Bangle.js 2 can't connect to iPhone after iOS upgraded to 18.0

My iphone got upgraded to iOS 18.0 recently and I couldn't connect my Bangle.js 2 to the phone. I have no issues to connect to my both Windows laptop and Linux laptop, and my phone is still connect to my car via Bluetooth, so I think it's got to do with the iOS.
Just wonder if anyone else has the same issue and what could be the solution.

Thanks.

This is the first I've heard of it. Have you tried just restarting the phone?

There have definitely been cases where Apple phones' bluetooth got confused and you had to restart them (or toggle airplane mode) before they would connect

@Gordon, yes, I have restarted/toggled BLE/toggled airplane mode of my phone, rebooted the watch, tried older/cutting edge firmware (currently 2v24). Everything else works fine, but between the phone and the watch.
I'm not sure what else I could try now. :-(

Sorry, not sure what to suggest. If your watch was previously paired to the Bangle, make sure you unpair/forget it and try re-pairing though.

This wouldn't be the first time Apple issued an update that stopped existing hardware from working, but hopefully it's just a glitch and they'll fix it soon. Bangle.js uses ANCS which is Apple's own spec, so I'd be pretty certain they wouldn't have removed it intentionally.

@Gordon, as always, thank you for your support.
I'm 100% sure it's not the watch's issue, but iOS issue.
I wondered if there are other iPhone users having the same issue and find any solution.
I will keep trying something and report back if I find anything.
Thanks.

Also having this issue in iPhone 16, iOS 18.0.1. BT is working for other devices on the Phone.

Pixel 8a sees it.
iPhone SE (3rd) iOS 18.0 that was OFF, but had it paired found it and connected when I started it. Push messages worked.

NOTE: I was getting red buffer notifications at the bottom of the screen.

HOWEVER, when I "forgot" it on the iPhone SE, it could not find it again.

Also, macOS cannot see it in BT list, HOWEVER, Chrome saw it and paired. Then it showed up as paired on macOS.

"Forgot" it on macOS, turned BT off, rebooted iPhone and Watch. Still not found.

It seems to be an apple thing, and will probably fix itself in whatever the next update is.

Thanks for the update - what a pain. We're using Nordic's standard ANCS implementation so I expect this will probably have broken pairing with iOS and a huge amount of third party devices.

macOS cannot see it in BT list

Yes, you'd expect that, since it's not providing any features Mac OS is interested in it's just ignored from the OS menu. If you enable HID (from settings) the watch will then appear as if it's a bluetooth keyboard and the Mac will show it - but honestly you probably don't want that.

... having said that, I guess enabling HID might be a way to get iOS 18 to find the watch again?

Or...* Bangle.js advertises the 'current time service' which up until now has been enough to get it to appear in iOS. I guess advertising the ANCS service might help though. You could try running this in the IDE:

NRF.setServices(undefined, { advertise: [ 'F431' ] });

Disconnect and then try and connect on iOS - don't switch apps as that'll get rid of the advertised UUID - but if that works we can hopefully just add it to the 'iOS integration' app.

I was able to find it with this app, which allows you to pair.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nrf-connect-for-mobile/id1054362403

I was able to find it with this app, which allows you to pair.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nrf-connec­t-for-mobile/id1054362403

@pixelkarma, Wow, thank you so much. With the app, I could connect my Bangle.js 2 to my iPhone with iOS 18.01.

@Gordon, I tried your suggested 'advertising the ANCS service,' but it didn't work.

NRF.setServices(undefined, { advertise: [ 'F431' ] });

@JeonLab thanks for the update, that's a shame. What if you enable HID?

@Gordon, by enabling the HID as a keyboard, iPhone finds it and I could connect them. Would there be any side effect by the HID setting or can I leave it as it is?
Thanks.

Would there be any side effect by the HID setting

Well, see if it affects your onscreen keyboard I guess? I think on Android it can (as it thinks you have an external keyboard attached)

@Gordon, so far I haven’t noticed any issues with the onscreen keyboard. Until Apple fixes the bug, I think we can live with the HID enabled setting.
Thanks.