DIAGNOSIS: The Bluetooth on these is famously finicky. The machine's Bluetooth module has a short range and goes to sleep to save power, making it hard for your phone to find.
FIX: You need to wake the module up. Unplug the machine for 30 seconds. Plug it back in. Immediately after plugging in, press and hold the brew button for 5-7 seconds until the light pulses white rapidly. That puts it into pairing mode. Now, with the Nespresso app open and your phone's Bluetooth on, stand right next to the machine (within 3 feet) and try the pairing process in the app. Don't have other Bluetooth devices active nearby.
IF THAT DIDN'T WORK: The Bluetooth firmware on older VertuoPlus models might be outdated and incompatible with newer phone OS versions. Try pairing with an older smartphone or tablet if you have one, just to test. If it works on an older device, the issue is compatibility, not your specific machine's hardware.
HEADS UP: The Bluetooth feature is only for downloading new brewing patterns for limited edition pods. It doesn't control basic functions. If you can't get it to pair, you're not missing much—you can still brew every standard pod just fine without the app.