iOS - Bluetooth not auto connecting to previously paired device

My iOS devices do not auto-connect (auto-pair) to a Bluetooth audio receiver device. However this works as expected on Android and OS X Yosemite. Thus I do not think it is the Bluetooth receiver that needs to be reset. What am I doing wrong? How do I correct this?

I have a little-known bluetooth stereo system receiver: BeeWi bbr100. http://www.bee-wi.com/bluetooth-stereo-music-receiver-bbr100-beewi,us,4,BBR100-A 1.cfm

Steps on all devices tested are:

  1. Turn on Bluetooth
  2. Select and pair beewi bbr100 device (never paired until now)
  3. Works fine, plays music.
  4. Turn off Bluetooth
  5. Turn on Bluetooth
  6. iOS Does not automatically pair it, says 'not connected'. On Android and MacBook Air, it connects automatically.

Summary of my testing:

  • iPad Mini iOS 8.1.2 - No

  • iPhone 4S iOS 7.0.5 - No

  • Nexus 5 Android Lollipop - Yes

  • MacBook Air OS X Yosemite - Yes

I have gone through the Apple troubleshooting guide and already performed the following steps:

  • Reset network settings.

  • Log out of iCloud.

  • Performed a hard reboot.

  • Reset the Bluetooth device.

Is there something I'm doing wrong, something I don't understand, or something broken?


Solution 1:

I had a similar issue with a similar setup.

My headphones wouldn't connect to my iPhone automatically. What I noticed is that my MacBook was actually faster to connect to them that my iPhone whenever I turned them on and both devices were in range. That prevented connecting with headphones.

When I turn them on in isolation with my iPhone, they connect fine.

My Steps:

  • Turn on bluetooth on iPhone
  • Turn on headphones

Solution 2:

Apparently a lot of headset devices can maintain a list of several devices. So did my Skull Candy Ink'd Wireless.

The trick to reset this list, was to power up the device and hold - and + for a few (5?) seconds till you hear a strange beep. Then I paired again and the auto-connect worked again.

My guess is that it didn't like to be connected to multiple iPhones and got confused somehow.