom Profile (ICP)
Object Push Profile (OPP)
Personal Area Networking Profile (PAN)
Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP)
Serial Port Profile (SPP)
Service Discovery Application Profile (SDAP)
SIM Access Profile (SAP,SIM)
Synchronisation Profile (synch)
Video Distribution Profile (vdp)
Wireless Application Protocol Bearer (WAPB)
14 Feb 2010 @ 2:44 pm

caleb wynn says

here is some software to transfer all your iphone files (music,photo,ect) to your pc

link http://www.filetransit.com/view.php?id=77825
13 Mar 2010 @ 6:17 pm

moon says

iphone Bt really suck.. now i can’t transfer my file from my sony ericsson to iphone…. SUCK for Apple!

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iPhone 3GS Bluetooth Not Working

iPhone 3GS Bluetooth with Windows Vista

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Comments

Kynne says

Akid Lee says

wassup says

Cyj says

wassup says

Nhover says

Dicko says

NIck says

iPhone 3GS Internet Tethering via Bluetooth says

icekodiak says

sam says

Big Dog Knew says

Hitsugaya says

booket says

sagar says

sagar says

What3GS says

3gsboy says

Bilal says

Cat says

Andy says

rocke says

Dariel says

Dariel says

Hanniepie says

Hanniepie says

Glenn says

gustavo Leon Madrigal says

Edgar says

iPhone App Developer says

iPhone App Developer says

Fidah says

Stephen Collins says

Captcunny says

nasir says

Brown says

dana says

Larry says

Damon says

Damon says

Essential iPhone Accessories says

Karmita says

caleb wynn says

caleb wynn says

moon says

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