Magic Mouse keeps disconnecting from bluetooth

I haven't read the whole thread so someone else may have already mentioned this.

I had the same problem of a disconnecting magic mouse and it started one morning after using it without problem for two years +. As other people are reporting it disconnected when tapped on my desk.

I found that the solution was to remove the battery cover and gently bend it back into shape so that it was flat again. That was three days ago and it hasn't disconnected since. I think my habit of using the edge of the cover to hook out the batteries probably bent it out of shape!

My magic mouse doesn't seem to have a problem with physical battery connections. The batteries stay connected in their compartment just fine. I'm not rough with my mouse. I have all kinds of disconnections though.

The only thing that works for me is constantly resetting the PRAM. A reset lasts for probably 1 week, maybe a week and a few days. Then things start getting wonky again. So I reset the PRAM and I get to use the mouse for another week or so.

I have also had this problem. After i put new batteries in my magic mouse it randomly disconnects. I have called Apple Support and they told me to do the following: 1. Shut down your mac 2. Immediately press Command+Option+T+R all at once once you start up your mac. 3. Listen for two Chimes. and after that I restarted and had no problems since. I hope this helps you. It helped me

EnderBuddy -

Do you mean P and R? I have reset the PRAM (Command, Option, P and R) numerous times and it always works for a while. I have also used paper in the mouse to hold the batteries in contact as suggested by others. Neither fix has lasted. I have noticed that the mouse is more prone to intermittent disconnection when I play the Freecell game I downloaded from the Apple App Store. As soon as I close out of the game, the connection restores itself. Please confirm whether it was T and R. If so, I'll give that a try. Thanks.

Magic Mouse disconnection with Windows 7 - Solved

HI, just to update you all that after uncheck "allow this computer to turn off this device to save power" under power management tab from Generic Bluetooth Adapter from device manager of Control Panel of Windows 7, then the magic mouse work flawlessly without having manipulate its batteries, turn on off, or ...bang it on my desk 🙂

Hope this help!

A battery change does not seem to help at all, at least in this case.

I purchased Apple's batteries and the mouse still disconnects several times per day.

Only bright side there is that I can recharge instead of replacing 2xAA batteries every 41 days (average).

Dear Apple,

How about a software fix for the mouse disconnect, please?

I'd rather not go back to my Microsoft USB Wheel Mouse Optical.

I discovered the fix for this a long time ago and have published it several times. For some reason, a lot of people what to attribute the fix to standing on one leg and spinning a soccer ball on their index finger or messing with the batteries.....none of which will fix the problem.

The problem is a corrupted PRAM and it needs to be reset. Search reset PRAM on Apple for the simple explanation of how to do it. Takes about a minute and it fixes the problem. Of course if you love buying every brand of battery and standing on one leg.............

Mactoyz -

Several posters, myself included, have reset PRAM repeatedly. It fixes the problem for a while (maybe a few days) and then the problem comes back. If what you say is correct then is it possible that some other program or process is repeatedly corrupting PRAM? I have wondered about apps downloaded from Apple Apps. Any thoughts on this?

I have two iMacs that had the same problem. My work Mac was so bad, I was using a wired mouse for a while. I spent a lot of time with Apple support and we finally zapped the PRAM and everything began to work fine. I then did the same thing on my home iMac and that fixed the problem. That was over a year ago and no reoccurance.

I have pretty much the same apps on both Macs. I can't say that I have bought a lot of apps through the App Store, but I have bought some. I do have a variety of USB devices connected to both.

I have never used anything but Rayovac Alkaline batteries.

Mystery to me why this trouble doesn't go away for others.

Mactoyz, in an unhelpful way you are turning a deliberately blinded eye to most people's clear, observable findings and ridiculing the real-life solution experienced and offered here to others, many times.

Like others, I have reset the PRAM and other 'fixes' as suggested. These processes made absolutely no difference to the lack of connection: absolutely NO difference.

Like many others, I have checked the fit of the batteries in the housing and I can plainly see that this is one poor design of battery housing. To remedy it, I have adjusted the fit of the batteries to ensure that they
1) make contact,
2) maintain contact.
Standing on one leg or spinning a ball is not involved in any way. Why you infer that, I have no idea.
What IS usually required is to remove the wrapping & insulation (unfortunately) from the +ve end of the battery so that the terminals can actually make proper physical contact. After that, the mouse works. Simple. Fact. This is the case with every 'Magic Mouse' that I have for every iMAc at work and at home. Simple fact. The fix has been repeated many times, the latest being last week with a colleague's iMac.

There may be other problems that others including you are having, separate to this,and in that case it's great to have the solution to those problems also, but as this lack of connection is a massive, widespread problem for users, please do not deflect people from a real, straightforward solution that will fix most cases - and please do not let Apple off the hook on this mouse design.

Not trying to be unhelpful. I have had a lot of experiance with the MagicMouse and have owned six of them. I have never had a battery problem, but as indicated previously, I have only used Rayovac Alkaline so if you have used another brand, I cannot speak to that.

I solved my problem and want to make sure that others benefit from that. If that did not fix your problem, please feel free to keep trying the battery solution.

As far as taking Apple "off the hook" for their mouse design, I don't think they are on the hook. Millions of those mice have been sold with a lot of happy users. The fact that some people have had trouble does not mean the design is bad or the unit is defective.

I fully believe that if there were a legitimate problem with the mouse battery contacts, it would already be known to Apple. They monitor these posts and I doubt very much that they would continue to duplicate a design that has shown to be a problem. Everyone makes mistakes and Apple is not exempt from that, but they have very little history showing that their products are poorly designed. I have been a user since 1984 and work in a mixed office. I think their design and product quality is the best in the business.

As far as the "standing on one leg" comment, I am sorry that was my very weak attempt to be humorous. I should not have done that because I realise not everyone thinks this issue is funny.

In June I posted this, and it still stands:

My conclusion was that it might be just bad contact.

I sandpapered both ends of the batteries. Then I scratched with a tiny, sharp flathead screwdriver both contacts inside the mouse: the sprung negative one and the recessed positive one. The mouse worked like a charm and has not failed since. It will likely work for you too, and it works with any batteries...good luck !

It definitely is bad contact, which fails upon a more heavy "knocking" of the MM upon the surface it resides on. I just put two pieces of paper below each battery and I am no longer experiencing the issue I have suffered for months. I originally thought this problem is with my MM only, but it seems I am not alone.

Ugly, but quick and working solution.

Mine turned out to be bad contacts as well! I used a slim mechanical pencil's eraser to clean the recessed contacts inside the Magic Mouse as well as the spring-loaded ones, and for good measure, "erased" the ends of the batteries as well.

My guess is that the MM is highly voltage-sensitive, and slight soiling on any of the contacts creates just enough resistance to cause these spurious disconnections.

Hope so, anyway!

Thanks to all.

For me, it's the size of the battery. It seems to make the most sense based on what I've read here about people replacing the MM and also myself trying to stuff paper in the back compartment to seat the batteries more securely.

I never had a problem until I swapped out my lame-o Kodak-branded batteries for EnergizerRecharge rechargeables. The Kodak batteries never gave me a problem. When I switched to the Energizers, the mouse cut out about 20x/day and was consistent with the tapping issue that others have explained. You'd lift the mouse off the desk and then bring it down again, even if it was ever-so-gently, and it would disconnect.

I put the Kodaks back in, and no problems.

Lesson learned!