Bluetooth profiles that iOS and iPadOS support

Learn about the Bluetooth profiles that iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch support.

To use these Bluetooth profiles, make sure that you update your device to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS.

Hands-Free Profile (HFP 1.8)

This profile works with iPhone 5s and later, iPad Air and later, and iPod touch (6th generation) and later.

HFP allows Bluetooth headsets and car hands-free kits to communicate with mobile phones.

Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP 1.2)

This profile works with iPhone 5s and later.

PBAP allows iPhone to exchange Phone Book Objects with other Bluetooth devices.* A car kit and a mobile phone use the profile to:

  • Allow the car kit to display the name of the incoming caller.

  • Allow the car kit to sync the phone book—or just your favorites—so that you can make a call from the car display.

  • Allow the car kit to display the call history.

Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP 1.4)

This profile works with iPhone 5s and later, iPad Air and later, and iPod touch (6th generation) and later.

A2DP allows high quality audio (stereo or mono) to stream from one device to another over a Bluetooth connection. Use A2DP to play music wirelessly from your device to a wireless headset, speaker, or a compatible car audio system.

Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP 1.6)

This profile works with iPhone 5s and later, iPad Air and later, and iPod touch (6th generation) and later.

AVRCP allows remote control of playback functions on your iOS or iPadOS device from compatible devices. Typically, these are Bluetooth devices that also use the A2DP profile. iOS and iPadOS support these AVRCP functions:

  • Pause

  • Play

  • Stop

  • Next track

  • Previous track

  • Metadata

  • Album cover art

  • Browsing*

Personal Area Network (PAN) Profile

This profile works with iPhone 5s and later, iPad Air and later, and iPod touch (6th generation) and later.

PAN provides network connectivity over Bluetooth. This lets users play multiplayer games and use Personal Hotspot on iPhone.

Human Interface Device (HID) Profile

This profile works with iPhone 5s and later, iPad Air and later, and iPod touch (6th generation) and later.

HID allows communication between iOS and iPadOS devices and Bluetooth keyboards and game controllers.

Message Access Profile (MAP 1.4)

This profile is compatible with iPhone 5s and later.

Message Access Profile allows devices to exchange messages. It's used to receive incoming message notifications on connected vehicles. iOS and iPadOS support these MAP functions on connected vehicles:

  • Receive incoming message notifications

  • Reply to incoming messages

  • Compose new messages

  • Browse message inbox

  • Mark messages as read

Wireless iPhone Accessory Protocol (WiAP)

This profile works with iPhone 5s and later, iPad Air and later, and iPod touch (6th generation) and later.

WiAP is used for communication between iOS and iPadOS devices and Made for iPhone (MFi) certified accessories.

Braille

This profile works with iPhone 5s and later, iPad Air and later, and iPod touch (6th generation) and later.

Braille is used for communication between iOS and iPadOS devices and assistive devices such as braille keyboards.

Learn more

When you pair your iOS or iPadOS device and a Bluetooth device, you set up encryption between the two devices. The remote Bluetooth device must support an encrypted connection.

* The profile’s functionality might vary, depending on the Bluetooth accessory that you use. The accessory manufacturer, not the iOS or iPadOS device, controls these variations.
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