16-inch MacBook Pro Bluetooth issue

Do the values for bluetoothInternalControllerInfo and bluetoothActiveControllerInfo match on your system, when you invoke 'nvram -p' command?

If they don't, try the following:

sudo nvram bluetoothActiveControllerInfo=VALUE_OF_BLUETOOTH_INTERNAL_CONTROLLER_INFO
sudo reboot

Also, you could also try deleting bluetooth.plist file again and perform factory reset of bluetooth module that was listed earlier this thread.

sudo rm /Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth.plist

On first glance they match, but bluetoothActiveControllerInfo actually has two extra pairs of zeros:

bluetoothActiveControllerInfo	%96%00%ac%05%00%00%00%00%00%00%14}%da%17%987
bluetoothInternalControllerInfo	%96%00%ac%05%00%00%00%00%14}%da%17%987

I set bluetoothActiveControllerInfo to the value of bluetoothInternalControllerInfo and rebooted but after reboot it's back to the old value, so I don't think that actually matters. Also did the reset though the debug menu and removal of the .plist file, but no functional internal bluetooth. Thanks for the help though!

Oh apologies, I did not notice those two extra pairs of 0s! It follows the same pattern as on my system.

I compared the your values to mine, they differ a little bit:

bluetoothActiveControllerInfo	%96%00%ac%05%00%00%00%00%00%00%f8%ff%c2;%18%df
bluetoothInternalControllerInfo	%96%00%ac%05%00%00%00%00%f8%ff%c2;%18%df

If you feel particularly adventurous, you could try mine. But be warned, I have no idea what these values mean, so do it at your own risk!

Loumiakas wrote:

Oh apologies, I did not notice those two extra pairs of 0s! It follows the same pattern as on my system.

I compared the your values to mine, they differ a little bit:

bluetoothActiveControllerInfo %96%00%ac%05%00%00%00%00%00%00%f8%ff%c2;%18%df

bluetoothInternalControllerInfo %96%00%ac%05%00%00%00%00%f8%ff%c2;%18%df

If you feel particularly adventurous, you could try mine. But be warned, I have no idea what these values mean, so do it at your own risk!

Actually, being a curious person I have managed to break the inbuilt module again. Last post will not do anything so don't bother... Also, values tend to stay the same, when you break your module, so it is not applicable.

Now, I noticed that performing is apparently not enough:

sudo nvram -c 

Try the following:

Step #1:

sudo nvram boot-args="-p -r" (this will issue an error, so I don't know if it does anything)
sudo nvram -c
sudo reboot

Step #2:

After this, your module might or might not start up. Open terminal again and issue this command and perform a scan through bluetooth settings window:

bluetoothd 

Step #3:

If that does not work, try plugging any BT2.0 dongle. It does not have to be Broadcom (mine is Cambridge Silicon Radio). Perform a scan, then unplug it and see if your bluetooth starts up.

If not, stop bluetoothd and close bluetooth settings window and keep performing these steps #2 and #3 again. It should eventually start working.

This does not work every time, but eventually it should start working! (did this 4 times now, within 15 minute timeframe). I will try to refine it down and let you know how it goes...

objc[1635]: Class PipeInfo is implemented in both /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/WPDaemon.framework/Versions/A/WPDaemon and /usr/sbin/bluetoothd. One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.
2020-11-14 19:53:04.781 bluetoothd[1635:22787] [setSystemPreference] syncs returns false
[bluetoothd][netPrefChanged] ###### Sharing Dictionary doesn't exist
2020-11-14 19:53:04.784 bluetoothd[1635:22787] [setSystemPreference] syncs returns false
2020-11-14 19:53:04.787 bluetoothd[1635:22787] Error: [AppleBluetoothHIDDeviceGen2][_setEventService:]Couldn't copy BD_ADDR
2020-11-14 19:53:04.787 bluetoothd[1635:22787] Error: [AppleBluetoothHIDDeviceGen2][_setEventService:]Couldn't copy BD_ADDR
2020-11-14 19:53:04.789 bluetoothd[1635:22787] [setSystemPreference] syncs returns false
2020-11-14 19:53:04.791 bluetoothd[1635:22787] [setSystemPreference] syncs returns false
2020-11-14 19:53:04.792 bluetoothd[1635:22787] [setSystemPreference] syncs returns false
2020-11-14 19:53:04.925 bluetoothd[1635:22787] [setSystemPreference] syncs returns false
2020-11-14 19:53:04.939 bluetoothd[1635:22787] SystemPowerNotifier: IORegisterForSystemPower for port 38659
2020-11-14 19:53:04.944 bluetoothd[1635:22787] [setSystemPreference] syncs returns false
2020-11-14 19:53:04.945 bluetoothd[1635:22787] [setSystemPreference] syncs returns false

Hi, glad I've found this thread here as I have the exact same issue. I'm waiting on my BT2.0 dongle (tried 2 other without success) and in the meantime, I tried the latest trend here. I have the exact same result as seen here. Is there anything else I can try to unlock the internal BT dongle and have it working again?

