We’ve been having some issues with Bluetooth pairing in Mac OS X Lion. Connecting our Bluetooth headset caused a kernel panic. Since then, we just kept having issues with the Bluetooth headset, Apple keyboard and mouse. Shutting down, powering off BT devices and rebooting everything through Bluetooth Explorer (instructions below). That worked perfectly for us, and things have been fine since. However, it may not work for everyone.
It’s easy to think that this is a problem caused by the Lion install and that some users think that reinstalling Lion is the answer. Please, hold off on that. You will waste several hours of your valuable time, and it’s very likely that you won’t even have to do that. We searched around and found a few things that may help out others. Hit the jump to read on:
Pairing After Sleep
One common problem we read about was Bluetooth pairing after sleep. Some users found that after their computer woke from sleep, their device (such as a Bluetooth mouse) would not pair up without opening up the settings and turning Bluetooth on and off.)
One user found that what worked for them was to open their Bluetooth preferences (either through the System Preferences or through the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar) and go to Advanced (bottom-right co.
Then you can select “Allow Bluetooth devices to wake this computer.”
Credit: @Peaz2.0
If that doesn’t work, move onto these. This may help you. It’s a few steps, but it’s much faster than a clean install:
1. Make sure you have bluetooth built in and the device has batteries installed. If you are not sure if you have bluetooth then go to System Preferences under the Apple Logo and determine if you have a Bluetooth Preferences Pane. If not then you may not have bluetooth or it may be absent due to a Power Management Issue. If you suspect you should have bluetooth and it is not listed or if you are sure you do have bluetooth or have been using bluetooth all along and your batteries are new then move on to the next step:
2. Be sure it is not an issue with other “new”, “old” USB devices: Unplug all USB devices and restart. If the problem still exists then move on to the next step:
3. Repair your disk permissions. Go to Applications/ Utilities / and double click the DIsk Utility application. Once open select your start up disk and perform the Repair Permissions. Restart the computer. If the problem still exists then move on to the next step:
4. Delete the preferences file for Bluetooth. This is found either in the main Library folder or the Users Library folder. ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth or ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth.plist Once deleted, restart the computer. If the problem still exists then move on to the next step:
5. Reset the PRAM on your device. Shutdown the computer and hold down the Command, Option, P, and R keys while Restarting your computer. If the problem still exists then move on to the next step:
6. Reset the Power Management System. Do this by shutting down your computer. Then unplug the Laptop. Take out the Battery. Hold the power button down for 5-10 seconds. Plug the Laptop back in and also the Battery. Restart the computer. Once bluetooth is established plug back in the USB devices. (Ed Note: THIS STEP WORKED FOR US)
This should fix the problem. Turning on the computer or shutting it down as well as changing Batteries and waking from sleep, et.c all access the Power Management System and may cause problems with the built-in bluetooth module. Reseting the system should fix this problem.
Credit: Tom McGrath at Apple Discussions
The last solution we know of that may work, requires Xcode, which all users can download at the Apple developer site (and licensed developers should already have on their systems). Little trick if you do not have Xcode but know someone who does, just ask them to send that app to you:
1) Launch Bluetooth Explorer (a utility installed as Part of Xcode).
2) Select the “Modify Software & Device Configuration” from the Utilities Menu.
3) Keep the first four checkboxes checked (one of those will say “Full Factory Reset”)
4) Click “Perform Actions” on the lower-right portion of the window.
5) Reboot (the “Reboot Now” Button may work, it it doesn’t just go with a normal reboot)/
Hopefully that helps. Just re-pair your Bluetooth devices and things should be fine.
If anyone else is having this issue and finds their own fixes, feel free to let us know in the comments below.



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Rats. None of these tips worked for me. I know it’s not the headset (Motorola H700) because it works on my wife’s computer (same iMac model) that is still running Snow Leopard.
Any other ideas?
I spent personally 5 hrs figuring out. The list you see is pretty much the full research you can find on the topic.
Just for kicks repeat the steps.
If you find other solution let us know
Thank you for the thorough list. Unfortunately none have worked for me in my attempts to get my bluetooth headset to work (trackpad connected through bluetooth works just fine).
I’ll keep searching, but thanks again for the great tips. I learned a lot about ways to troubleshoot my Mac.
Jenn
I had to do an “rm -rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth* /Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth*” to remove the prefs files from both my home directory and the system. When I turned Bluetooth off and then back on, I was able to re-pair with my iPhone and all started working. Did not have to reboot.
I performed similar procedure and it did not help. In my case my problem was fixed by complete power down and then restart.
Plain and simple. Worked like a charm. Thank you.
do not delete any files.After deleting system files i cannot open bluetooth preference option on my mac..
