How to Connect Your iPad With a Bluetooth Headset

Your iPad is configured to utilize a wireless technology called Bluetooth, which enables you to make wireless connections to other Bluetooth compatible devices. Most laptop computers come with Bluetooth built in to the system as well as most cell phones. The Bluetooth device allows your iPad to connect with any Bluetooth compatible device such as keyboard or mouse, cell phone, digital camera, printer, headset etc. Bluetooth technology is for short range use therefore 33 feet is the maximum distance two Bluetooth devices should be apart from each other.

Configuring and connecting any two Bluetooth devices is very simple and can be broken into two distinct phases: Discoverable and Pairing.

Bluetooth devices only broadcast their availability when you want them to. This is called making your device "discoverable". For privacy and functionality, many Bluetooth devices need to be paired with another device before the connection is established. "Pairing" or "to pair" or "paired" is simply the technical language on making a permanent connection between two Bluetooth devices. This is useful because once two devices are paired; you never have to configure the devices again. Just turn them on and two devices will automatically connect to each other even in a room full of other Bluetooth devices. All Bluetooth devices can be "un-paired," meaning you can break the connection and pair with another Bluetooth device.

To Pair a device, you must first make it discoverable, connect to the device of your choosing, and enter a multi-digit (usually four) pass code or PIN. Pairing devices such as your cell phone with your iPad will allow you to choose a unique pass code. For other devices such as Bluetooth headset, the headset comes with a default passkey that you enter in your iPad during the pairing process. (Notes: Even though most headsets default passkey is 0000, your connection will be secure with your iPad.)

How to connect your iPad with a Bluetooth headset

Connecting your iPad with a Bluetooth headset:

1. Turn on your Bluetooth receiver in your iPad. If your iPad already has the Bluetooth receiver on you will see a Bluetooth logo in the status bar next to the battery status icon.
2. Touch "Settings" on the Home screen.
3. Touch "General" in the Settings screen.
4. Touch "Bluetooth" in the General Screen and turn the Bluetooth on.
5. Turn on the Bluetooth headset and make it discoverable. Follow the directions of the manufacture to make your device discoverable. For example, Jawbone headsets require pressing and holding both device buttons till the signal light flashes red and white.
6. Your iPad should now display the name of your Bluetooth headset. Touch the name of the Bluetooth headset. Your iPad should pair with the headset and prompt for the passkey.
7. Enter the headset passkey in the iPad PIN box. (The default key is often 0000 but check the manufacturer instructions)

How to use your Bluetooth headset to listen to music

After you've paired a headset, your iPad should make your headset the "default output audio device." Follow the steps below if this does not happen"

1. Touch "iPod" on the Home Screen to load the iPod app.
2. Once the iPod app loads check to see what icon is at the top left corner of the screen. If you a speaker icon that means the iPad is using your built in speakers as the default output audio device.
3. At the bottom of the screen you will see the status bar. Touch the Bluetooth icon.
4. Touch your paired Bluetooth headset.
5. You should now hear your song playing through the Bluetooth headset instead of the system speakers.

Bluetooth2 How to connect your iPad with a Bluetooth headset

How to Unpair your Bluetooth headset

If you no longer plan to use a headset with your iPad, you can unpair the devices by following these steps:

1. Touch "Settings" on the Home Screen. The Settings screen should pop up.
2. Touch "General". The General screen displays.
3. Touch "Bluetooth". The Bluetooth screen displays.
4. Touch the name of the Bluetooth headset.
5. Touch "Forget this Device". Your iPad unpairs the Bluetooth headset.

John Noel has been a Apple user and technology expert for over a decade. He is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley holding a Masters in Computer Science. Come visit his website at http://www.myappworld.com/ which helps people use their iPad with tutorials and "how to guides" such as connecting ipad bluetooth headset as well as the latest Apple products, apps, and iPad accessories.