Getting a bunch of notifications alerting you that third-party apps want to use Bluetooth and asking your permission for location access via Bluetooth? Are a lot of apps asking to use Bluetooth accessories? Not sure what to do about it–to allow or disallow?
As part of iOS 13’s privacy improvements, apps now need to ask permission to access Bluetooth in iOS 13 and iPadOS if they want or need t to access Bluetooth on your iPhone, iPod, or iPad. This has brought to light how many apps were using Bluetooth in the past without our knowledge!
With the public release of iOS 13, (iPadOS dropped later at the end of the month,) several users have pointed out the surprising (and slightly alarming) range of apps asking for your permission to use Bluetooth.
Google, Facebook, YouTube, and Spotify all request Bluetooth permission in iOS 13. But so do some banking apps, ride-sharing apps, and even food delivery apps like Dominos.
Let’s explore some of the reasons these apps might want access to Bluetooth on your iPhone or iPad. And how you can control it.
Quick tips
Follow these quick tips to change or update Bluetooth permissions in iOS and iPadOS
To see what apps have Bluetooth access and change permission settings, go to Settings > Privacy > Bluetooth and toggle apps on or off
In iOS 13+ and iPadOS, Apple requires all third-party apps to ask permission before accessing any Bluetooth information. This process is meant to give you greater control and information
Bluetooth permission notifications in iOS 13 and iPadOS
An important thing to note is that the apps themselves haven’t changed. They used Bluetooth on your device before iOS 13, but you didn’t get notified about it. Instead, your device granted access in the background.
So all the apps that pop up and ask to use Bluetooth on iOS 13 were probably already using it in iOS 12. There are plenty of good or bad reasons they might want to do so. But as it stands, there’s no easy way to tell what they are.
Apple Maps lists three reasons for allowing location access.
When an app wants to use Location Services you get a similar notification, which is even better in iOS 13. But unlike Bluetooth, Location Services requests can justify why they need access on your iPhone or iPad.
Developers can list the reasons they want to access your location, along with what you gain from it. It’s usually something like “local recommendations” or “estimated travel times.”
But Bluetooth notifications all have the same stock text, reading:
“This app uses Bluetooth to connect to and share information with accessories and other Apple devices.”
Bluetooth notifications can’t give any reasons to allow access.
There’s no way for developers to explain why they want to use Bluetooth. Hopefully that changes for the public release of iOS 13 this fall.
Good reasons for apps to access Bluetooth on your iPhone or iPad
There’s been a fair amount of negativity around this issue, so I wanted to start it with a positive jam. Let’s assume app developers want the best for us and look at some good reasons an app might use Bluetooth.
Spotify uses Bluetooth to recognize when you’re connected to a car stereo, so it can switch to Car View. Similarly, Google Maps uses pins the location you disconnected from your car stereo to mark where you parked.
It’s currently only for Android, but Spotify’s Car View presents large simplified controls.
YouTube and other video apps connect to dongles like ChromeCast over Bluetooth. Other apps use Bluetooth to connect to headsets, storage devices, and other accessories.
Bad reasons for apps to access Bluetooth on your iPhone or iPad
Unfortunately, it’s naïve to believe app developers only want the best for us. In fact, Apple changed Bluetooth access in iOS 13 because developers took advantage of it.
Nefarious developers use Bluetooth to track a user’s location. They can do this when you aren’t using their app. And they can do it without asking for your consent.
Take a moment before allowing an app to access Bluetooth on your iPhone or iPad. Ask yourself why that app needs Bluetooth and whether you trust the app developer or not.
Our suggestion is to deny access for everything, to begin with. Use the app as normal. It might surprise you what you can still do without Bluetooth.
For example, Spotify can send music to wireless headphones without Bluetooth. It can even seamlessly switch playback to your other devices!
If you find a feature you want that needs Bluetooth to work, change your Bluetooth permissions in the Settings.
How do I allow or deny Bluetooth for apps in iOS 13 or iPadOS?
On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Privacy > Bluetooth.
You should see a list of every app that requested Bluetooth access on your device.
Turn the switch on or off for each device.
Find the options to allow or deny Bluetooth access in your Settings.
Let us know in the comments which apps requested Bluetooth access on your iPhone or iPad? Did you let them have it? And what was the result?