It works even on 10.8, thanks!
followed the steps up until deleting bluetooth prefs file. that worked…for now. filesharing still broken between mac and windows!
All very nice tips expect if your wireless track pad is not working then its impossible to navigate around the UI using the wired keyboard I had to plug in.
What I need is a command line that will turn bluetooth on/off.
I think I have seen BT commands which you can use, sorry cannot find them right now
I found this tool: http://www.frederikseiffert.de/blueutil/
My problem is sort of the opposite – I have a BT device that won’t *stop* pairing with my computer. I work in a cubefarm office and I had a wireless keyboard when I first arrived. Since I use a number pad a lot, I switched to the wired keyboard and my BT keyboard was given to someone about 3 cubes over. She uses a laptop as her primary computer, with external monitor and my old BT keyboard. So about 2-3 times a month her keyboard will connect to my machine instead of hers. We have tried really hard to get this to stop, including denying it authorization (when you have to type a key sequence into the keyboard – we didn’t do that when requested), deleting various bluetooth preferences in my OS, and trying to unpair the device. One problem seems to be that my computer cannot identify any BT keyboards in the area when I scan for keyboards, even when one is already obviously connected. So I just come in some days and have to disconnect the keyboard by hand. I found that command-line tool I linked above and I’m working on writing an auto tool to turn BT off if that keyboard connects, if that’s possible, and if that will do the trick.
Excellent idea
My brand new 27′ iMac with Lion (Oct 2011) under “About this Mac–>More info–>System report–>Hardware–>Bluetooth–> Discoverable: No”. Discoverable should be yes I think? I can’t find a way to fix this.
fire up System Preference -> Bluetooth you will see discoverable option
Command lines to restart BT stack:
sudo launchctl unload /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.blued.plist
sudo launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.blued.plist
Using both BT keyboard and mouse, I regularly have to SSH in from my laptop and perform this to be able to use my iMac after
BT crashes. 🙁
I tried all the things here, to no avail. I have one more thing that DID work though – I took the batteries out of each of the devices and put them back in (magic trackpad and wireless keyboard). I don’t know if it was hanging onto an old device or what, but this worked – instantly for the trackpad, and after a couple tries for the keyboard. I was on the verge of reinstalling the OS, so phew! I hope this helps someone else.
It is similar to my solution, after complete mac book power down issue was resolved. BTW, taking batteries out of my BT devices did not help.
I simply removed the batteries a few times and it seems to fix my problem.
Deleted plist files. After third try it worked. No reboot. Now I have an echo I can’t source.
Update – after some incredible buzzing in one ear it stopped working.
The method using XCode worked for me, thanks a lot!
My Bluetake BT510 Bluetooth mouse worked after step 6!
Thank you very much!
I am having no luck with my BT510. Could you tell me what passcode options you used.
Thanks
Thank God for your post!
I used to have issues with my MBP and BT magic mouse, it didn´t work at all! and everything started to work after step 3! Thanks a lot!
I tried all the steps except the Xcode one. Then I tried what I should have done first: Delete the device from bluetooth manager. I couldn’t figure out how though. That tiny button with a “-” was very illusive. After removing the pairing it was all fixed.
I’m Having SERIOUS issues with my New Turtle Beach PX5 headsets..Last night I finally got them to work after removing the batteries for 5 minutes…But now when I turn them on they disconnect in 30 seconds…Then Connect again.The Process repeats itself until the headsets turn off for lack of input.
And…I KNOW PEOPLE: PX5’s are NOT for Macs but I got them paired and working perfectly with GREAT surround sound even though the receiver is not connected via Optical.Any help reply ASAP! THANKS. MBP 2011 10.7.2 lion
Thanks, 8BITJAY.
I had a problem with the Magic Mouse pairing through Bluetooth with an iMac. I went for the simplest troubleshoot offered: shutdown the computer and disconnect it from the power source. I didn’t have a laptop with a battery, so I just pulled the plug of the desktop out of the outlet, waited for more than ten seconds, then plugged it back and restarted the computer. The mouse was detected and paired as usual after that. It seemed to reset something, but I don’t know what. I just know it worked. Just offering my experience for those in a similar situation.
Good luck to those who’s problem isn’t so easily solved. I’m no expert (that’s why I’m here), but a basic rule I follow is to try the simplest, least intrusive things first. With luck you don’t have to go further. If not then go on to the more complicated solutions.
Much gratitude to all who’ve ever offered their knowledge to help others on any forum whatsoever. May good fortune boomarang back your way. The help you all give is much greater than is acknowledged.
In this case, much thanks to 8BITJAY.
Your solution No3 worked for me right away and miraculously! I would have NEVER found this. Thank you SO much, you spared me from hours and hours of despair.
