Bluetooth connectivity broken after MacOS 10.14.6 update (MacBook Pro 13" Early 2015)

Spent some time in a screen share with Apple Senior Support and they have gathered logs from my MacBook Pro. They were actually really good and said they don't want to do anything invasive, such as re-installs or hardware replacements, before they've determined whether there's valuable info on the Mac about how / why the issue occurs.

They have promised to escalate to engineering. I'll hear back from them next week and will update here.

Thanks. Yeah, I've stopped trying things and decided a re-install simply isn't worth it (from what others have said). It's highly likely the issue will remain and I'd like to save that much wasted time.

Really hope Apple address this. I'm loathed to invest in my next MacBook Pro if issues like this are going to happen only 3-4 years in.

Hi Kevin,

Given your previous (really helpful) reply ("Apple Engineering has confirmed that 10.14.6 disables Bluetooth"), I think it's crazy of Apple to insist on receiving the hardware, when they are pretty-much confirming the 10.14.6 update disabled Bluetooth.

I quite understand that fixing the hardware may, from their corporate standpoint, be the best way to fix the problem for those of us with mid-2015 (in my case early-2015) hardware affected by this, but from an individual standpoint, I simply can't afford to be without my laptop at the moment; I'm a software engineer and I would need to buy a replacement to cover the repair time, which makes the repair nonsensical.

Apple have disappointed me on this. I have an effectively useless Magic Mouse and Bose which I now have to use with a cable.

Rather than receiving my hardware, I will be considering whether Apple will receive my (and my organisation's) money for future hardware (MacBook Pro's, iPhones, etc). I'm not seeing the level of support I'd expect from them.

Bluetooth connectivity broken... my trust in Apple also broken.

Thanks Kevin. I sincerely hope the software update comes. I won't (as mentioned in my other reply to you on here) be handing Apple my hardware when it's almost 100% clear that their software update broke Bluetooth.

Thanks Kevin. I think we're 100% in agreement.

Apologies for my naivety, but how do you open a case with Apple? I'm in the UK here and couldn't figure out how to do this. They obviously make it hard! If I can figure out how, I will log a case and reference this post.

Thank-you!

Thanks Kevin, yes completely agree.

The support rep acknowledged that she has a few similar-sounding issues reported, which is hopeful. And the fact that she didn't go straight for the "bring your hardware in" line tends to suggest they might be turning towards believing us.

Let's see next week. Thanks again!

Apple support called again to gather more info. We did a screen share, including taking screenshots of my Bluetooth settings, deleting various cache files, reviewing drivers & extensions, etc. A restart and tried pairing both Bluetooth devices, and they still fail to be found.

I think (hope!) we're beyond them thinking it's hardware-related. I'm told that Engineering will get this additional info during the week and will respond.

Thanks Kevin. I'll try to persevere with the support case and help them where I can. Sadly, I can't have my laptop with me at work all the time, and my work hours eclipse the hours the support agents are available (9am-7pm). But let's see if they can continue to drip-feed me suggestions for things to try.

I certainly won't be taking my hardware in if they get to that point. I agree, there's simply too much evidence to suggest a software issue introduced by Apple.

Thanks again for a thorough update, Kevin! Yes, that's not cool at all. If this is a firmware issue, introduced in 10.14.6, it's amazing Apple are acting so coy about it.

I've not heard back again from Support but will reply again tomorrow. They said they had a "brief update" for me, so I'd like to hear what that is.

Fingers crossed you get your Mac back and that this contributes to a 10.14.7 fix!

Thanks Kevin. That's bad news. Yes, I wondered if the reason Apple aren't being upfront about any 10.14.6 cause for this is that it isn't reversible; essentially it does something to the Airport / Bluetooth card that can't be reversed easily via an update from Apple. I guess -- if this is the cause -- they'd be reticent to admit that for fear of the compensation they might be paying out.

Let us know how your Mac is once you have it back. I won't be taking mine in. I'll just make do with a less-than-ideal situation.