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Q: El Capitan - Bluetooth Not Available

I've been looking through the forums and I'm seeing several references to folks running El Capitan getting the bluetooth icon with a lightning bolt through it, and a drop-down menu that just states "Bluetooth: Not Available".  I have a MacBook Pro 15" Retina (Mid-2015).

 

My additional symptoms are:

  1. There is NO Bluetooth Preference Pane.  It's gone.
  2. There are various errors in /var/log/system.log:
    • Oct  6 09:00:57 ohcpisvp kernel[0]: Sandbox: AssetCacheLocato(1222) deny(1) file-read-data /Applications/Utilities/Bluetooth File Exchange.app/Contents/MacOS/Bluetooth File Exchange/..namedfork/rsrc
    • Oct  6 09:00:57 ohcpisvp kernel[0]: Sandbox: AssetCacheLocato(1222) deny(1) file-read-data /Applications/Utilities/Bluetooth File Exchange.app
    • Oct  6 09:00:57 ohcpisvp kernel[0]: **** [IOBluetoothFamily][SearchForTransportEventTimeOutHandler] -- Missing Bluetooth Controller Transport!
  3. Running System Report shows "No Information found" under Bluetooth

 

This started with an upgrade from Yosemite to El Capitan (retail App Store).  Bluetooth operated fine previously.

Disk Utility returns clean.

 

There is no longer a "Fix Permissions", as El Capitan instantiated the "System Integrity Protection" capability, removing fix permissions (and permanently fixing permissions on all system files).

 

I have tried the two solutions that were posted elsewhere:

  1. Reset SMC (Shutdown, press CNTL-Option-SHIFT-Power, let all of them go simultaneously, then power up)
  2. Delete /Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth.plist

 

The SMC reset, initially, seemed to return Bluetooth functionality, but putting the system to sleep and re-awakening it caused it to disappear again, since them it's been offline.

 

Looking to see how many other folks are experiencing this issue, so we can get some attention on it (especially since it seems to have been a common occurrence during the Betas), and to see if anyone has a sticky solution?  Resetting the SMC every time I boot seems a bit ridiculous.

 

-Rob

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Oct 6, 2015 6:24 AM

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Q: El Capitan - Bluetooth Not Available

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  • by Epithalamion,

    Epithalamion Epithalamion May 10, 2016 4:19 AM in response to iCare
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 10, 2016 4:19 AM in response to iCare

    Thanks, but I tried a NVRAM reset during my call with Apple support on Sunday - reference no: 1105046038

     

    However, this failed to work.  I also did an "internet reinstall" during that call, but it did not work.  Most recently, this morning, I performed a complete factory reset - i.e. starting in recovery mode, erasing the hard drive in disk utility, then reinstalling OSX.

     

    Having done all of this, there is still no bluetooth and the magic mouse/keyboard do not work.  My bluetooth has been completely killed off within 2 hours of unboxing, and nothing seems to be fixing it.

     

    I have no option but to take it back to the Apple Store.

  • by Epithalamion,

    Epithalamion Epithalamion May 11, 2016 3:17 AM in response to Epithalamion
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 11, 2016 3:17 AM in response to Epithalamion

    I spoke with Apple Care this morning, who suggested that because my iMac is such a new machine, the various restores/re installations only allow a recent version of El Capitan to be reinstalled.  In other words, it cannot go far enough back in time to reinstall a version of the OSX where this is not a problem.

     

    If this really is the case, then it sound like a completely fatal flaw in new iMacs rendering them inoperable (assuming there is no wired mouse/keyboard available or update of OSX which corrects the problem).

  • by sekok,

    sekok sekok May 11, 2016 10:17 AM in response to Epithalamion
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 11, 2016 10:17 AM in response to Epithalamion

    Hi Epithalamion, I'm really sorry to hear about your troubles! Mine - after the PRAM zap I've reported - is "still" ok although I'm now using the wired keyboard and mouse only - because i'm skeptical that the stability is definitive. At this stage I prefer being wired and up and running than potentially troubleshooting / debugging a brand new product on a daily basis. I really hate to do that.  But I had to spend extra money to get wired keyboard and mouse, so I completely share your frustration and point of view. Sorry I can't be of any help to you.

  • by Macounette,

    Macounette Macounette May 11, 2016 10:54 AM in response to Epithalamion
    Level 1 (18 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 11, 2016 10:54 AM in response to Epithalamion

    HI Epithalamion, I'm also very sorry to hear about your problems.

    On my side, like I mentioned, after the first and only PRAM reset I did, I haven't experienced this problem any more. I don't know yet whether this will solve the issue definitely but it seems to me by reading the topic here that the problem can materialize in many different ways. For sure a bug fix  will have to be issued by Apple.

     

    For what it's worth, I got a response from the bug fix platform advising me to reset the PRAM which is precisely what I had already done...

     

    In any case I'd advise you to return your iMac and ask either for a refund or a replacement.

  • by gary1413,

    gary1413 gary1413 May 23, 2016 2:17 AM in response to Epithalamion
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 23, 2016 2:17 AM in response to Epithalamion

    Same here I have just bought an identical machine and after a few days of running with no issues I had cause to shut down and restart the system and since then the same issue you report has manifested itself.

     

    Apple support have suggested that I take it into the Apple store but I'm not inclined to tuck it under my arm, and carry it through 'Birmingham City Centre' (Hardly a laptop).

