16-inch MacBook Pro Bluetooth issue

Too bad, hope they can fix it there by running their special tool like they did by others in here. Otherwise your logic board will get replaced. See my earlier post if you still dare to pass it to your vm, it worked for me (after it was fixed). Good luck

After a replacement of your logic board, have you tried to reproduce the problem by re-plugging a bluetooth USB dongle ?

I will try a last thing - which is booting natively a windows or a Linux. I have a remember in the past of a similar problem, and booting into windows and loading official drivers from vendor fixed the issue.

I did definitely not plug it in without executing the command I posted in my previous post. Because of school I can't miss my laptop for 2 weeks. After executing the command, so I was kind of sure it wouldn't switch automatically, I plugged it in and sucessfully passed it to my vm.

I bought a 16" MacBook pro yesterday (27th Feb 2020) and noticed pretty much straight away that my Bluetooth headphones wouldn't connect....and in fact no devices will connect, reveal or 'discover' at all!

I've followed the helpful tips (with thanks) in this discussion but nothing works - I'll visit the genius bar ASAP and update the outcome....

I had the same issue, final solution that worked was for the Apple Service centre (No Genius Bars in New Zealand) was to run the special diagnostics that only works in store on a special wireless network.

They ran two different types, see my post above and then it worked.

Still working to this day !

I have the exact same problem.

I also connected my laptop to a CalDigit TS3 Plus Thunderbolt 3 dock.

However, I don't have a USB Bluetooth adapter persay.

Instead, I have a Sennheiser SDW 5066 headset that connects to CalDigit dock via a USB. The headset's base unit does have a USB Bluetooth adapter to make the headset available over Bluetooth as well. This is to allow my iPhone to use the headset as well over Bluetooth while my laptop uses the headset via USB exclusively.

Here's the Adapter : https://d.pr/i/kzZdo5

I took my laptop into the Apple Store Genius Bar. They ran the store-only diagnostic and said everything passed. Prior to this, I already did the SMC, NVRAM and OS Re-install.

They encouraged me to do a full wipe/reinstall and if it still doesn't work to send my laptop in for service.

It sounds like based on this thread, that it's the logic board, and it's bluetooth host has switched over to be external and can't switch back.

Terrible!!

Took my mac to the Authorized Service Center. Verdict - short circuit on radio module, logic board replace.

Guys at Apple, you should definetely consider a firmware upgrade for Broadcom WiFi/BT. I don't wont to be afrraid of plugging in devices to my mac, get another brick and wait for another 3-4 weeks of mac's logic board replacement.

P.S. Oops, replied to a message instead of thread, sorry.

Same problem as described by OP. Followed all troubleshooting steps with no success. Just received my MBP back from repairs - they replaced the logic board.

Internal Bluetooth module worked again with my peripherals. I plugged in my Hideez Bluetooth dongle via thunderbolt (16” 2019 MBP) and set the nvram config option to allow Bluetooth switching. Reboot, confirm external module is active in System Report and try to pair.

Pairing did not work and am unable to resurrect the internal Bluetooth module again. Tech flashed T2 firmware to see if that would get it working again but it did not.

They are sending it back for another logic board and doing what they can to escalate this.

MacBook 16". BT (external speaker) works fine and then simply stops working even tho the device shows in BT control.

I've found I need to delete the speaker from Devices and then turn off BT for 3-5 minutes. After that, turn on BT, re-pair the Device and it works fine... until tomorrow when it gets tired and stops working.

VERY frustrating considering how much I have invested in this machine...

It would appear that connecting a bluetooth dongle criples bluetooth on the motherboard, siri seems involved also, still investigting. A connecting diffrent brands of hardware dongles after issue began, some work some do not. There does not seem to be a way to power-- the macbook pro 2019 --down, without taking the back plate off and manually disconnecting the battery. Interesting that this laptop is never really off?

My 17inch macbook pro still works great... go figure.

What does this command do?

sudo nvram -d bluetoothHostControllerSwitchBehavior

I also got the problem with not working bluetooth....

My MBPro 16 doesnt find any device plus unlocking with watch stopped working...

Can I damage something with this command?

The command you have there just resets a value in the nvram to the default value. The other one I posted disables the automatic switch between de bluetooth controllers. I don't know if it can do any damage, so do it at your own risk. I have used it unitil now and it appears to work for me.

The working theory from the geniuses at the Apple Store was that using bluetooth switching to try to connect an external Bluetooth dongle was tripping something in the T2 security chip in a non-recoverable way. Please see my post from a couple(?) weeks back about what I went through with this (two logic board replacements).

I fully understand this @ haidresser06

Thats why i dont bring my MacBook to the store ( closed anyways)

For me it isnt such a big problem right now because I can use external BT...

I used to reset the BT by the posting from 1st page but doenst change anything (i mean it does change the usage of the BT adapter but doesnt fix anything)

Biggest crap is - apple doenst even offer a pick up or a sending in the device via post!

The next apple store is roughly 100km from my home ...kinda funny though.

This is my first and maybe last mac ....customer support is very bad.

I think it's mostly an issue with international support.

I did bring my laptop into the store several weeks ago before things shutdown and they ran the first level of diagnostics and couldn't see anything. I couldn't let them send in my laptop at the moment because I had some a presentation at work I needed to do. The tech there said he put in notes so I could at any time request a box to send the laptop in for testing/repairs.

After a few weeks and getting a loaner laptop from my company, I called in to Apple and asked them to send me a box to mail the laptop back in. I sent it in, and it took 6 days for them to repair it (they noted there is a parts delay) and the laptop is now on its way back to me.

I think there might be supply issues on parts.

I recommend referencing this post to support as it's very accurate to what I had.