Bluetooth: Not Available

Question

Level 1

4 points

Bluetooth: Not Available

My bluetooth icon in the top car is greyed out with a horizontal lightning bolt looking icon crossed through it. In my system preferences, bluetooth file sharing doesn't appear under Internet & Wireless. When I spotlight bluetooth File Exchange, it says: "No Bluetooth Hardware Found. In order to use this application, you must have a bluetooth module. Pleaser verify that your bluetooth hardware is properly attached to the computer."
Also, Bluetooth Firmware Update says that the firmware is in face up to date. after installing Mac OSX 10.6.3, i thought it would start working again. No such luck

What do I need to do to utilize my bluetooth capability once again?

Thanks

MacBook 2.4GHz 4GB RAM, iPhone 3G 16GB, AppleTV 160GB, Time Capsule 500GB, Mac OSX 10.6.3

Posted on Mar 29, 2010 7:46 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Jay Bullock

Level 4

3,806 points

Mar 30, 2010 3:58 AM in response to RyGuy009

You can try resetting the SMC and the PRAM:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379

One of those might jog the BT back to life.

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Answer 2

lindamaw

Level 1

0 points

Mar 31, 2010 7:19 AM in response to Jay Bullock

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!! I clicked on the first link and followed the directions and my bluetooth is now back on.

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Answer 3

Mar 31, 2010 7:29 AM in response to lindamaw

Glad it worked for you. Hope it works for the original poster, too.

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Answer 4

Mar 31, 2010 9:57 AM in response to Jay Bullock

Same problem here. Upgraded to 10.6.3 and Bluetooth stopped workng. I tried resetting both the SMC and the PRAM but its still not working.

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Answer 5

Mar 31, 2010 3:12 PM in response to mysqlscott

I ended up getting it to work after downloading the MacOSXUpdCombo10.6.3.dmg and running the install again. After a reboot everything is now working again.

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Answer 6

Apr 1, 2010 9:21 AM in response to mysqlscott

Tried the same but no luck for me. Going back to 10.6.2

What a pain 😟

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Answer 7

RyGuy009 Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 1, 2010 10:37 AM in response to Jay Bullock

I'm sure it will. Going to try after the semester is over, just in case

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Answer 8

bechard

Level 1

35 points

May 30, 2010 8:11 PM in response to Jay Bullock

This worked perfectly for me, thanks!

My bluetooth wasn't working either so for my intel macbook, I:
1. shut the computer down.
2. removed the power cord.
3. held the power button down for 5 sec.
4. reattached the power cord.

GOOD TO GO!

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Answer 9

Cupart

Level 1

24 points

Jun 23, 2010 9:09 AM in response to bechard

Hi bechard,

Had the same problem as you and followed your instructions and can report back that it WORKS!!!

Brilliant, and thanks for sharing...

//F

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Answer 10

Jun 27, 2010 6:44 PM in response to Jay Bullock

I have a MacBook Pro and am trying to sync my Blackberry with my bluetooth in my Mac....both are discoverable, but it asks for a passkey to make the connection. I've never set a passkey for either one of them before, as this is the first time I've tried this.....Any suggestions?

Dave

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Answer 11

kman527

Level 1

8 points

Jul 29, 2010 5:11 AM in response to darmstr12

Most bluetooth devices have a default passcode of 0000 (four zeros). Every bluetooth headset I have had used the 0000.

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Answer 12

barbas

Level 1

0 points

Aug 13, 2010 3:51 AM in response to Jay Bullock

Hi,

I had the same problem on my new iMac 27" (i5). Even the Bluetooth icon in the System Preferences pane had disappeared. After several restarts (with everything unplugged, after repairing disk permissions, after deleting BT preferences), resetting the PRAM finally worked.

Thanks

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Answer 13

RyGuy009 Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 2, 2010 11:26 AM in response to barbas

It was a hardware problem for me. Took it into the Apple Store and they opened it up and tightened up some loose connections.

That is all.

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Answer 14

Oct 27, 2010 1:49 PM in response to Jay Bullock

You can try resetting the SMC and the PRAM:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379

One of those might jog the BT back to life.

Jay,
Had tried resetting PRAM, with Bluetooth still 'unavailable' on MacBook Pro unibody. But SMC reset did the trick. Thank you.
...ben

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Answer 15

Jan 10, 2011 6:46 PM in response to bechard

That worked for me too! Thanks so much.

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