4th Gen 2020 M1 Mac mini bluetooth issues with Magic Mouse2

I have the same version as you on one M1 and on my Wife's M1 it shows "8.0.2f9 (V67 C17527)" so it may be, based on post following below) that we need to have our hardware replaced. I have been suspecting that this is a hardware issue or it would have been addressed by now.

What makes you think it's a hardware issue if you have it on both M1 devices?

Many people reported that a replacement unit didn't solve the issue.

If it isn't software related, then it means that there's some interference which makes it a hardware issue, but not a unit-defected sort of issue, more of an engineering sort of issue.

I'll be more than happy to be wrong here and to hear that a replacement unit helped someone but I doubt it.

The most recent posts showing that a different firmware version exists on a machine causing fewer or no issues implies that it has different hardware and was probably released with different firmware in its build. If it was just a case of different firmware being released, they would quickly release an update that would fix the problem. It could be at the chip level or it could be a circuit board issue where improper grounding in an area is allowing interference to effect operation. I guess I will have to call Apple today to see if a replacement will solve the issue.

So you're saying that using a USB C hub, and connecting all devices there - you solved the issue?

Are you using a second monitor? I think that MIGHT cause the issue. Every time I disconnected it - I didn't experience the issue. But then again it's not necessarily that.

I have had the exact same problem (i.e., with the Magic Mouse 2 and with precisely the same dropping twice in quick succession behavior that you describe). It has been happening for a month, starting from when the Mac Mini m1 was brand new, and now suddenly a month later similar Bluetooth problems are happening when pairing the Mac Mini with the apple Magic Keyboard. Specifically, the keyboard is now frequently disconnecting intermittently, as well as having lagging input so that, for example, when I type a word nothing happens for a moment until suddenly a flurry of the letters I typed flutter into the relevant text box.

You know, I'm most upset about the various responses from Apple support. I mean, I realized that it was new silicone and a new OS, (which is why I paid extra for Apple Care).

Out of the 4 people I spoke with at Apple support:

1) All claimed they knew nothing about the issue (and it seems that kmerenda had that problem today, from a senior advisor no less).

2) No one seemed to really care; their objective was to get me off the phone as quickly as possible (and I realize that they may be graded by how many calls they can handle in a day, as a lot of corporations do that - but it doesn't make it right).

3) No one wanted to see the many, many, pages of users with the same issue.

4) In short, there was NO CARE in Apple CARE

(And just for the record, I had extra letters input just typing in this message. And I've tried different Apple Keyboards (One original and the other a new wireless extended keyboard), 2 Apple Magic Trackpads (one original and one brand new) and 3 Apple mice (one original Magic Mouse with replaceable batteries, one rechargeable Magic Mouse with rechargeable battery), and a brand new Magic mouse - all with the same issues. So I'm glad you'll get a new mouse out of it, but it isn't the mice/keyboard/trackpads, all of which worked with my Mac Pro and iMac. (And yes, I reset them all and removed them from the other computers).

Just hoping it is an OS/software issue that can be fixed, and not a hardware issue. Time will tell, I guess.

It came back after a short while. It seems that the iPhone interferes with the bluetooth. It doesn't disconnect but lags like crazy. It's both the keyboard and the mouse!

Seems to be a little bit on and off. Sometimes I unlock my iPhone and it's all good. After a while it starts again.

Update: every time I get a notification on my iPhone the bluetooth devices are starting to lag so it has to do with the phone waking up!

@Broichan ... are you connecting only Logitech devices to your Logitech USB dongle or also Apple/non-Logitech devices? I bought an Asus dongle to circumvent Apple's bluetooth hardware (see above) and wasn't sure what the possibilities of Logitech's dongle were.

This info may be useful to others who may consider this as (temporary) solution until Apple fixes the M1/Big Sur bluetooth failure.

sok777 wrote:

It came back after a short while. It seems that the iPhone interferes with the bluetooth. It doesn't disconnect but lags like crazy. It's both the keyboard and the mouse!

Seems to be a little bit on and off. Sometimes I unlock my iPhone and it's all good. After a while it starts again.

Update: every time I get a notification on my iPhone the bluetooth devices are starting to lag so it has to do with the phone waking up!

Oh wow.... Notifications are not something I have noticed yet but will keep an eye on this today. I am also pretty convinced something relating to the comms between the phone and Mac (wifi or bt) are affecting the bluetooth devices.

So I have been away from my Mac mini for over 24 hours now and so far the issue has not returned yet this morning for me. However I am expecting the issue to return today like it always does (and has for you).

I have an open support ticket for this issue and will update it today with links to this discussion and also update them with my iPhone unlocking experience.

You are right.

I've asked my wife to message me when the phone was 30ft away. This wakes up the phone (due to notification).

The bluetooth, WiFi and handoff was turned off - and yet the mouse and keyboards started lagging for up to 10 seconds as soon as the notification was received!

It seems like perhaps the issue is linked to the iPhone, perhaps even the other issues are linked to it.

How is beyond me - if nothing is turned on to cause interference, and the phone is 30ft away, how can that be possible?!

Same. I tried installing 11.2 but this completely ruined my system. As soon I'd get to the log in screen the monitors would flicker.

I had to do a clean install of Big Sur. That didn't solve the issue.

It seems like it's still a software issue as many people who've had replacement units and people with older Intel Macs also experience this.

Good to hear someone else raised the Apple Watch issue. Ever since migrating to the new M1 MacMini my watch does not work for (a) login to the MacMini or (b) for the double-click approval of certain MacOS operations. A few times I've received the notification that Bluetooth signal is too weak for the watch operation. My Apple Watch is Series 6 and has the latest WatchOS updates.

Like others posting here I have the same problems with Magic Keyboard and TouchPad dropouts and most times when my MacMini goes to sleep I have to unplug and plugin the USB-C cable to my LG 4K display. I am currently experimenting with turning off WiFi using just an Ethernet connection to see if that helps. It has not improved the failed Apple Watch handshaking thus far.

I have this problem too. I was hoping that a new Apple keyboard and a new Apple mouse would fix these intermittent disconnects. My mouse and keyboard are literally 12-18inches away from the M1mini. So disappointing to learn that this is already a common M1 issue and therefore interpret that the problem is not with older Apple keyboards and mice, but with the M1 itself.

Apple please fix this !

I received my mac mini M1 16GB 1TB last Monday, January 4th. I connected it on January 5th. I have 6 BT devices connected to my M1. I have had two issues with my apple keyboard (late 2015). One time, I did a manual re-boot and this morning, I shut keyboard off for 15 seconds and back on then it connected. I have had zero (0) issues with my apple mouse, also late 2015. I sent my iMac (late 2015) back in December 2020 d/t hardware failure and I'm using my mouse and keyboard from that iMac on this new M1. I will continue to report the status here as needed. I've been monitoring this thread since December 11, 2020.

Just received a notification that the Big Sur 11.2 beta 2 was available for installation, so I've downloaded it and installed it. I'll turn back on the Magic Mouse 2 and see what happens. There was no description for what this latest beta does, but keeping my fingers crossed to see if it helps the issue.