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Big Sur does not work with Bluetooth

My Bose Headsets will connect to my iMac for about 6 seconds, then disconnect.


2019 Imac


What I've tried but does not work:


Chat with apple support


Turn on and off BT

Reset the BT module

Remove all BT devices

Reset Bose Headphones removed all other BT devices it stored

remove all peripherals except keyboard and mouse

Reset NVRAM

Reset SMV

Tried connecting without any peripherals

Tried connecting with all other devices in the building shut down.

Connected headphones to other devices like my iPhone, a Windows laptop, all have 100 percent connect and function rate. including a little Raspberry Pi.

Tried connecting with a Logitech 800 headset that also connects to all the other items.


At some point, it has to stop being my fault.


I have come to the conclusion that Big Sur has an issue with Bluetooth, does not function with other than the wireless keyboard and mouse, and that there is nothing left for me to do to make it connect. It simply doesn't work.


Since my bluetooth headphones are mission critical for me, there is no other option than restoring the previous and functioning version of MacOS, and continue working rather than trying endless dead end tricks that repeat the original problem to get it to function.


I'll revert and hope that Apple gets around to fixing this problem.


Bummer



iMac 27″, macOS 11.0

Posted on Nov 17, 2020 10:50 AM

Reply
Question marked as Best answer

Update: I was able to fix the problem with the following steps:


  • Open Terminal app
  • Type in: sudo rm -rf /Library/Audio/Plug-ins/HAL/
  • Restart your iMac


Hopefully this works for you. It was a huge relief for me.

Posted on Nov 20, 2020 7:25 AM

44 replies

Jan 30, 2021 8:13 AM in response to Michael Coslo

I have this issue too, after my iMac upgraded to Big Sur. I tried all the recommendations of resetting bluetooth, resetting PRAM, resetting NVRAM. Through trial an error of deleting and restoring devices one by one, and disconnecting all USB devices, other than the UBS keyboard and mouse in case bluetooth stop, as soon as a SSD USB drive was attached, bluetooth did not work at startup. Using USB keyboard and mouse, after logging in, bluetooth works. Disconnecting USB SSD works. I have a standard USB HDD no problem. On phone with Apple support now. Current work around is to disconnect drives and plug back in after getting past the start up screen. It's a new phenomenon to Apple, so if this is your condition too, please report.

Feb 10, 2021 10:52 AM in response to mohamadfromdetroit

Same here. Serious BT connectivity issues after Big Sur upgrade. The recently released update did not fix anything for me. Noticed BT initiation lagging at boot. If USB peripherals connected no BT. BT drops sometimes.With USB peripherals connected need 3rd party mouse and wired keyboard. System reports connecting to Magic Mouse and Keyboard but no response to input. Tried all the fixes suggested. Created new Admin account to troubleshoot. No difference. Tried to reinstall Big Sur but won’t downgrade since I applied the latest patch. Do not feel like erasing my drive and installing from scratch as I am not sure it will fix anything. Everything worked fine in Catalina a week ago. Why did I upgrade ???

Feb 10, 2021 1:17 PM in response to claudius256

It would be very helpful if Apple could figure out the issues with Big Sur. Although I have fixed my Bluetooth issues, the general experience with Big Sur is a big step backwards. Video is jerky, a huge keyboard lag, and I went over to my Mid-2011 iMac which fell off the upgrade path and is running Sierra - quite frankly, it is a superior computer to my one year old Mac. Fast and responsive, just the sort of experience I am used to on MacOS. Big Sur is the Windows Vista of Mac OS. There is no reason that a 1 year old 27 inch i5 iMac should feel like an out of date slowpoke computer that needs replaced because it isn't able to handle a modern OS. I'd hate to think that this is the future of my favorite computers.

Feb 11, 2021 1:20 AM in response to Michael Coslo

So agree Michael, and it's now perceivable that each new MacOS, is in one way or another, worse than the last.

I have had Mac's since my transparent Bondi Beach desktop, with the famous coffee cup holder, (joke), but when you have to ditch programmes that you are used to, because they are too resource hungry with the latest OS, it makes no sense. As I have had to do this time, to keep my 5 year old Mac going.

It would be such a shame to see Mac continue down this road, but things are definitely not as they were, despite the hype.

Big Sur does not work with Bluetooth

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