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ArnieB Author

Level 1

2 points

Magic Mouse Loses Connection

My Magic Mouse keeps losing its connection. Has any one else had this happen to them. I reapplied the update and had gone through the set again but the connection repeatedly is lost. Luckily I still have my wired mouse plugged in or my IMAC would be useless.

IMAC, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Nov 1, 2009 1:39 PM

357 replies

Mar 5, 2011 12:25 PM in response to ArnieB

After many months of zero problems, I experienced sudden, frequent, and extremely annoying intermittent connection losses. "Connection Lost" wait 5 seconds, jiggle jiggle, "Connected" and in 5 seconds it happens all over again. Replaced my batteries and in a day it started all over again.

After reading someone hear claim the battery compartment cover was not tight against the batteries, allowing them to jostle themselves free, I investigated.

I DISCOVERED MINUTE DUST ACCUMULATIONS ON THE TIPS OF THE BATTERIES THEMSELVES, CLEANED THEM, AND THAT WAS THAT!

My theory is that the 1-2mm gap between the battery compartment and the movement sensor allows dust to collect inside, which eventually coagulates on the tips. I suggest others investigate this hypothesis and comment with their results.

Rigzz

Level 1

9 points

Mar 12, 2011 12:09 PM in response to ArnieB

I'm 3 days into a fix that seems to have worked based on advice here.

My problem: Bluetooth Magic Mouse would lose connection with Macbook Pro, as described by so many others.

Preface: I didn't put a lot of stock in the "banging around" idea of dislodging the batteries as I'd lose connection even when gently sweeping or clicking the mouse. I'm not hard on it at all nor have I ever dropped it. I couldn't understand why loose batteries could be a culprit?

I also found the suggestions about 1.5 vs. 1.2V batteries not applicable because I was using brand new, Duracells in the prescribed voltage.

HOWEVER... after trashing the PLIST file, restarting, repairing, making favorite, etc. I was willing to try anything.

Some have suggested switching batteries - my personal idea is that they're right but for the wrong reasons. They're right that the batteries and physical/loose batteries are the issue but it just depends on the brand. Some perfectly good batteries have thicker casings than others. So, switching batteries may or may not work but it's not due to the voltage, rechargeable vs. ALK ...it's the millimeters of difference some makes/models have.

I caved in and shoved some paper (part of an Apple Genius business card for irony's sake) between both batteries AND a single thickness of the business card laid across the top of them. I then smooshed the Magic Mouse lid back down on - physically clicking that goofy little latch well and truly into place.

3 days - zero connection loss.

This compared to losing connection every several minutes for 5-8 seconds at a time through gentle use on a well-cared-for Magic Mouse. I'd endured THIS agony since the day I bought the MM. I bought it after practically having a seizure in frustration with the Mighty Mouse... not sure what I was thinking.

So, please, give the paper/foil whatever trick a try. There was no visible/audible clue my batteries were loose and I've treated this mouse with kid gloves yet low and behold - jamming those batteries in tight seems to have worked.

The solution of learning my lesson about not buying Apple mice isn't lost on me, either. Sheesh. What a frustrating experience.

Mar 17, 2011 6:15 PM in response to ArnieB

I concur with the battery solution. I have noticed that I lose connection immediately after some over-enthusiastic mousing. I have tried the piece of cardboard idea and so far so good. It's gotten a bit worse over time so I would imagine that there is some wear/tear or compression of the springs holding the batteries in place.

Mar 31, 2011 1:52 PM in response to ArnieB

It appears for me that the loss of connection relates the the position of my blackberry. I usually keep my BB on my mousepad to lessen the sound of vibration when it sends an alert. After Moving my blackberry across my desk, I haven't had my mouse disconnect in nearly a half hour. Usually if my mouse doesn't move int he 6-12 seconds, it's dunzo.

This makes sense, as my mouse started doing the magic disconnect around the time I got my blackberry. I was two seconds from removing the preferences file... we'll see if this works.

Now if only someone could solve the problem of my VM booting issues... stupid Microsoft products!

jaSz2011

Level 1

0 points

Apr 4, 2011 11:52 AM in response to Josh Schoenwald

I was getting the same problem, but I've realized that normally it disconnected when I bang it on the desk, when browsing with such a large screen, so I did put a small paper folded between the batteries and the cover and when I bang it, it never lost connection ever again.

So I think this might help you guys.

Kind regards.