     

    Guess its going to be a matter of waiting for yet another update or even El-Capitan's replacement in the Autumn.. Apple's support very friendly but with little substance and its very much "we care but only on the face of it" don't ask to do anything that might have a cost implication.

  • by Meska,

    Meska Meska May 26, 2016 3:07 AM in response to iCare
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 26, 2016 3:07 AM in response to iCare

    Had similar problems with my late Oct Retina 5K iMac (custom build). The NVRAM reset seems to have worked (so far). Was getting fed up of having to delete the bluetooth prefs on each startup.

  • by hankyc914,

    hankyc914 hankyc914 May 29, 2016 6:31 PM in response to gd107
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 29, 2016 6:31 PM in response to gd107

    I have same issue, but using OSX 10.11.5.  Can I go back & install 10.11.4 combo ?

  • by maswell,

    maswell maswell May 31, 2016 1:26 PM in response to hankyc914
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 31, 2016 1:26 PM in response to hankyc914

    Had the same issue and tried SMC/Prefrences -- nothing worked.

     

    I finally downloaded Onyx (http://www.titanium.free.fr/onyx.html) fixed permissions, ran all the maintenance scripts, and cleaned all the caches -- rebooted and am back in business.

     

    Not sure which piece helped, but figured I'd share!

  • by McDoughnut,

    McDoughnut McDoughnut Jun 3, 2016 7:29 AM in response to pickerin
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jun 3, 2016 7:29 AM in response to pickerin

    Spent all day looking for a fix for this problem & finally found this one & it seems to work.

    1 restart your Mac

    2 From the OS X desktop, hold down the Shift+Option keys and then click on the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar to reveal the hidden Debug menu.

    3 Select “Reset the Bluetooth module” from the Debug menu list.

    4 When finished resetting, reboot the Mac as usual and go through the process of connecting the Bluetooth device(s) to the Mac as you typically would, everything should now work fine.


    This has been successful where the other techniques simply did not work for me. Good luck.

     

  • by hankyc914,

    hankyc914 hankyc914 Jun 3, 2016 2:16 PM in response to McDoughnut
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 3, 2016 2:16 PM in response to McDoughnut

    Thanks for the suggestion.  Did not work for me.  I tried it several times.  When I hold down Opt-shift & click in BT icon I do not get debug option.

    All I get is bluetooth not available and below it.."create diagnostic report on the desktop"

     

    I tried resetting the NVRAM many times also and nothing works..  I am at a total loss.

    A friend is looking into possibly trying to edit the NVRAM file & see if that works.

    I appreciate everyones suggestions & ideas.

    Some day I'll get this fixed, just very frustrating that so many are having the same issue and its posted on the boards & yet Apple cannot find a solution..

  • by McDoughnut,

    McDoughnut McDoughnut Jun 3, 2016 6:14 PM in response to hankyc914
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jun 3, 2016 6:14 PM in response to hankyc914

    Bummer. I tried all of the different reset options, deleted plists, reset nvram & all these things gave me temporary access to the bluetooth. My guess is if you can get temporary access to it, it gives you an opportunity to access the debug menu. Have you had temporary access with any of your previous attempts?

  • by hankyc914,

    hankyc914 hankyc914 Jun 3, 2016 6:18 PM in response to McDoughnut
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 3, 2016 6:18 PM in response to McDoughnut

    Hey.

     

     

    Only time I have any luck is if I boot in safe mode, then it works..  I'm going to try in safe mode & see if I can access debug while there.

    Also might try to delete plist, then reboot in safe & see what happens...  wish me luck.

     

    Thanks again

    Hank

  • by hankyc914,

    hankyc914 hankyc914 Jun 3, 2016 6:36 PM in response to McDoughnut
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 3, 2016 6:36 PM in response to McDoughnut

    I restarted in safe mode & BT working...I did debug & restarted normally & NO BT.. Next I did debug in safe, deleted plist, restart in safe...BT working.

    restart normally...NO BT...very frustrating.  At least I can by pass keyboard with cable & mouse.using old style wireless mouse.

    But no Bluetooth Printer.. Hopefully someone(Apple ??) will come up with a fix real soon..

  • by McDoughnut,

    McDoughnut McDoughnut Jun 3, 2016 8:18 PM in response to hankyc914
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jun 3, 2016 8:18 PM in response to hankyc914

    Thats a real bugger. Good effort for trying everything. I'm sorry my fix didn't work for you. Gladly my MBA is back to normal & still working. Just keep scouring the net & keep trying different things. Did you try downloading Onyx as was suggested in an earlier post. I did ran the diagnostics, but didn't fix my issue, it might fix yours.

  • by hankyc914,

    hankyc914 hankyc914 Jun 3, 2016 8:33 PM in response to McDoughnut
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 3, 2016 8:33 PM in response to McDoughnut

    I tried ONYX.. Ran the diagnostics & that didn't show or fix anything..I'm sort of afraid to run much else on there, since I'm not much of a geek & maybe it will do something negatively to the computer.  I also ran the wireless diagnostics, thinking it might find something, which. of course, it did not.

     

    Another suggestion was to edit the NVRAM file and insert the lines that another guy has listed in his.  He had the problem but then solved it & he sent me the lines of the NVRAM that apply to Bluetooth. My NV file does not contain any reference to Bluetooth at all...

     

    I have a neighbor, who is very very knowledgeable on the Mac & he's doing some research before he started editing the file.

     

    I'll keep you informed if I find anything...Thanks for all your help !!

     

    H

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