16-inch MacBook Pro Bluetooth issue

I bought the new 16-inch MacBook Pro when it first came out and was happily using it until a week later my bluetooth stopped discovering devices, in particular my Magic Mouse and iPhone. I tried everything from resetting nvram, smc, resetting the bluetooth module, removing bluetooth.plist, downloaded bluetooth explorer and reset a bunch of settings etc and even went to the extent of completely formatting the computer and installing osx from scratch to no avail. Hardware diagnostics showed no hardware issues as well. The bluetooth device was showing up fine in System Report but it just wasn't discovering anything. I have a work laptop (2017 MacBook Pro) which I use side by side and it was working fine.

Long story short, I was able to replace the device at the Apple store I bought it at since it was within the 14 day return policy window. So I put it down to just being unlucky.

It's been a few weeks since then and I now have the same issue with the replacement laptop. This time though I think I know what triggered it.

I have a CalDigit dock that I use for my work laptop and occasionally have a usb bluetooth device attached to it for some work I do in virtual machines. The issue occurred when I connected my new MacBook to the dock along with the bluetooth dongle. The usb bluetooth dongle worked fine however when I disconnected the thunderbolt dock from the MacBook I noticed the bluetooth icon in the top right hand corner changed to an icon with a zigzag across it, obviously due to bluetooth device being disconnected.

Since disconnecting the external bluetooth device I'm having the same issue as I had previously, my MacBook Bluetooth device won't find any devices and is not recognized by other bluetooth devices like my iPhone/other MacBooks. I've gone through the whole process as before, and have resorted to a clean install of osx to no avail. I've even compared bluetoothd console logs between the working MacBook I have and the now broken one, the only difference is the working MacBook is able to detect devices when they are advertised, whereas the MacBook Pro 16-inch does not.

Digging into this, it seems as though OSX by default switches to any attached USB bluetooth device when it's plugged in and then when disconnected, it reverts back to the onboard device. This works fine on my old MacBook as I've been using the USB dongle for a while now without any issues. I initially thought that there may be a software issue with the internal bluetooth device not switching back properly but I would have thought a clean install would have fixed it so there must be some sort of hardware issue specifically with the new MacBook Pro 16-inch.

I'm pretty frustrated now as I've now gone through two 16-inch MacBook Pro's with bricked bluetooth devices that I'm fairly certain was caused by connecting an external bluetooth dongle via thunderbolt. I'm pretty sure onboard devices shouldn't die just because a third party device was connected/disconnected.

Has anyone come across this yet with the new MacBook Pro 16-inch? I'm going to visit the Apple store tomorrow to see what they can do but I'd prefer if I didn't have to send my laptop away and just find a fix myself if there is one. If not, I thought it'd be good to post my experience here in case anyone else comes across this.

MacBook Pro 16", macOS 10.15

Posted on Dec 14, 2019 2:09 AM

Top-ranking reply

Simon Roberts6

Level 1

19 points

Posted on Jan 18, 2020 6:30 AM

I had exactly the same problem (down to every detail) and I think I just found a solution.

I'm also using a CalDigit dock and USB bluetooth stick and I'm on my second MBP 16. The first was replaced under AppleCare after the bluetooth module became apparently dead.

The built-in bluetooth came back to life by running system diagnostics (hold down D during boot). After the subsequent restart, without the USB bluetooth adapter attached, I noticed that bluetooth was seeing some devices in the area but still not connecting to anything. I deleted and re-paired my Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Keyboard 2 - now all is working again.

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341 replies

Jun 4, 2020 3:15 AM in response to AntiHawk

Also, could you post a screenshot of the window you see if you go to BluetoothExplorer.app and go to Tools > HCI Controller Selection

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Jun 6, 2020 1:17 PM in response to Jonnyappz

Jonnyappz wrote:

• Put mouse on top of keyboard (over the touch display bar thingy seems best)

Your BT module is not delivering any power to antennas. You will need to get a new logic board.

Jan 21, 2020 3:23 PM in response to christospappas

Same issue here. When I open "About this Mac -> System Report -> Bluetooth", I am seeing "Discoverable: Off" and "Connectable: No" - this seems strange. These turns into "On" and "Yes" when I enable Bluetooth sharing, but it does not resolve the issue. Still no devices could be connected to Bluetooth. Even external bluetooth dongles does not work.