🙂
This worked for me! fingers crossed, although not until the last stage. Interestingly my keyboard was trying to connect with other machines but not my own after upgrading. Thanks you saved me the cost of buying a wired keyboard!
ALTERNATE SOLUTION
I went through the whole list above but nothing worked. This is how I solved it:
– Create a user account that has no special settings at all (I already had one – I even call it Diagnostic)
– Set up the Bluetooth in that account
– Switch back to your normal user account (you can now log out of the Diagnostics account and all should still work)
I was unable to make changes to any of my Bluetooth devices in System Preferences on an early 2011 MBP.
The ‘-‘ symbol was greyed out so I could not delete them and the gear symbol only had the option “Remove from favourites” – all other options were missing.
The fix was to reset the PRAM as per step 5 above.
I am having the same lion/bluetooth problems that many others are. I have downloaded and installed Xcode with the intention of using Bluetooth Explorer. Xcode is installed. Explorer does not show when I option-click on the bluetooth icon. What am I missing?
Is there one single thing that OS LION IS NOT A DISASTER????
wow.. 15 years of loyalty..
LION SUCKS SO MUCH I REGRET THE 14 YEARS THAT WERE GREAT!!
Apple.. wow.. one big WTF your way.
DISASTER….
I just installed a Bluetooth Apple Keyboard and Magic mouse on a new Man Mini with Lion OSX 10.7.4. I am using a second account that is set to be an admin. (This is a work computer – the IT dept reserves the primary account). The mouse always worked great, but the keyboard would connect and disconnect every 10 seconds like clockwork. I simply repaired permissions and all is well. I typed this entire message with no issues. Before, I could barely enter a password. Thank you for the help!
When using Bluetooth Explorer (no more in Xcode but a a separate dmg named Xcode Hardware IO tools), Devices -> Get Device Information -> Services, I got the following garbage in a field:
uint8(34), string( Garbage did not pass the post!),
0x0004 = { { uuid16(01 00), uint16(17) }, { uuid16(00 11) } },
0x020e = bool8(TRUE),
0x0203 = uint8(0),
0x0102 = string(Apple Inc.),
0x0001 = { uuid16(11 24) },
0x020b = uint16(256),
0x0200 = uint16(2),
0x0009 = { { uuid16(11 24), uint16(256) } },
0x0208 = bool8(FALSE),
0x0006 = { uint16(25966), uint16(106), uint16(256) },
0x0205 = bool8(TRUE),
0x020d = bool8(TRUE),
0x0202 = uint8(148),
0x0101 = string(Apple Wireless Trackpad)
}
};
* Resetting to factory doesn’t suppress the garbage.
And thus I was wondering if someone else have a similar garbage and if it might the cause of my difficulties to pair the magic trackpad.
Regards,
deleting the bluetooth preferences worked for me! believe me, i had tried almost everything
I’m trying to pair a third party wireless BT keyboard to my macbook osx lion but I can’t. It won’t connect or even try to setup a passcode for the pairing… The keyboard is not Apple. It is a third party supplier.
Any help would be appreciated…
I’ve successfully connected a BT headset to a MacBook Pro Retina running Lion; in addition to pairing, I also had to create a serial port for the device. Once paired (yet status was “not connected”!), in the BT settings, select the settings icon (next to the +/- buttons) and then “Edit serial port. Use the + icon to add a new port, your Mac should pick up the settings automatically. hth others.
“Apple – It just works!”
Yeah, right. This might be my last Mac, EVER. I have already switch from iPhone to Android and hasn’t looked back. I guess that Apple has had its peak and now it all downwards…
I am having difficulty with my MAC desktop bluetooth device.
I have upgraded up to mountain lion. I have been trying to have my phone and a logitech mouse connect through bluetooth. But every time I try to activate them it comes back and says “No discoverable object found, make sure your device is discoverable”. I can not even get to a menue with preferences to adjust. My phone is a motorola droid2. I can not even find a menu on my phone besides just turn on and off bluetooth. Any ideas?
Thanks in advance.
Step 4 did it for me. Thank you SO MUCH!
Step 4 worked for me after first three did nothing. Running Mountain Lion. Been working fine for weeks, then wireless KB just refused to be recognized after starting up from sleep. Changed batteries, shut down, and all that first before seeking your help. Whatever caused it, you got me going again. Many thanks.
IMac5,1
Core 2 Duo, 2.16
Problems connecting to mighty mouse. Would connect to apple keyboard with no problems.
Step #4 solved my problem!
After restarting and reconnecting, both connect very fast again.
Thanks for the great guide.
thanks for guide.now my JF3 freedom headset working with OS 10.8