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Mac OS Catalina keeps disconnecting bluetooth devices

Hi, I am using MacBook Pro Late 2016 model and Mac OS Catalin 10.15.2.


After the update to Mac OS Catalina, my bluetooth devices - Bose speakers, headphones, mouse keep disconnecting randomly. Even if they are connected, Mac OS is not able to find their audio output and delivers a very low sound.


As per few articles on the Internet, I have tried deleting the  /Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth.plist and resetting PRAM but nothing helped. Please provide a reliable and valid solution for this issue.


PS: I have tested my bluetooth devices with other laptops / phone and they work perfectly fine.


Thanks!


MacBook Pro 13", macOS 10.15

Posted on Jan 30, 2020 10:29 PM

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Posted on Apr 27, 2021 3:50 PM

I was having the same problem, until I read a solution related to delete the Bluetooth plist entry. Did that, and Bluetooth didn't work anymore. Until last night. I watched a video on Youtube and the solution shown didn't work, but I figured it out by myself.

  1. Go to the following page...https://developer.apple.com/download/more/
  2. Search "Additional Tools"
  3. Download version 11.4, and install
  4. Open "Hardware" folder, and execute Bluetooth Explorer. A Bluetooth icon is shown on Apps Bar. Click there to open the App.
  5. Under the "Tools" menu select "Modify Software & Device Configuration
  6. On the "Setup (Auto BTSA)" square, click on "Go". The computer will restart, and Bluetooth will be Active again, and no more disconnecting problems.

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120 replies

May 26, 2020 8:49 AM in response to jayant_varshney

On 10.15.4, Macbook Pro 2017. Same issue with bluetooth sound devices. Tried with Bose wireless, and some speakers. Connected them to an older machine, work fine. Connected to this machine and the sound is unstable. When it does connect, the sound is way louder in the left side of the headphones than the right side. Also, when I use the same Bose and plug in the headphones to the headphone jack (instead of bluetooth), everything works fine and sounds fine. I can also connect those same Bose just fine to my iPhone via bluetooth and sound is perfect. It is maddening.

May 27, 2020 7:54 AM in response to jayant_varshney

Same issue on MacBook Pro 15-inch 2018. Started with Catalina. Issue still remains in 10.15.4.

I use Bose QCII headphones, a magic mouse 2 and a magic keyboard. Bluetooth goes down several times a day and disconnects everything. It comes back up about 10-20 seconds later. Very frustrating trying to use these machines as professional development machines.

May 29, 2020 8:49 PM in response to jayant_varshney

I have the same issue with Catalina 10.15.3 on a MacBook Air. The Bluetooth speaker won't stay connected more that a couple of minutes. I power cycle the speaker to get it to reconnect. Embarrassing in zoom meetings. Apple, are you out there? Is there an elevation on this issue with your engineering team? There are a lot of disappointed people here...

Jun 1, 2020 10:01 AM in response to jayant_varshney

I am actually having the same issue on two different laptops. My work laptop is running Mojave and, after a restart, my bluetooth devices are all disconnecting about every 10-15 minutes...very challenging when on a Zoom call. I'm guessing some sort of update happened when I did the restart. I'm on Zoom calls all day...switching back to corded headsets is not the best option.

My personal MAC is running Catalina and, also after a restart, is having the same issues.

HELP!!!

Jun 2, 2020 2:54 PM in response to jayant_varshney

Hi, I also have similar problem :(


I am using Macbook Pro 15inch Late 2018, OS: Catalina 15.5.5 (I have the latest updates installed - Latest update date: 02-June-2020)


My bluetooth headphone connects to my PC, but it is not visible in output devices. After I connect my headphones to my PC, when I play any sound or when I open sound preferences to select output device, my headset disconnects automatically.


I tried:

- Removing /Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth.plist,

- Resetting PRAM,

- Creating a new user on my PC and trying the connection on the new user.

None of them helped.


I can use my headphone with my iphone without any issues. It is obviously an issue with Mac OS Catalina. Please provide a solution for this issue, it is frustrating!!

Jun 9, 2020 8:08 PM in response to jayant_varshney

I Have 2013 Mac Pro with the same issues, I completely formatted my drive went back to Mavericks, My Bluetooth was working perfectly fine, my USB drive never got ejected by itself then I installed Mojave and same issues happened again, my Bluetooth Magic Mouse keep getting disconnected, my time machine external hard drive keeps getting ejected! I think that's because my firmware was updated when I updated to Catalina and there's no way to downgrade firmware update. Apple please help I cannot go back to Mavericks just to get my external peripherals working!

Jun 10, 2020 9:30 AM in response to jayant_varshney

All,


This issue plagued me only on the iMAC, not the 15 MBP or MAC Pro all running Catalina. After 2 reinstalls on the iMAC, I had no problems for approx. 4 days then the problem of the bluetooth showing unavailable (except for the magical mouse). I used Logitech MX keyboard & mouse once I totally removed everything Logitech, no disconnect issues. I then tried only the Logo mouse, no problem, only when I connected the MX keyboard did the problem return.

I will not pursue which company causes the problem, OS or hardware. Loosing battle and too time consuming. If anyone does find the resolution please post.


Many thanks & good luck.


Jun 12, 2020 3:24 PM in response to jayant_varshney

Mac Mini 2018 10.15.5 A few weeks ago my Logitech M720 mouse started being uncontrollable, I removed it from the bluetooth app in the system preferences when I went to re-pair it would jump between not connected and connected finally it would stop at not connected. Tried to pair my iPhone to the Mac mini with the same results. I hope Apple is working on a solution I had to plug in all my wired peripherals.

Jul 6, 2020 11:04 AM in response to jayant_varshney

@apple are you listening?


Hi Apple, why are you so quiet on people's request? You seem to ignore people's comments. I think I only saw one reply from you. @apple you should be more responsive to your bug reports and start by responding to the main issue and post a solution that does not include reinstalling the OS. If the only answer you have is to reinstall then you are not listening to your users. Listen to us, since we pay you!


@apple listen to your paying customers!


@apple your magic mouse 2 and airpods pro are not "cheap", but your customer service is!

Jul 8, 2020 7:21 AM in response to jayant_varshney

+1


Since the upgrade to Catalina I couldn't get any stability on either the BT mouse or keyboard. Both keep droping connection.

Since I have an external screen and the laptop is on the side I have to work twisted on my desk every time BT kbd or mouse drops.

This is annoying, uncomfortable and unacceptable in any situation, with any vendor. But a complete shame for a vendor like Apple that sells the image of being easy and perfect.

But the major outrage is not seeing Apple acknowledging the problem and providing an answer to their customers.

Probably time to start moving away from Apple products. As it is not just MacOS, quality in general has been declining over the last few years. (iPhones, etc)


Fingers crossed that we (the paying customers) still get an answer and solution from Apple!


Sérgio

Jul 8, 2020 8:44 AM in response to amarime

Well that's a solution, but Apple should just fix this problem! This add-on device means that you have to tie up a USB port, which Apple has eliminated from the MacBook Air, and I suspect other newer laptops as well. Yes, you can use the USB port on the multi-adapter that lets you connect to an external display, but why, why, why can't Apple just fix this stupid problem.

Mac OS Catalina keeps disconnecting bluetooth devices

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