Why Does My Wireless Mouse Keep "Losing The Connection"

Question

Level 1

52 points

Why Does My Wireless Mouse Keep "Losing The Connection"

I have the older wireless mouse and recently it has been losing the connection frequently.

At first I thought it was something mechanically wrong with the mouse -- I would vigorously rub the "ball" and eventually it would start working again.

Now I realize that it is the actual signal that seems to be fading and coming back based on nothing that I am doing -- It will drop the signal and then start working again after a short period of time (less than a minute).

I know this because I installed the wired mouse and start using it when the wireless fails and then go back to the wireless when it spontaneously works again.

Is it the failing of the mouse internally to send a signal or is it some glitch in my software receiving the signal?

Thanks.

iMAC 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 24" (late 2006), Mac OS X (10.5.7)

Posted on Mar 27, 2010 10:10 AM

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Answer 1

jax44

Level 1

38 points

Mar 27, 2010 11:00 AM in response to Helen Berman

Hi Helen,

I have been having the same issue lately. I called Apple and we started by having me remove some start up items, i.e.: BetterTouchTool. Seemed to work but alas back to the" connection lost". Sometimes all I do is click the mouse(magic mouse) and it re-connects.BTW, my Mighty Mouse does the same but not my wireless keyboard.
I suspect there is a problem with Apple's Bluetooth software.

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Answer 2

Mar 27, 2010 12:58 PM in response to Helen Berman

There are a couple of things that will help

1) New batteries

2) In the mouse Preferences make it a Favorite

3) Remove any other near by interferences using 2.4 ghz like cordless phone, baby monitors, routers etc.

Here is a link for Bluetooth and Wireless interferences

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1365

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Answer 3

Helen Berman Author

Level 1

52 points

Mar 27, 2010 1:02 PM in response to Helen Berman

I have no trouble with my wireless keyboard.

I have nothing that might interfere with transmission -- I actually had a cordless phone close to the computer at one point but not now and there was not an issue until recently so the phone had no impact.

Batteries seem to make no difference.

I have no idea how to make a mouse a "favorite" in either the Mouse Preferences of the Bluetooth preferences as it doesn't show up as an option.

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Answer 4

Paul_31

Level 6

14,212 points

Mar 27, 2010 1:09 PM in response to Helen Berman

To make the mouse, keyboard or any Bluetooth item a 'favorite', go to: System Preferences>Bluetooth
In the left side of the window select the bluetooth device you want to make a 'favorite' then at the bottom select the 'cog' and then select 'show more info'. You can then make it a favorite.

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Answer 5

Mar 27, 2010 1:12 PM in response to Helen Berman

You can try this link but it might only be for Snow Leopard.
It has a few different solutions, one might work for you.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=10809072&#10809072

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Answer 6

den.thed

Level 10

96,022 points

Mar 27, 2010 1:37 PM in response to Helen Berman

Hi Helen

If your still at 10.5.7 as your profile indicates, then there is a fix in the 10.5.8 Combo Updater that addresses Bluetooth reliability.

Also note that even if you updated to 10.5.8 sometime ago, there is no harm in downloading and installing the Combo Update over the top of your existing 10.5.8 version in case you missed the fix...

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/macosx_updates/macosx1058comboupdate .html

Dennis

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