Big Sur does not work with Bluetooth

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.

After trying many things, this has worked for me. Navigated to folder Library|Preferences

and deleted file

com.apple.Bluetooth.plist

This file gets regenerated. After this BT works fine and all my devices are recognized. Had to pair again the Sony headphones but all else was automatic.

Hope this works for others...

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.

The M1 Mac Mini Bluetooth issue for me turned out to be due to wifi interference. After turning off wifi and using ethernet, my Bluetooth connection is consistent. Now it's another problem. How do we eliminate the wifi interference!

Hi All previous commentators,

I had the same problem, after installing Big Sur.

After trying all of the previous suggestions, and none of them working, I decided to re-install my bluetooth headphones.

Pioneer SE-MJ553BT.

By re-install, I mean "re-pairing" the headphones to my iMac, as one does when first purchasing a new item!

Worked immediately.

Hope this helps those who are still not connected.

I did try the terminal command. Also, my iMac does have a fusion drive. Apple support was very helpful. They opened a case file and took data capture. For now I have two work arounds: use a wired keyboard/mouse to get through the startup, or disconnect the USD SSD drive until after startup.

Hi Robert,

I had the same experience, (with my headphones not connecting), and I went back to basics to get them to 'pair up'.

It might be a way to get your mouse to 're-connect' as well.

Start over as if the computer is seeing your equipment for the first time.

I also opened Bluetooth Preferences, went to "Advanced", unchecked all the boxes, then restart. Finally go back to the preferences and re-check all the boxes.

It's worth a try, but both these things cleared any previous problems I'd had with my phones, it might work with the mouse too and keyboard, as they are both registered as connected to your Bluetooth. (I assume.)

(Even my headphones were still visibly connected to Bluetooth in the 'Devices' window, but they were greyed out and when clicked to connect would show "Connection Rejected".)

Hope you find a solution Robert,

Cheers,

Graham.

This was my problem until 2 minutes ago, then I scoured the Bose speaker instructions. So I don’t know which Bose speaker you have but this is what I found worked. First establish if you can get Bluetooth connections at all with your MacBook.

If all well there & you know Mac connections are working then, with your speaker turned off, press & hold down the mute button for 10 seconds until the indicators briefly flash then turn speaker back on and there you go.. Worked immediately for me.

Hope it works for you.

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 ???

This worked for me too! Neither my AirPods Pros nor my Bose 700s worked once I updated to Big Sur. I spent over 2 hours on the phone with Apple Support 3 days ago. Did SOOOOOO many tests, none of them worked. AND once it was sent to Engineering, nobody ever got back to me. But this did the trick. I bow down to Vincent. :)

Ok, started using a Mac about 5 days ago so I'm very ignorant and haven't a clue where Terminal app is to start with?

I'd updated to Big Sur, no connection with Bose bluetooth speaker or headphones and also AirPods which I thought would be no problem. Then downloaded the OS update which I thought was going to be the fix but it made no difference. Now I'm thinking maybe I should try your fix instead.