How to Pair a Bluetooth Headset to an iPhone

Make phone calls and listen to music without dealing with wires

by
Liane Cassavoy
Writer
Liane Cassavoy is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire who has been reviewing and writing articles about smartphones since 1999.
our editorial process
Liane Cassavoy
Updated on February 01, 2020
reviewed by
Ryan Perian headshot
Ryan Perian
Lifewire Tech Review Board Member
Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions.
our review board
Article reviewed on Dec 15, 2020
Ryan Perian

Using a Bluetooth headset can be a liberating experience. Instead of holding your phone, you pop a headset into your ear. It keeps your hands free, which is not only convenient—it's also a safer way to use your phone while driving.

These instructions apply to devices with iOS 7 or later.

How to Pair a Bluetooth Headset to an iPhone

Before you begin, make sure that both your smartphone and Bluetooth headset have plenty of battery left.

  1. On your iPhone, open Settings, then tap Bluetooth and turn on the Bluetooth toggle switch.

    Turning on Bluetooth in the Settings on an iPhone

  2. Alternatively, turn on Bluetooth using the Control Center. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen, and then tap the Bluetooth icon. The button turns blue when the feature is active.

    Turning on Bluetooth in the Control Center on an iPhone

  3. Many headsets go into pairing mode automatically the first time you turn them on. Consult the owner's manual to see how to put the accessory in pairing mode.

  4. Once the headset is in pairing mode, your iPhone should discover it. On the Bluetooth settings screen, you'll see the name of the headset appear under the list of devices.

    On this screen, My Devices is a list of things you connected to in the past. Other Devices includes ones that are in range, but you haven't used these before.

    Tap the name of the headset, and the iPhone will connect to it.

    Some headsets may ask you to enter a PIN to verify paring. The headset manufacturer should supply the number you need.

    The Bluetooth settings screen on an iPhone

  5. Now you can begin using the headset.

Make Calls Using Your Bluetooth Headset

To make a call using your Bluetooth headset, dial the number as you normally would. If you use a headset that accepts voice commands, you may be able to dial by voice.

After you enter the number to call, your iPhone presents you with a list of options. You can choose to use your Bluetooth headset, your iPhone, or the iPhone's speakerphone to make the call. Tap the Bluetooth headset icon, and the call will go there. Now you should be connected.

You can end the call by using the button on your headset, or by tapping the End Call button on the iPhone screen.

Accept Calls Using Your Bluetooth Headset

When a call comes into your iPhone, you can answer it directly from your Bluetooth headset by pressing the appropriate button. Most Bluetooth headsets have a primary button for this purpose. If you're not sure which of the headset's buttons you should press, consult the product manual.

You can end the call by using the button on your headset, or by tapping the End Call button on the iPhone screen.

Was this page helpful?