220-1101 Mobile Devices Practice Question
A user wants to pair a Bluetooth keyboard with their iPad. The keyboard is in pairing mode and has fresh batteries. The iPad's Bluetooth is turned on. The keyboard does not appear in the list of discovered devices. Which of the following should the user try FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the principle of 'least disruptive first' in troubleshooting, and the trap here is that candidates jump to a full device restart (Option A) instead of the simpler radio toggle, which is the correct first step for Bluetooth discovery issues.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Turn Bluetooth off and then back on.
The most common cause of a Bluetooth keyboard not appearing in the device list is a temporary communication glitch between the iPad's Bluetooth radio and the keyboard. Toggling Bluetooth off and then back on forces the radio to reset its discovery cache and re-scan for nearby devices, which often resolves the issue without requiring a full system restart or network reset.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Restart the iPad.
Why it's wrong here
Restarting the iPad powers down the entire system and reloads all kernel extensions and daemons, which can resolve a hung Bluetooth stack but requires significantly more downtime than a simple toggle. It is not the correct first step because it does NOT specifically reset the Bluetooth radio's discovery state; if the keyboard is in pairing mode and simply not being listed, a toggle accomplishes the same result faster. Additionally, a restart retains saved Bluetooth pairings and network settings, so it cannot clear a corrupted discovery cache, and it should be attempted only after the off/on toggle has failed.
When this WOULD be correct
A user reports that Bluetooth devices intermittently disconnect and reconnect, and toggling Bluetooth does not resolve the issue. Restarting the iPad would be the next step to clear temporary system glitches affecting Bluetooth stability.
- ✓
Turn Bluetooth off and then back on.
Why this is correct
Toggling Bluetooth off and then on forces the iPad's Bluetooth daemon to reset its radio firmware and restart the discovery scan, which is the fastest, least disruptive way to make a pairing-mode keyboard visible. It clears only transient scan states without affecting saved Wi-Fi networks, VPN configurations, or existing pairings, so it is the logical first step before any more invasive troubleshooting.
- ✗
Reset all network settings.
Why it's wrong here
Resetting all network settings clears saved Wi-Fi networks, VPN configurations, and cellular settings, but it does not alter the Bluetooth radio’s discovery or pairing cache, so it cannot resolve a failure to list a keyboard in pairing mode. This option is tempting because network resets often fix connectivity issues on iOS, and in scenarios where Bluetooth problems stem from corrupted network profiles or conflicting VPNs, it would be the correct first step.
- ✗
Delete all previously paired Bluetooth devices.
Why it's wrong here
Deleting previously paired Bluetooth devices clears the Bluetooth cache on the iPad, which can resolve conflicts from stale pairing data, but this scenario lacks any symptom of a full cache—the keyboard is new and never paired. It is tempting because clearing paired devices often fixes discovery failures when the iPad’s Bluetooth stack is overwhelmed by old connections, making it the correct first step if the iPad had previously paired with many devices and exhibited general discovery lag.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct if the question stated that the iPad has reached the maximum number of paired Bluetooth devices and the keyboard is not appearing because the device list is full. In that scenario, deleting old pairings would free up space for the new keyboard.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 220-1101 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Turn Bluetooth off and then back on.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
Toggling Bluetooth off and then on forces the iPad's Bluetooth daemon to reset its radio firmware and restart the discovery scan, which is the fastest, least disruptive way to make a pairing-mode keyboard visible. It clears only transient scan states without affecting saved Wi-Fi networks, VPN configurations, or existing pairings, so it is the logical first step before any more invasive troubleshooting.
✗Restart the iPad.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Restarting the iPad is more disruptive than toggling Bluetooth and is not the first troubleshooting step for a Bluetooth discovery issue, especially when the keyboard is in pairing mode and Bluetooth is already on.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A user reports that Bluetooth devices intermittently disconnect and reconnect, and toggling Bluetooth does not resolve the issue. Restarting the iPad would be the next step to clear temporary system glitches affecting Bluetooth stability.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates often default to restarting a device as a universal fix for connectivity issues, overlooking that a simple Bluetooth toggle is less invasive and should be tried first.
✗Delete all previously paired Bluetooth devices.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Deleting all previously paired Bluetooth devices is an unnecessary step that may disrupt other connections but does not directly address the issue of the keyboard not appearing in the discovery list. The problem is likely a temporary Bluetooth glitch, which is more efficiently resolved by toggling Bluetooth off and on.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct if the question stated that the iPad has reached the maximum number of paired Bluetooth devices and the keyboard is not appearing because the device list is full. In that scenario, deleting old pairings would free up space for the new keyboard.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that clearing the paired devices list will force the iPad to scan for new devices more aggressively, or they may confuse this with troubleshooting steps for connection issues with already-paired devices.
Analysis generated from the official 220-1101blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1101 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1101 exam.