How to Disable iPhone Ring When Using a Bluetooth Headset

You can use your iPhone with most Bluetooth headsets you may use with your PC. If you are listening to music, playing a game, or making an important business phone call, it may be a good idea to disable the iPhone's ringer so that incoming calls won't distract you. The best way to do this is to use the iPhone's Do Not Disturb option that disables all audio notifications, including the ringer, without affecting the sound coming from the headset.

Bluetooth headsets vary by manufacturer, so it's important to read the instructions before pairing a headset with an iPhone. In many cases, this is simply a matter of turning them on while in close proximity to the iPhone. You can then select "Bluetooth" in the iPhone's settings to turn Bluetooth on or off. Once it is on, the headset should be visible in the list of nearby devices. You may be prompted to enter a manufacturer-provided passcode after selecting the headset.

The Do Not Disturb option is found on the main Settings screen. This option also disables all audio notifications, like audible text message alerts, news alerts and other alerts used by any apps you have installed. While you can mute the iPhone's ringer by sliding the Ring/Silent switch above the volume buttons on the side of the device, this often mutes the volume on many apps as well. A crescent moon appears at the top of the screen whenever the Do Not Disturb option is enabled.

If there is an important call you don't want to miss, you can configure Do Not Disturb to let these calls ring through while other calls remain muted. To do this, add the phone number to a contact in the Contacts app, then tap the "Add to Favorites" button on the person's contact page. In Settings, you then need to select "Notifications," then "Do Not Disturb." You can then tap the "Allow Calls From" button and select "Favorites" to get calls from anyone tagged as a favorite in Contacts. Note that doing this makes the ringer ring, but not the headset.

Whenever Bluetooth is enabled on the iPhone, a Bluetooth icon appears in the upper-right corner of the iPhone's screen. You can turn off Bluetooth by tapping the "On/Off" toggle beside the Bluetooth option from the iPhone's Settings menu. The next time you turn it on, you can pair the headset again automatically. If you don't want the iPhone to pair itself with the headset again, just tap the headset in the list of Bluetooth devices, and then select the "Forget This Device" option.

Information in this article applies to the Apple iPhone running iOS 6.1. It may vary slightly or significantly with other versions or products.

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Writer Bio

A published author and professional speaker, David Weedmark has advised businesses and governments on technology, media and marketing for more than 20 years. He has taught computer science at Algonquin College, has started three successful businesses, and has written hundreds of articles for newspapers and magazines throughout Canada and the United States.