Buzz
The Bluetooth standard has been progressively more stable and remains the most useful wireless standard over the past 15 years. Wireless keyboards, headphones, mobile phones, and technologies like AirPlay and AirDrop, all are developed based on the Bluetooth standard.
It's worth noting that everything can be misconfigured causing pairing issues, non-functional speakers, and inability to transfer files. On Windows, you can follow many guides to fix Bluetooth laptop issues, their causes, and how to address them. However, on a Mac computer, the troubleshooting steps will be quite different. Refer to Mytour's article below on fixing Bluetooth connection issues on Mac.
Note: If your Mac is unresponsive to Bluetooth connections, you may skip the steps below.
Fixing Bluetooth Connection Issues on Mac
First, check your devices
If your Bluetooth device runs on battery and requires manual activation, you need to check your device first. If you haven't paired your Bluetooth device with your Mac before, ensure your Bluetooth device is properly paired and will display on your Mac.
If attempting to connect to a Bluetooth speaker or other audio device that's active, but you're not hearing any sound despite being paired. The first step is to ensure the Bluetooth speaker is selected as the primary output in System Preferences => Sound => Output.
Additionally, you can click the Volume button on the menu bar and select your audio device there.
Similarly with Bluetooth headphones with a microphone: access the Input tab and select your Bluetooth device there. Mac will remember your choice for the next wireless audio device connection.
Disable and re-enable Bluetooth
The quickest way is to restart your Mac, access System Preferences =>Bluetooth and click Turn Off, then click Turn On again to reactivate. Additionally, you can toggle Bluetooth on or off by clicking the Bluetooth icon on the menu bar.
This method is quite useful for troubleshooting issues during file transfers between Mac and iOS devices via AirDrop.
Another method is to try killing all Bluetooth processes. Although not very feasible, killing processes on Mac can resolve issues. Open Terminal, then enter the command sudo pkill blued + Admin password. This action will kill and restart the background processes, allowing you to try reactivating Bluetooth.
Pairing devices again
Bluetooth not working can have various causes, you can apply the device pairing methods below to fix Bluetooth not working on your device.
If you've previously paired devices, the solution is to try having your Mac forget those paired devices and then re-pair them. To view all paired Bluetooth devices, go to System Preferences => Bluetooth. Find the Bluetooth device you're experiencing issues with, select it, and then click the X labeled Remove to unpair it.
The next step now is to re-pair the devices once again to see if the Bluetooth connection issue persists.
Restart, remove, or reset
Restart your Mac in Apple =>Restart. This method can resolve most Bluetooth-related issues, especially in cases where the Bluetooth module hangs and doesn't respond to macOS.
Similarly, removing any USB devices can also resolve issues (according to Apple).
Alternatively, you may consider resetting the PRAM on Mac, the culprit behind wireless connection issues.
Error 'Bluetooth Not Available'
macOS stores all Bluetooth device information in 2 files on the computer's hard drive, one personal file and another used by all users on the Mac. Users are often advised to delete these files if encountering Bluetooth-related issues, as macOS will create new files when your computer boots up.
Both PLIST files are used throughout the operating system to store application data in XML format. To delete these files, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Open Finder, then click Go => Go to Folder on the menu bar.
Step 2: Paste or type /Library/Preferences into the search box.
Step 3: Locate the file named com.apple.Bluetooth.plist, drag and drop the file into the Trash.
Step 4: Click Go => Go to Folder and type (or paste) ~/Library/Preferences/ByHost.
Step 5: Find files starting with com.apple.Bluetooth followed by numbers and characters (ending with the .plist extension), then drag the file to the Trash.
Step 6: Disconnect any USB devices and shut down your computer.
Step 7: Turn off your Bluetooth devices and restart your Mac.
Step 8: Re-enable Bluetooth on your devices and try pairing again.
Reset the Bluetooth module to its original default settings
The final solution is to try resetting the Bluetooth module to its original default settings. This means you will lose all current paired connections. If you still face issues, Bluetooth connection errors on Mac after applying the troubleshooting solutions, you may have to pay a small fee to get your devices back to normal.
If you don't see the Bluetooth icon on the menu bar, go to System Preferences => Bluetooth and check Show Bluetooth on the menu bar. Next, press and hold Shift + Option, then click the Bluetooth icon on the menu bar. From the menu displayed on the screen, select Debug => Reset the Bluetooth module. Finally, try pairing your device again.
Additionally, holding down the Option key while clicking the mouse will display more information and options in the context menu, while pressing Shift + click allows for menu debugging.
Still facing Bluetooth connection issues on Mac?
Most issues and errors are resolved after deleting system files, resetting PRAM, and restoring the Bluetooth module to its original default settings on Mac. If after applying these solutions the problem persists, consider reinstalling macOS.
Alternatively, another solution is to purchase a USB Bluetooth adapter as a replacement. Older Apple computer models typically encounter more issues than newer ones, so repair costs are usually not expensive compared to the price of a USB dongle. The D-Link DBT-120 adapter costs around 79 USD, and sometimes even cheaper.
Wireless USB Bluetooth Adapter
If you've recently purchased a Mac and are still under warranty, or if you've purchased AppleCare, Apple may repair these issues for free. Take your Mac to Apple's authorized repair centers for assistance and repair.
Remember that you don't have to pay any fees if your Mac is still under warranty.
If you're experiencing Bluetooth connection issues from your Mac to your phone, the cause may not originate from the computer but from the phone itself. In this case, you can follow the method to fix Bluetooth issues on your phone to continue connecting between the two devices.
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