Permanently disable Bluetooth on your iPhone or iPad with this user-friendly guide

Does Bluetooth keep turning itself back on after you turn it off on your iPhone? Some users have noticed Bluetooth turns itself back on automatically. This is because most users use the Control Panel to disable Bluetooth. If you want to prevent Bluetooth from turning back on automatically, you need to disable it in the Settings menu instead. This wikiHow article will teach you how to disable Bluetooth on iOS 16 so that it doesn't turn back on.

Things You Should Know

  • You must turn off Bluetooth in the Settings. Otherwise, it will turn back on the next day. If you have an older iOS version, it may turn on again after restarting.
  • Open "Settings" → "Bluetooth" → toggle off "Bluetooth".
  • To forget a Bluetooth device, open "Settings" → "Bluetooth" → (device name) "i" → "Forget This Device" → "Forget Device".
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Turning off Bluetooth

  1. 1
    Open the Settings app. The Settings menu has an icon that resembles two silver gears. Tap the Settings icon on your Home screen to open the Settings menu on your iPhone.[1]
    • Make sure to update your iPhone to the newest available version. This includes common bug fixes and security updates.
    • In older versions, Bluetooth may turn on again if you restart your iPhone.
  2. 2
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  3. 3
    Tap the toggle switch to turn it off . It's the toggle switch at the top of the menu next to "Bluetooth." The color of the toggle switch should turn from green to grey. A pop-up may appear asking if you are sure you want to disable Bluetooth.
    • If a pop-up menu appears, tap Turn Off to confirm.
    • To turn off Wi-Fi on iPhone, open SettingsWi-Fi → toggle off Wi-Fi.
      • You can also stop auto-joining Wi-Fi networks. Tap Ask to Join Networks and select Ask. You'll be asked to confirm before joining any networks.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Forgetting Bluetooth Devices

  1. 1
    Open the Settings app. This is the grey cog icon.
    • Use this method to unpair any Bluetooth devices that auto-connect to your iPhone or iPad. You can always pair it again later.
  2. 2
    Tap Bluetooth. If it isn't already enabled, tap the toggle to turn it on now.
  3. 3
    Press i next to the device. Choose the device you want to unpair.
  4. 4
    Tap Forget This Device. A pop-up will open for confirmation.
  5. 5
    Tap Forget Device. This will unpair the device from your iPhone. If your Bluetooth is on, you'll no longer auto-connect to this device when you're within range.
    • If you want to use the device again, you'll need to pair it again. You can pair AirPods, speakers, or even your car.
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About This Article

Bryzz Tortello
Written by:
Phone Repair Specialist
This article was written by Bryzz Tortello and by wikiHow staff writer, Rain Kengly. Bryzz Tortello is a Phone Repair Specialist and the Owner & CEO of Tortello Repair Services. With over ten years of experience, she specializes in iPhone and iPad ranging from screen and battery replacements to microsoldering and data recovery. Bryzz attended The College of the Canyons. This article has been viewed 37,176 times.
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Co-authors: 5
Updated: March 17, 2023
Views: 37,176
Categories: IPhone
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