shblet343

Q: Bluetooth missing from system preferences?

Hello.

 

I've seached for ideas everywhere but am not having much luck. 

 

I'm running a 27" iMac OSX, 10.8.3 (12D78) Mountain Lion

w/3.2 GHz i3

12 GB 1333 MHz DDR3

 

A few days ago, my magic mouse lost it's scoll, swipe, zoom, and right click abilities.  The batteries were low, so I dismissed it.  I have since replaced the batteries, and then noticed that the bluetooth icon is missing at the top of the screen/staus bar.  I looked in system preferences, and the Bluetooth icon is also missing from there.  Under the Mouse pane, there is no options for the magic mouse, only tracking speed and click speed. 

 

I searched the archives and it appears it's a pretty common occurance.  The difference is my BT mouse still works, only as a regular mouse.  (Single click and pointer tracking).

 

I first tried a timemachine restore, with no luck.

Next, I tried a reboot. No luck.

I tried the SMC reset.  No luck there either. 

 

I know the BT is working somewhat, because after I reboot the system, the mouse pointer doesn't move, but if I click and hold the mouse buttom for a few seconds, I get control over the mouse, but like I said, with no options or extra abilities.  But even with the mouse moving, there is no BT icon either on the staus bar or in system preferences.

 

Any ideas on what to try next?

iMac (27-inch Mid 2010), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Apr 12, 2013 11:57 AM

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Q: Bluetooth missing from system preferences?

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  • by shblet343,

    shblet343 shblet343 Apr 27, 2013 6:05 PM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 27, 2013 6:05 PM in response to Old Toad

    BT PrefPane.jpg

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Apr 28, 2013 9:12 AM in response to shblet343
    Level 10 (141,137 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 28, 2013 9:12 AM in response to shblet343

    I'd try the combo updater in any case and see if that won't jump start it in the System Prefs.

  • by TheOtherDale,

    TheOtherDale TheOtherDale Oct 17, 2013 1:58 PM in response to shblet343
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 17, 2013 1:58 PM in response to shblet343

    shblet343....Did you problem get resolved or not?  I see I know have the exact same problem.  Let me know please.

  • by seamusmc,

    seamusmc seamusmc Nov 12, 2013 4:47 AM in response to TheOtherDale
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 12, 2013 4:47 AM in response to TheOtherDale

    I am having the same problem as well. Using Mavericks with latest updates. Contrary to what the stupid forum is stamping I'm using 10.9 13A603

     

    Message was edited by: seamusmc

     

    Specs updated

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Nov 12, 2013 10:48 AM in response to seamusmc
    Level 10 (141,137 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 12, 2013 10:48 AM in response to seamusmc

    Your's isn't the same as you're running Mavericks and they are running Mt. Lion.

     

    Boot into the Recovery volume (boot with the Command + R keys held down) and reinstall the system.  That should restore the Bluetooth preference pane.

  • by Rod Fox,Helpful

    Rod Fox Rod Fox Jan 6, 2014 3:37 PM in response to shblet343
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jan 6, 2014 3:37 PM in response to shblet343

    I hope I can help, at least with anyone else who may completely lose the bluetooth for no reason.  I had the same problem, trackpad and keyboard didnt work, checked systems report, and no information was found under Bluetooth. 

    I called an apple support number, the guy had never heard of this happening but we corrected everything on the first try.

    Try this; Apple Icon upper left screen/shut down.

    Disconnect everything from the computer but the power

    Once the computer is off, hold down SHIFT/CONTROL/OPTION and then press the power button.  Hold all 4 keys for 5-6 seconds and release.

    The computer should still be off at this point.

    Cross you fingers and press the power button.

    Once the computer powers up and you sign in, check to see if the bluetooth icon is now back in Systems Preferences.

    It worked for me and all my devices were listed.

     

    I hope this simple trick will work for all of you.

     

    Cheers,

     

    Rod Fox

  • by AdobeRich,

    AdobeRich AdobeRich Feb 19, 2014 5:39 PM in response to Rod Fox
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 19, 2014 5:39 PM in response to Rod Fox

    This did the trick for me! (running Mavericks 10.9.1)

     

    Thanks Rod!

  • by rebby575,

    rebby575 rebby575 Mar 5, 2014 7:45 AM in response to Rod Fox
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 5, 2014 7:45 AM in response to Rod Fox

    That worked for me, Rod Fox, when all else failed. I was "" that close to calling Applecare.

     

    Thanks.

  • by ssmith00,

    ssmith00 ssmith00 Mar 18, 2014 7:38 AM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 18, 2014 7:38 AM in response to Old Toad

    Is the response (below) to seamusmc (using Mavericks), or to the original post from shblet343 (mt. lion)?

     

    Boot into the Recovery volume (boot with the Command + R keys held down) and reinstall the system.  That should restore the Bluetooth preference pane.

    I am using Mt. Lion, and have reinstalled 10.8.3. Notta...

  • by jessefromjacksonville,

    jessefromjacksonville jessefromjacksonville Apr 22, 2014 8:53 AM in response to Rod Fox
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 22, 2014 8:53 AM in response to Rod Fox

    Shazam! The "Rod Fox Fix" had my bluetooth back to normal as soon as I heard the reboot chime.

     

    13" MBP, Retina, early 2013, with Mavericks 10.9.2 (current as of this post).

     

    For the record, I had no joy moving Bluetooth.prefPane file to either desktop or trash.

  • by terryzx,

    terryzx terryzx Sep 22, 2014 4:14 AM in response to Rod Fox
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 22, 2014 4:14 AM in response to Rod Fox

    Worked great for me on Maverick 10.9.5

     

    THANX MUCH!!!

  • by steevb,

    steevb steevb Dec 26, 2014 3:35 PM in response to Rod Fox
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 26, 2014 3:35 PM in response to Rod Fox

    I am using Yosemite 10.10.1 and lost the Bluetooth preference pane just as shblet343 describes. Suggestions in this thread included  "Take your Mac to the Applestore" and "Reinstall your system". I am so happy I kept reading because Rod Fox's suggestion WORKED!! It was much easier  and safer to hold down 4 buttons for 5-6 seconds. Thank you Rod Fox.

     

    shblet343: Please mark Rod Fox's answer with "This solved my question" or at the least "This helped me". It deserves to be called out.

  • by mig.mac,

    mig.mac mig.mac Jan 5, 2015 2:22 PM in response to Rod Fox
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 5, 2015 2:22 PM in response to Rod Fox

    Almost a year later and this solved the issue for me on Mavericks (10.9.5)

     

    Thank you Rod Fox

  • by eponomousthethird,

    eponomousthethird eponomousthethird Jan 12, 2015 3:32 PM in response to Rod Fox
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 12, 2015 3:32 PM in response to Rod Fox

    Thanks Red Fox.  This also worked with Yosemite although the computer did restart whilst holding down all four keys..

  • by Jeb85,

    Jeb85 Jeb85 Feb 9, 2015 7:17 PM in response to Rod Fox
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 9, 2015 7:17 PM in response to Rod Fox

    This worked for me. I had installed a SSD drive loaded with mtn lion and all of a sudden the "bluetooth not available" issue appeared on startup. Followed directions per Rod Fox and all is well! Running mid 2009 MBP with 10.8.5

     

    Cheers!

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