32 replies to this topic

[Smbean]

I don’t know if this has to do with the upgrade to 2.0 or not. My 5600 suddenly lost BlueTooth connection with my iPhone. I told the phone to forget the device and tried to reconnect the camera, only to find Bluetooth off and getting the not available in this mode. It was maddening.

FORGET everything about normal Bluetooth pairing. It has to be done through SnapBridge. Tell the phone to forget the device in BT settings. Go to SnapBridge and delete the phone from the software under settings.

NOW, restart SnapBridge and let it do the work. It will tell you what to do and as you go through the steps, you’ll get a “Connect Accessory” box. It will be empty, so you’re instinct is to go to BT settings. DON’T. Just be patient. It will eventually populate that accessory window with your camera type and serial number. Ok that and you’ll get the confirmation code on both devices. Oddly, even though the camera SAYS BT is off, it is still sending the BT info. Apparently off isn’t off, off means not connected.

[mrr714]

This looks to be the issue with me. iPhone 6+ - Bluetooth 4.0 and pairing worked intermittently - it was driving me crazy. Installed snapbridge on the latest version of iPad pro 9.7 inch with bluetooth version 4.2 and so far with fingers crossed working flawlessly. Thanks for the help. One of the main reasons I bought a 5600 was to use the geotagging function. Don't want to drag the iPad around with me all the time - well I guess I can now rationalize buying a new iPhone to my wife. 

 

I bought a new Nikon D5600 (latest firmware v1.01) and it has BT (Bluetooth) version 4.1.

SnapBridge will only work with the newer BT 4.x technology (see small print on SnapBridge page, on Nikon website). It reads: A device with BT 4.0 or later (i.e. a device that supports BT Smart Ready/Low Energy).  

 

You may have the most current iOS on your device, but if you have BT 2.0 embedded in the device it will NEVER work!

This is probably why so many folks have issues, they are trying to pair with smart devices that are not supported, i.e. they have outdated BT technology in their devices. You can look up BT versions on Apple website for each version of iPhone/IPad, so you can check what is actually embedded in your 'smart' device.

 

What will NOT work: any smart device (iPhone or iPad) with BT 2.x or 3.x.  This version of BT will not work with SnapBridge.  

Even an older Ipad 3 with BT version 4.0 did NOT work (at least I could not get it to work). 

 

What DOES work: any smart device with BT 4.x (4.1 and above it seems). My new iPhone 5SE with BT 4.2 works just great with SnapBridge.

 

Embedded BT technology in a device is not 'upgradable', it does not go from 2.0 to 4.2 with a newest version of iOS !!  So even if firmware, and iOS are all current, you are out of luck if you have older devices with embedded BT 2.x, 3.x (and maybe 4.0) technology in it. 

 

Yes, SnapBridge will turn on the cameras BT function (once you have it working and paired).  You CANNOT turn BT function on yourself in camera settings (greyed out). SnapBridge can also control your camera, so you can take pics remotely using your phone.  SnapBridge uses the WIFI capability of the camera.  The camera is acting as a wireless access point, but ONLY Snapbridge can connect/communicate with it, it seems.

 

I tried other software to connect to the camera, it will not work. The only other thing to control my D5600 is the Camera Control Pro software (full version).  Comes at a price (see Nikon site), but it works great with my MacBook Pro laptop. 

 

Windows platform phones do not work with Snapbridge.  Only iOS and Android work with Snapbridge, and either one must have BT 4.1 or higher!

 

 

[TheGrue]

Solution Found: I deleted the camera from the phone and the phone from the camera. I uninstalled Snapbridge and reinstalled it. Started the SnapBridge and it wanted to connect camera. The procedure worked this time.

 

Possibly you don't have to uninstall SB but instead just clear all data from the App.

 

Hope this is helpful.

[JohnSenn]

I too had tried to delete an Iphone from my camer (bluetooth) and it went grey. I made BT on my Iphone forget the camera, paired using the SnapBridge app and it reconnected.. yeah..

[graceschow@gmail.com]

OH MY GOD I FIGURED IT OUT!!!!

 

  This was making me absolutely nutty since it had actually worked once and was no longer being cooperative, and seeing the 45k other people who viewed this thread trying to figure it out has inspired me to actually create a login to document the process.

 

First:  Took out my memory card.  Not sure if this matters or not, just didn't want to lose the data in my tinkering.

Second:  Went to bluetooth on iPhone and "Forgot Device".

