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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

Best reply

Vincent Bove

Level 1

94 points

Posted on Nov 20, 2020 7:25 AM

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.

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Similar questions

44 replies

Atom55

Level 1

4 points

Jan 9, 2021 11:29 AM in response to Michael Coslo

I'm having the same issue with my bose speaker connecting to my MacBook Pro with Big Sur. I tried many solutions I found but nothing worked. I opened Terminal app in Utility, but a small window comes out and it says 'Last log in Jan 9 10:05:00 ttys000', some more writing below, but there is nothing I can type nor click on. Am I doing something wrong? I really want to be able to use my bose speaker again on MacBook.

Jan 9, 2021 3:36 PM in response to Atom55

Let's walk you through this.

Open Terminal It will show you the last login, then the name of your mac, then a little square box after that.

Copy and paste sudo rm -rf /Library/Audio/Plug-ins/HAL/ then hit enter

it will ask you for your password. type in your system password and hit enter

You won't see your password as you type by the way. Unix whackyness there.

In this case, there won't be any other feedback. Close the window, and restart, then see if it works.

You should reset your Bose BT device as well. before trying to hook it up again.

Jan 10, 2021 3:02 AM in response to Atom55

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.

Atom55

Level 1

4 points

Jan 10, 2021 2:03 PM in response to Michael Coslo

Dear Michael, thank you so much for your step by step tutorial. I succeeded in connecting all my bluetooth devices again to my MacBook!! I'm SO HAPPY! I'm not that deep in using MacBook, It was cool experience to type password that I can't see. Thank you!

Sellsmri

Level 1

4 points

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.

Sellsmri

Level 1

4 points

Jan 30, 2021 9:00 AM in response to Michael Coslo

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.

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 10, 2021 3:01 PM in response to Michael Coslo

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!

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.

Feb 11, 2021 4:18 PM in response to uniqdzign2

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...

Ouzone

Level 1

18 points

Feb 27, 2021 10:53 AM in response to Michael Coslo

I'm sorry for beeing unpolite and "barking at the wrong tree" here.

This is just so frustrating. And I'm desperately trying to get Apple's attention to this problem - that was not fixed in the last 11.2.2 Big Sur update.

However, I'm happy for you and every one else who have had help with this "HAL" solution.

Nov 17, 2020 4:17 PM in response to Michael Coslo

Same here.

Nov 20, 2020 7:30 AM in response to Vincent Bove

WhooHoo! This worked perfectly. The only side effect was I had to reinstall Boom 3D but I can hear untethered again. Thanks a million Vince.

Nov 20, 2020 8:05 AM in response to Michael Coslo

Hooray! So glad to hear it.

Big Sur does not work with Bluetooth