Dan writes tutorials and troubleshooting guides to help people make the most of their technology. Before becoming a writer, he earned a BSc in Sound Technology, supervised repairs at an Apple Store, and even taught English in China.
I have a cochlear implant Bluetooth comparative and since the update my processor is going on and off constantly with everything on my phone. It’s annoying. I have not received the notifications to accept or not from but 4 apps. I need help on getting all the other stuff to stop using my Bluetooth.
I’m finding it a nightmare from a disability point of view. “Bluetooth on”used to stay on for any app and I could easily get content from any app read aloud through Bluetooth (I have a debilitating illness which means I’m too weak to speak much).
Today I selected a bit of Facebook to have read out and using one method via Bluetooth it would only use a robotic male voice via Bluetooth and the other method where it WILL use enhanced Siri female Voice it refuses to play through my Bluetooth speaker I always use to enhance volume and clarity for my associates.
So in frustration I copied the text I wanted read and pasted it into the notes app, and it still would not play through the speaker and there seems to be no Bluetooth setting in existence for the notes app. So it’s never going to read my noted content through a speaker?
So whilst this might have been done for afaic quite trivial general privacy issues, it’s potentially really going to impact people with disabilities who use iPad as a fantastic, previously hassle free portable device who need to easily and clearly and loudly have content read aloud.
I have permission for Bluetooth switched off for Facebook, but it keeps asking for permission anyway. How can I stop it from asking permanently? I will never give Facebook permission
Best Buy and Stations (a casino company in LV) asked to use Bluetooth said was to use accessories and detect when I’m “nearby” Denied both.
That’s it so far.
Installed iOS 13 a couple hours ago.
Jill Lathers says
Thank you SO much for your help!
FB asked Bluetooth permission.
I went to settings and made most apps “ask first.”
Thanks again.
Tamera says
I have a cochlear implant Bluetooth comparative and since the update my processor is going on and off constantly with everything on my phone. It’s annoying. I have not received the notifications to accept or not from but 4 apps. I need help on getting all the other stuff to stop using my Bluetooth.
Kath says
I’m finding it a nightmare from a disability point of view. “Bluetooth on”used to stay on for any app and I could easily get content from any app read aloud through Bluetooth (I have a debilitating illness which means I’m too weak to speak much).
Today I selected a bit of Facebook to have read out and using one method via Bluetooth it would only use a robotic male voice via Bluetooth and the other method where it WILL use enhanced Siri female Voice it refuses to play through my Bluetooth speaker I always use to enhance volume and clarity for my associates.
So in frustration I copied the text I wanted read and pasted it into the notes app, and it still would not play through the speaker and there seems to be no Bluetooth setting in existence for the notes app. So it’s never going to read my noted content through a speaker?
So whilst this might have been done for afaic quite trivial general privacy issues, it’s potentially really going to impact people with disabilities who use iPad as a fantastic, previously hassle free portable device who need to easily and clearly and loudly have content read aloud.
Daniel says
I have permission for Bluetooth switched off for Facebook, but it keeps asking for permission anyway. How can I stop it from asking permanently? I will never give Facebook permission
Elizabeth Jones says
Hi Daniel,
Understood and it is indeed annoying.
At this time, you cannot stop those permission messages from appearing.
Liz
Suzanna says
All 4 of my TV streaming apps asked for Bluetooth access and only one will not work now.
Maybe because they need to know location before they can stream.
Thanks to your article I will probably enable Bluetooth when I want to stream and disable immediately after.
Hardeep says
I used my Plantronics Explorer 50 headset with my iPhone XS Max for almost a year without any issues.
But for some reason, it randomly disconnects from my iPhone 11pro max.
It is very frustrating. Any idea why this would be happening and how to fix it. Thanks.
Elizabeth Jones says
Hi Hardeep,
Yes, there are quite a few reports of issues with Bluetooth accessories like your headset and iOS 13.
Have you tried forgetting the device and re-pairing it to your iPhone again? This usually solves the problem.
Go to Settings > Bluetooth > Tap your Plantronics Explorer 50 headset > Tap Forget this Device.
Then restart your phone
Go back to Bluetooth settings and repair the headset
Hope that works for you, if not let us know
Liz
David says
Best Buy and Stations (a casino company in LV) asked to use Bluetooth said was to use accessories and detect when I’m “nearby” Denied both.
That’s it so far.
Installed iOS 13 a couple hours ago.