objc[1084]: Class PipeInfo is implemented in both /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/WPDaemon.framework/Versions/A/WPDaemon and /usr/sbin/bluetoothd. One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.
[bluetoothd][netPrefChanged] ###### Sharing Dictionary doesn't exist
2020-11-24 16:26:52.609 bluetoothd[1084:22841] Error: [AppleBluetoothHIDDeviceGen2][_setEventService:]Couldn't copy BD_ADDR
2020-11-24 16:26:52.610 bluetoothd[1084:22841] Error: [AppleBluetoothHIDDeviceGen2][_setEventService:]Couldn't copy BD_ADDR
2020-11-24 16:26:52.613 bluetoothd[1084:22841] [setSystemPreference] syncs returns false
2020-11-24 16:26:52.613 bluetoothd[1084:22841] [setSystemPreference] syncs returns false
2020-11-24 16:26:52.746 bluetoothd[1084:22841] [setSystemPreference] syncs returns false
2020-11-24 16:26:52.746 bluetoothd[1084:22841] [setSystemPreference] syncs returns false
2020-11-24 16:26:52.747 bluetoothd[1084:22841] [setSystemPreference] syncs returns false
2020-11-24 16:27:19.656 bluetoothd[1084:22841] [setSystemPreference] syncs returns false
2020-11-24 16:27:19.656 bluetoothd[1084:22841] [setSystemPreference] syncs returns false
2020-11-24 16:27:19.711 bluetoothd[1084:22841] [setSystemPreference] syncs returns false
2020-11-24 16:27:19.712 bluetoothd[1084:22841] [setSystemPreference] syncs returns false
2020-11-24 16:27:19.712 bluetoothd[1084:22841] [setSystemPreference] syncs returns false

To be honest, It's hard to say. I've managed to break/fix my bluetooth about 10-15 times, but it looks like that this issue appears to be sporatic and the 'fix' that I've posted above should work, but it might take couple of tries. Steps that worked 100% of time are as follows (after 5 - 10 minutes of performing them):

Step 1:

Start off by removing all dongles, clearing nvram and reboot:

sudo nvram -c 
sudo reboot

Step 2:

After Macbook reboots, login to your account and open bluetooth settings window. You should have indication that a scan is in progress. More than likely you will see no devices. Open terminal and kill bluetooth daemon (it will restart automatically after you run kill command):

ps -ef | grep /usr/sbin/bluetoothd | awk -F' ' '{print $2}' | sudo xargs kill -9 2> /dev/null

Step 3:

Go back to the bluetooth settings window, and press 'Back' followed 'Forward' buttons to restart the bluetooth scan. If nothing is found, plugin bluetooth dongle (preferably any BT2.0, but I suspect it would work with the dongle that 'bricked' your Macbook). You will see that the devices are found, now unplug it again and repeat the scan by pressing back/forward buttons. Keep repeating Steps 2 and 3, until internal bluetooth starts working...

Note that if your internal bluetooth device does not start working after 5 minutes or even external bluetooth device stop working, restart your macbook and keep repeating Steps 2 and 3...

Again, based on my observation, this issue fixes itself eventually with these steps, but you have to 'confuse' bluetooth daemon until that happens..

Thanks for the detailed steps here. Unfortunately, I've tried for over 15 mins with the dongle that "bricked" the system without any success. Again, I'm still waiting on another dongle to test (third time's a charm I hope!) and hopefully, will be able to unbrick it. If not, I'll have to go to the Apple Store I guess...

That is a real DOS that we have here. I could see people walking in the Apple store with this dongle, bricking MBP one after the other... /sarcasm.

I don't know if it changes anything, this issue is on a 2016 MBP (my Gf's one). I have another bluetooth issue on my 2019 MPB and I haven't tried anything in here on this one - it's getting serviced tomorrow at the Apple Store. Depending on the fix the 2019 one get, I'll try to do the same on the gf's 2016 one and see if it fixes it. Hopefully they won't change the whole board...

I'll report back if anything interesting arise

If anyone has any recommendations on a good Broadcom USB 2.0 that can be found in the US it would be greatly appreciated. I've purchased both the mushroom type one and the startech one, with neither one doing the trick. Unless the trick is to purchase the Apple dongle? I've been using Aukey USBC to USB converters. I'm feeling stuck and don't really want to get this thing repaired. I feel like I've tried everything in this forum so far.

I have the same problem as everyone else. The adapter that bricked my internal bluetooth is Hideez that uses CSR 4.0

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0792NSF7M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'd rather fix this myself rather than backup, get a new logic board, restore. I too would like referral to a 2.0 adapter that fixes this problem reliably and can be purchased in the USA. Thanks.

Hey,

I've been trying this a few times with my 2.0 bluetooth dongle (I can scan devices with it) but I don't get any rainbow loader.. it only shows "connecting..." and then a warning sign and "Unconnected device".

I really don't know what to do and I need my MBP on a daily basis.. I can't really afford to bring it back to Apple.. Do you have any idea how I could fix this ?

I'm on Big Sur.. maybe they changed something since your tuto?

Thanks

Hi all,

Just got my 2019 MBP back from an authorized repair shop. Almost 1 month wait for the **** laptop! They ended up changing the logical board AND the touch ID (which seem to be the reason why it took so long - there is a shortage of Touch ID devices for my model it seem).

All in all, I'm pretty confident this is something that could be avoided by Apple. This is the kind of behaviour that puts a dent on the brand as it shows that wanting to move in that direction (every component soldered on the board) might be cost effective but brings a lot of issues when having hardware problems - we're talking about a bluetooth adapter here....

As for the other folks, don't want to sound negative here but I've tried all steps posted here, multiple times without any success. I had to buy 3 different adapters without the results we all know and it seem to be a hit or miss more than anything else. In the end, I had to send the laptop back to Apple for them to change the whole internals.

Best of luck!

For others in Germany, I just unbricked mine with this 2,50€ adapter from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B07F82HQFF - Xiton Tiny USB 2.0 Wireless Bluetooth Adapter Dongle

It took two weeks to arrive from China but worth the wait.

the Hideez adapter killed my internal Bluetooth. I bought this 2.0 adapter for $3 https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wireless-Adapter-USB-2-0-1-0-For-Keyboard-Mouse-For-Bluetooth-V2-0-EDR-Receiver-/143337681457?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292 and I tried the magic steps but it didn’t fix the problem. I took it to Apple and they have sent it away. I will update when I get it back. I’d really like them to fix the problem so I can use the adapter to switch between computers.