Q: MacBook Air 13" 2011 Bluetooth Issues

Having exactly the same problems. I used the migration assistant on a MacMini running snow leopard to a new MacMini running Lion.

I have run the Repair Disk Permissions in Disk Utility, there were some errors but not related to the bluetooth.

Exactly same problems here. New MacBook Air, used migration assistant to migrate from Mac Book Pro (with OSX Lion).

Wow, same problem - brand new, 2011 13" MacBook Air and also used migration assistant.

Here's what I see:

(1) Bluetooth Preferences - check box on (and I'm able to uncheck it), Discoverable box is dimmed and not checkable.

(2) Discoverable box can be "auto-checked" if bluetooth sharing is turned on, but the Discoverable checkbox still remains dimmed.

(3) All Bluetooth paired items (when I can get them to be paired) show up as hex addresses only - no names.

Called and talked with Apple Support - they suggested this:

(1) reset PRAM and SMC - did that, no change

(2) Then they suggested to create a new user and see if the bluetooth issues follow to the new user - they did.

(3) So based on that, they suggested to boot (command-r) and re-install using the Recovery Option - I have not done that yet and I'm hesitant to do this because I believe that this will not fix the problem.

Some things I did that they did not suggest:

(1) Ran Repair Disk Permissions - no change.

(2) moved /var/root/Library/Preferences/blued.plist to something else and then restarted "blued" - no change.

For #2 - you'll need to do it this way - if you think this will make a difference:

sudo mv -f /var/root/Library/Preferences/blued.plist /var/root/Library/Preferences/blued_bak.plist

sudo killall blued

this will create a new blued.plist file - do this to see that:

sudo ls -l /var/root/Library/Preferences

You should see your old backed up copy and the newly created one.

Bob M

See my original take on this bluetooth problem:

Brand New 13" Air - Bluetooth Not Discoverable

One other thing I noticed, the mouse I was able to pair with (A Microsoft Bluetooth Laptop 5000) shows up only as a hex address, says its connected but not paired and works - very strange!

Name is blank, if I update Name and Update Sevices then the name shows up and I lose the connection - "Not Connected".

My Galaxy S phone attempts to pair, says its successful and then nothing - no entry in the device list. The phone thinks it is paired, the Air has no idea about it.

New Airs have the new 4.0 Bluetooth - I wonder how many of these problems are related to bad code surrounding this new Bluetooth version.

Bob M.

Got escalated support on my Bluetooth issues. The fix worked.

This fix is for those who used the migration assistant and are having bluetooth weirdness.

Go to:

Macintosh HD->Library->Preferences

drag (the old migrated files)

com.apple.Bluetooth.plist and com.apple.Bluetooth.plist.lockfile

to your Desktop,

stop Bluetooth and logout.

Login and restart Bluetooth.

You my need to delete any devices and re-pair. If eveything works then delete the files that you dragged to your Desktop.

My Air now works as it should.

Bob M.

Yes this works.

The only problem that I have now is problems with a bluetooth headset that is intermittant with Lion, that worked perfectly with Snow Leopard.

Chi

Nope it didnt do me any good Bob. Not in my cas. In fact anybody here noticed how we can not unticked the first two options on the "advance option" under bluetooth preferences.

Another problem would be whenever you restart your MacBook Air 13" 2011, and when you go back to bluetooth preferences (which by the way the bluetooth somehow always auto turn ON by itself) and go to "sharing option" the "padlock" always in OPEN position despite you have locked it before the restart.

I am having exactly the same issue with my MBA11". I did not -- as I am sure many did not -- use Migration Assistant.

Hope there's a fix soon. Very frustrating.

This sounds like the equivalent of dropping a nuclear bomb to kill a fly!

Thanks Bob, this worked for me.

I moved my data from MBP 15" - 2010 tp MBA 13" - 2011. Using migration method, but still what BOB suggested didnt work for me. I mean do you have to delete those two files from the "preferences folder" after your move out those two file into your desktop?

Anyway here are my current issues if anyone having the same thing:

BLUETOOTH ISSUES:

1. BLUETOOTH ALWAYS GET BACK TO "ON" AFTER I RESTARTED. EVENTHOUGH I HAVE TURNED IT OFF BEFORE I RESTARTED MY MACBOOK AIR.

2. THE OPTION IN THE BLUETOOTH FOR "DISCOVERABLE" IS GREYED. THEREFORE I CANT TICK IT.

WHY ?

Thank you.