Jan 22, 2020 4:06 AM in response to christospappas

I don't exactly have identical problem, however I found that MBP 16' Bluetooth's issues are heat related. Whenever machine heats up, Bluetooth starts to lag and/or disconnect. It's especially irritating when using Magic Keyboard, since it's input starts to lag a fair bit under load. For instance - it's virtually unusable during export of photos from Lightroom and for a while afterwards.

shawken

Level 1

9 points

Jan 25, 2020 3:17 PM in response to LucasKotkowski

Latest update from Apple Support recommended removing an App related to RS232, a Kernel extension and trying a clean install.

Removed the app and FTDI kernel extension, restarted and cleared the NVRAM and the bluetooth is still not working.

It did fix the issue where in the sys info the wrong vendor showed up in the bluetooth section.

Next did a new install on the same MBP using an external hard disk, ( no apps or extra drivers installed ) and it still cannot detect any bluetooth devices.

Also tried the suggestion above of diag mode and deleting all the devices etc, did not make a difference.

Feb 27, 2020 11:12 PM in response to Swift3004

Exactly same problem here.

Brand new MacBook Pro 16".

I plugged a USB Bluetooth dongle to pass it to my VM - and I lost the integrated bluetooth module.

Have tried everything:

reset NVRAM / SMC
Erase my Mac - clean Catalina install
Bluetooth Explorer still showing no HCI Module
Boot diagnostic

So have requested Genius Bar appointment this week end :-(

Mar 1, 2020 1:06 PM in response to hairdresser06

I have the exact same problem with my MB Pro 16". Tried the following:

Restore from TimeMachine backup.
Fresh install MacOS
Clear NVRAM
Run Diagnostic tool
Install Windows 10

None of the above worked for me :( One option left - return it to my local reseller (no Apple Store in Ukraine).

Mar 5, 2020 11:13 AM in response to christospappas

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!!

Mar 18, 2020 9:43 AM in response to christospappas

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.

Apr 9, 2020 11:16 AM in response to jberian

@jberian

I had my bluetooth adapter connected on the side of Sennheiser SDW-5000 which then connected to the CalDigit hub via USB.

I just had the laptop returned from Apple. Never connecting a bluetooth adapter again till hear otherwise from Apple.

I saw Catalina got 10.15.4 update today, and didn't see anything about Bluetooth on the release notes.

Conrad

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Apr 18, 2020 10:47 PM in response to aLegend2k

aLegend2k wrote:

Here in germany if the same error occurs 3 times in a row and It cant get fixed you have to get your money back...thats what the law here says.

US has similar 'Lemon' laws.

Maybe the best solution because not attaching a dongle anymore is really crap - because I know it will happen again.

Issues related to power (mis)management and thermal overload, bad chip packaging have dogged Apple for a long time.

May 27, 2020 1:45 AM in response to christian_ch

I tried another complete reinstall removing all partitions. It didn't help in my case.

I had updated to 10.15.5 today and still no fix for this issue.

I am waiting for the Apple Stores to open here in Japan and I will take it to get the motherboard replaced.

Jamie

May 27, 2020 2:41 AM in response to christian_ch

christian_ch Thats really interesting. I wonder if moving the kext from Mojave to Catalina will fix it. I will look into this further, as I used to write custom Kext for hackintosh community years ago. Interesting find!

May 27, 2020 2:46 AM in response to jamiefromkirkcaldy

What options do we have ? Is someone from Apple reading this forum ? This thread ? Should we make some noise on Twitter ? Should we write to specialized websites (macrumor, macworld...) ? I already did that in France - no effect (https://macbidouille.com/news/2020/02/28/attention-a-ne-pas-brancher-un-dongle-bluetooth-a-un-macbook-pro-16)

My computer is still with apple since March 1st. 2 months almost, without computer, no help provided, and treated very badly by apple customer center. I must admit that I absolutely don't know what to do. It is now lasting for too long, and being despised like that by Apple is unacceptable.

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

May 27, 2020 3:23 AM in response to hairdresser06

hairdresser06 wrote:

What options do we have ?

You can call Apple on the phone and escalate.

Is someone from Apple reading this forum ? This thread ? Should we make some noise on Twitter ? Should we write to specialized websites (macrumor, macworld...) ?

Try https://feedbackassistant.apple.com .

I already did that in France - no effect (https://macbidouille.com/news/2020/02/28/attention-a-ne-pas-brancher-un-dongle-bluetooth-a-un-macbook-pro-16) . My computer is still with apple since March 1st. 2 months almost, without computer, no help provided, and treated very badly by apple customer center. I must admit that I absolutely don't know what to do. It is now lasting for too long, and being despised like that by Apple is unacceptable.

That is poor customer service, but given the current state of businesses, it may be regional in nature. In the US, mailed-in Macs have been sent back with replacements to some users.

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16-inch MacBook Pro Bluetooth issue