Having trouble connecting your Magic Mouse, AirPods, keyboard, or other Bluetooth accessories to your Mac? Bluetooth connection issues are common but usually easy to resolve. Follow these steps to restore connectivity.
Symptoms
Bluetooth devices won't pair or connect
Connected devices keep disconnecting
Bluetooth icon shows as unavailable or greyed out
Audio cuts out on wireless headphones
Mouse or keyboard input is laggy
Step-by-Step Resolution
1. Basic Bluetooth Checks
Click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar
Ensure Bluetooth is turned On
Check your device is charged and in pairing mode
Move closer to your Mac (within 10 metres/33 feet)
2. Remove and Re-pair the Device
Go to System Settings > Bluetooth
Find the problematic device in the list
Click the (i) info button next to it
Click Forget This Device
Put your device back in pairing mode
Re-pair by clicking Connect when it appears
3. Reset the Bluetooth Module
Hold Shift + Option and click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar
Select Reset the Bluetooth module
Click OK to confirm
Your Mac's Bluetooth will restart
Re-pair your devices
4. Check for Interference
Move away from USB 3.0 devices, which can cause interference
Avoid positioning near microwaves, wireless routers, or other wireless devices
If using a USB hub, try connecting devices directly to the Mac
5. Delete Bluetooth Preferences (Advanced)
Open Finder and press Cmd+Shift+G
Type:
/Library/Preferences/Find and delete
com.apple.Bluetooth.plistRestart your Mac
Re-pair your Bluetooth devices
6. Reset SMC and NVRAM
For Intel Macs:
SMC: Shut down, hold Shift+Control+Option+Power for 10 seconds, release, power on
NVRAM: Restart and hold Option+Command+P+R for 20 seconds
For Apple Silicon Macs:
Simply restart your Mac - no manual SMC reset needed
Still experiencing Bluetooth issues? The Bluetooth hardware module may need diagnosis, or there could be macOS-level conflicts. Our team can provide thorough troubleshooting.