Bluetooth error when transferring data between iPads

Your question is as bit confusing.

1. Bluetooth is wireless it uses no cable, so if you are using a cable, then bluetooth is not involved.
2. iPads can't pair over bluetooth directly to each other, it's not a supported option. If you want to send files wirelessly, you do so through AirDrop, which requires Bluetooth be turned on, but the devices are not paired directly.
3. Local Airdrop or Wi-Fi should not use any internet access data. You can transfer files and photos over Airdrop locally with our using any internet data.
4. There is no support for wired transfer of data between iPads.

peaceridge wrote:

Actually Apple explains how to transfer over usb cable when setting up a new ipad. The error message said there was a Bluetooth error. I wasn't trying to transfer over Bluetooth, that is just what the message said. When I connect the two ipads with the cable, turn on both ipads, old ipad gives the bluetooth error, new ipad says it lost connection with old ipad.

Yes, but that is only possible during initial setup.

There should be no indication of Bluetooth, beyond it being turned on on both devices. On new devices it is on by default. It you are trying to pair the new iPad to the old one from the old one's bluetooth settings, that's not going to work and is not necessary.

Bluetooth just needs to be turned on, along with Wi-Fi on both devices.

click here ➜ Use a wired connection to transfer data to a new iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

peaceridge wrote:

That's the directions I've been trying to follow. My steps: connect both ipads with usb. Turn on both ipads. Following directions, get to take camera from old ipad to the new swirl. Then the old one message " Could not sign on Ipad. An error occurred connecting to ipad. Check that your Bluetooth is turned on and try again" Note that if I do not connect the USB cable, the ipads connect and the new one wants to us wifi to copy either from icloud or to the old one over wifi. I'm traveling and don't have enough data on my plan to copy all the old ipad to the new ipad.

The Wi-Fi transfer should not use any of your cellular data. It's a local connection. It transfers directly between both devices. It has no need for your personal hotspot or other internet connection.

That error is just a generic error message. It suggests bluetooth because that's the more common cause of issues if its turned off, but if its turned on, then it should not be the cause of it.

'iPhone Hotspot' creates a very small Wi-Fi network, which includes a minimal Router including a Switch.

BOTH devices need to connect to it to make progress, and BOTH will have local IP addresses. When that tiny Router-with-Switch notices that both devices are local, the data are sent locally, over Wi-Fi not over the cellular network.

if you were at a hotel or somewhere where you could connect to their Wi-Fi with both devices, that data would be sent locally, not over their broadband network.

it is thought that Bluetooth is used to negotiate the connection between devices. Then in the case of over-the-air transfers, Wi-Fi takes over. In the case of a cable transfer, you may still need Bluetooth to establish the connection before moving the bulk of the transfer to USB.

AirDrop uses BOTH Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to establish and maintain the connection, so BOTH must be active for Airdrop 'over-the-air' to work.

Do you have your own Router?

if you do, these transfers use the Switch function of your Router, and the data are sent device-to-device, and do NOT incur broadband data charges.