Apr 4, 2011 7:13 PM in response to luke_r_24

I have been having the same issue. Was using cheaper batteries (Non-alkaline Ever-ready brand). I have replaced them with rechargeable Energizers. To my surprise, the energizers seemed to be a snugger fit.

So I lay then side by side and sure enough the Everready brand were slightly shorter. Only a mm or two but I think that may be the entire root of the issue.

No further issues so far.

Apr 13, 2011 8:44 AM in response to ArnieB

WOW! I have tried EVERY Fn suggestion on this and other threads. NO GO!!

How does Apple plan to address this problem?? I spend 20 minutes F'ing w my mouse EVERY DAY!!!!!!

Win7 looking better all the time...........................

Apr 13, 2011 3:11 PM in response to justMeEB3

Just wanted to confirm that after almost 10 days replacing the brand of batteries absolutely worked for me - the slight size difference was definitely the culprit. I've had not a single loss of connection since.

Jun 7, 2011 1:39 AM in response to ArnieB

This is nuts. F..k i-clowd, i-storm and i-whatever, fix the problems Steve... I passed to mac so I wouldn't have any hardware issues and now my f....g mouse doesn't f.....g work. Magic Mouse my a.s. Where is support?

Jun 9, 2011 12:17 PM in response to Aedan Mcghie

This alu 'wedging it in there' trick worked for me (annoyingly not a solution you'd expect to have to perform on an apple product but still, goes to show that not even apple products are perfect yet)!

My mouse would just disconnect on some days, and fer the last hour or so, it's been goin on and off and unwaveringly annoying the crap out of me as I wasn't even really moving it, just scrolling or clicking in place reading an article or what.. but no excessive movements anyway!

➕ The power button was always 'feeble' in it's action, from the start that the slightest nudge seemed like it would turn it too OFF because of that flickering light... and why is the flipping light flickering...

That light should simply demonstrate power; is it flipping ON or OFF?! But I'm thinking some fancy pansy **** decided that this light should signal whether it's transmitting or not... ya poof!

Thanks btw (as I was about to just hammer it against the wall finally)

Jun 9, 2011 2:24 PM in response to Christian Skjott

Wasn't that! Still disconnecting, but for an hour it worked fine... This 'magic' mouse has like 'magic' spats in disconnectivity, so trouble shooting might be tuff, but I guess it could fixed with a 'imaginery' bat or a just a finely tuned but directed pitch against the wall!!

Jun 20, 2011 8:34 AM in response to ArnieB

This is definately a bluetooth problem, not related to the mouse itself.

After applying latest patch for bluetooth (2.4.0) - problems occured.

and probably the latest security patch (Airport Utility 5.5.3) - problems with frequent disconnect got even worse.

It seems like the last Bluetooth software is not as stable as it was before. It worked perfectly in February. Now I have really big problems with my Jambox from Jawbone. It starts to distort after a minute or two, and after a while, it disconnects.

MacBook Pro 2.53 GHz Intel Core i5

OS X 10.6.7

Jul 5, 2011 8:49 AM in response to velociter

I started having the same problem Magic Mouse connectionproblem after the last update to the Airport Utility (5.5.3). While browsingblogs and searching for answers, I came across a posting where the user solvedthe problem by disabling the “Access for Assistive Devices” button in theUniversal Access Panel of the Systems Preferences.

I was loosing my Magic Mouse connection every 5 minutes ofso. After turning off the Universal Access, I have not yet seen the Magic Mouselose a connection over the last 7 hours. Not really sure what this means to thefolks who use Universal Access, I guess they need to talk to an Apple Genius.

MacBook Pro 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

OS X 10.6.8

Franqc

Level 1

0 points

Jul 13, 2011 6:54 AM in response to ArnieB

I am having the same problem, I have been reading this blog and it seems that since 2007 Apple has done nothing about it. Am I the only one to believe that these blogs are useless, as I am going to exit out of ths blog without an answer and the same problem in existence.

Jul 23, 2011 6:29 PM in response to Ne0nNightmare

this issue is not fixed by this or any other method in my case. AND I HAVE LOOKED EVERYWHERE. I purchased a trackpad and it still occurs with the trackpad. It is either a OS or hardware issue. Further to this I just updated to Lion hopeing the issue would be fixed but it is not. So it is looking more and more like that is is hardware issue to me. Possibly with intel based Macs

Magic Mouse Loses Connection