Third:  Went to Snapbridge App and "Forgot Device"

Forth: Went to Camera and "Reset Settings" to factory settings.

Fifth: Opened Snapbridge App and selected D3400 to pair.

Sixth: Clicked "Pair" on my camera (this options FINALLY became available).

Seventh: It found the camera, and a separate screen with my bluetooth popped up showing the pairing option.

Eighth:  Pairing Successful.  Popped in my memory card and downloaded the pictures form it.

Ninth:  Thought "Dude, people gotta know about this"

 

And here we are.

Hope it helps.

[Twinmom01]

Ok I am still having this issue. My daughter had everything set up and It worked numerous times but the other day it would not connect and gave her an error message. I was able to download the pictures on my phone, but when I went to go repair it with my daughters phone the Bluetooth in the camera settings went to greyed out. Now it won’t pair with any phone. We both have IPhone 5s and I’ve verified it uses BT 4.0. We have forgot the camera in our phone setting, uninstalled and reinstalled the SnapBridge app we get to the pairing stage til the end where it gives us a failed to pair message.

My daughter is very frustrated becaused she worked hard to afford the camera and the wireless downloading of the pictures was a big deal for her. I don’t understand why it works fine one day and they gets jacked the next without us changing anything

[jamscot]

 I have a Fix for this problem:

I too had problems with setting up bluetooth and snapbridge on my camera and the bluetooth option became greyed out and I was just about to give up when i came across a really useful fix that solved it:

Basically you need to go onto your mobile or smart device that you want to pair with the D3400 and if you see the camera in the bluetooth option on our phone you press forget this device............then you have to go into your mobile devices general settings and choose delete network settings..........your phone will turn off and on again...............

don't worry about getting bluetooth option on d3400 at this point as it is not necessary and it will come back on after you follow these instructions anyway. 

so make sure your mobile has bluetooth and wifi on and you follow instructions on snapbridge app and when the pairing code comes up make sure you press ok on the d3400 and then pair button on your mobile and that does the trick........................after pairing you will discover that bluetooh has been reactivated on the D34oo obviously must be something to do with resetting the network settings on your mobile so the whole process can start again afresh. HOpe this helps ...........Jay 

[Deeeeps]

OK It is now Wed 20 Feb 2019 and I have been fighting this stupid problem with my D7500 since I bought it in July 2017.  The only way I can make Snapbridge work more than once and get rid of the bluetooth greyed out issue is to do a 'reset all settings.'

This of course is infuriating since I like my D7500 set up the way I want it and I don't really want to have to fiddle with all the settings every time I want to use Snapbridge.

This problem is born of my Macbook Pro deciding it doesn't like its USB or SD card ports any more, so I am now forced to download to my phone and then sync it to the Mac.  Talk about a flippin work around.

 

Why why why won't Nikon sort this problem out?  It sees just about every one of their cameras suffers the same problem.

Come on Nikon,  get your $$$$$ together or this Nikon enthusiast will start looking at Canons.......AGAIN!!!

[MikeDW]

OK It is now Wed 20 Feb 2019 and I have been fighting this stupid problem with my D7500 since I bought it in July 2017. The only way I can make Snapbridge work more than once and get rid of the bluetooth greyed out issue is to do a 'reset all settings.'
This of course is infuriating since I like my D7500 set up the way I want it and I don't really want to have to fiddle with all the settings every time I want to use Snapbridge.
This problem is born of my Macbook Pro deciding it doesn't like its USB or SD card ports any more, so I am now forced to download to my phone and then sync it to the Mac. Talk about a flippin work around.

Why why why won't Nikon sort this problem out? It sees just about every one of their cameras suffers the same problem.
Come on Nikon, get your $$$$$ together or this Nikon enthusiast will start looking at Canons.......AGAIN!!!

[MikeDW]

To all those having problems with greyed out blue tooth etc. If for some reason you turned it off you will find no obvious way of switching it back on.

Solution. On you smart device completely delete the SnapBridge app. Reboot your phone. Re add the app and follow onscreen instructions. The Bluetooth should now be active on your camera.

[RyanCombs]

Such great information, I like to take photos, it will be very useful to me!

[kglidden]

I had the same problem on my Z7.  In my case, it was because I had Airplane mode turned on.  Once it turned it off, all was well.

[HaileyJuree]

Remove the device from your snapbridge account and complete forget the device on bluetooth. Once this is complete go through the steps to set snapbridge back up. This will enable your bluetooth settings.