M1 Mac Mini's Bluetooth is Straight-Up Broken, Sleep/Wake Issues

hey sok777 ... yes, very very frustrating ! after reading an article referencing same issues from 2018 Mac mini I realized that my Anker USB 3.0 little 4 port aluminum hub was right next to the Mac mini. Apple recommends that any USB hubs should be placed far away from Mac mini as it messes up the built-in bluetooth connectivity. I had a 6ft USB extension cable and moved my hub to the other end of my desk .. all is working just fine now. (I also have a 2015 Macbook but that issue does not affect it at all - just Mac minis)

I question why apple does not include/cover this issue with its support staff .. very irritating, I too almost returned my new Mac mini - it is an awesome device but frustrating as **** when you can't even use apple keyboards & trackpads.

I hope that helps.

Try turning off WiFi and connecting the M1 to a LAN port (hard wire).

Or if you can't hardline it, turn off 2.4GHz and use only 5GHz WiFi.

Bluetooth operates in the 2.4GHz region - similar to the WiFi frequencies...

Read the article here;

https://www.idownloadblog.com/2021/01/22/macos-big-sur-11-2-bluetooth-reliability/

According to the company’s own release notes accompanying the forthcoming update, it would appear that macOS Big Sur 11.2 “improves Bluetooth reliability.”

11.2 update reportedly coming in around a week.

Thanks - so what I did was to download software from my ISP and turn off the router's 2.4 GHz WiFi. Then I wired up my printer, using Ethernet. Now I don't use 2.4 GHz.

The dropouts on my bluetooth are better, but not as good as when I turn off WiFi completely on my M1 Mini. Oh well... hope the next update helps!

Exactly same issue and same story on Mac Mini M1.

Apple support senior advisor said to me it's the first time he heard about this issue.

I spoke to three advisors - none of them wanted to get links to this thread or the hundreds of others all over the web (see Mac Rumours or Reddit for example).

They've advised me to deleted some plist files, restart the computer and reinstall Big Sur. Nothing worked.

Magic Mouse disconnected every 2 hours for about 10-20 seconds, on-off-on-off. Keyboard is laggy sometimes. No other Bluetooth devices in the area apart from these two. WiFi router is far away, only on 5GHZ anyway.

Very upset. I have 7 days to return it still. Any thoughts?

Is there some way to turn off 2.5 GHz WiFi on the Mac? I know that other devices are hitting the router at 2.5 GHz, but that doesn't interfere - only if my Mac uses 2.5 GHz connections to the WiFi. My router doesn't seem to be able to turn off 2.5GHz and autswitches between 2.5 and 5 GHz.

Being so frustrated about this bluetooth issue is an understatement.   Apple support has become atrocious .. useless and downright incompetent.

Have been using my 2014 Mac mini .. also have a 2015 MacBook for travel.  Decided to install Big Sur on MacBook and fell in love with it.  So fast .. so wonderful in many ways I decided to get a new Mac mini M1.

All worked well on MacBook with bluetooth keyboard & trackpad.   NOT on the new Mac mini M1 .. what a disaster … started reading about it and got so frustrated, called Apple support and after several phone calls & about 4 hours of “try this” & “try that” I decided to wipe the disk drive and start from scratch.  Nothing worked.   

My last attempt of getting any assistance from Apple support was so so upsetting … the lady was being helpful but reading from a screen .. heck, I can read from a screen too .. when I finally asked for a higher level support person .. I was placed on hold, then got disconnected.

I have 1 remaining option that I will try, I ordered a $20 bluetooth USB receiver/dongle from Amazon .. will get it in a few days .. will by-pass built in Apple bluetooth module with a terminal command and see if it works.  If not, my Mac mini is being returned for a full refund.  Using old wired mouse & keyboard is just not gonna cut it when you spend $1k for a Mac mini.

This article from the UK seemed helpful.  

https://www.macworld.co.uk/news/mac-mini-m1-bluetooth-problem-3798652/

Been having the same issues with 2 senior support techs. Mouse is worse than keyboard. Now using my old generic blue tooth mouse with no issues. Problem is that is hogs up usb ports. Will continue to use old bluetooth mouse and without issues will return the mouse.

I just experienced the bluetooth issues on my M1 Mac Mini yesterday. My mouse and keyboard drop connection from time to time and they never reconnect unless I restart my Mac. I'm using the Apple Wireless Keyboard and a Microsoft Bluetooth mouse.

Also every time I click on Airdrop on my M1 Mac Mini the bluetooth connection immediately drops for my mouse and keyboard and I can no longer use either device. Very frustrating for a computer we paid over $1000 for.

Very poor response from Apple. This is clearly a problem. I've had to reset the bluetooth module several times, on some occasions I need to reboot the whole computer as it doesn't see my keyboard and mouse.

Apple advised be not to use USB hubs with it.

That would make the computer unusable.

If a resolution to this problem isn't forthcoming soon the computer is going back.

I don't disagree that 2.4 GHz is flooded, but my bluetooth mouse worked perfectly on my intel Mac mini, and with no changes to anything except for the mini, it can barely keep a connection. So at least for some of us, or perhaps for some specific devices, the M1 fails to meet the previous level of connectivity.

I have same issue also.

Especially when Mac mini go to sleep, then activate by BT mouse or keyboard , after that if you go to control center, 80% BT will disconnect for all devices and cut intermittently.

But if I work continuously with Mac mini , BT issue did not happen.

Sounds familiar Patrick. Ive had a Mac for 30 years working as a Graphic Artist. Bluetooth has gotten bad over the last few years. Im not sure if Apple is trying to force us to quit using it or what? My new Mac Mini M1 is terrible. 100 percent unusable with bluetooth. Throw those "magic whatever" bluetooth peripherals away (or maybe the NEW ones "magically" work?) Apple could save us some cash and just omit the bluetooth hardware if its not going to work? I had to make a run for a cheap usb keyboard because my Mac mini was stuck at the password screen with no way to input password, 3 different "magic" keyboards would not connect, familiar to anyone? I have problems with wifi on mine too, started after a week or so. Been through everything from my router/modem to the Mac and everything around it and me. Finally hardwired via ethernet, so Apple can save us some money there too? Maybe just go back to 13" 256 color monitors? Literally time to look to windoz, UGGH, I can buy two of them instead of one Mac and at least surely one of them will work? I always have stayed with Apple for the dependability, I question why I would buy another one at this point? The only reason I bought this one is for the M1, I convinced myself we just may be turning the corner with this homegrown chip? Sorry for the ramble but its cheaper than a therapist!

My bluetooth would just go out on everything randomly. That is until the keyboard just would not connect at all. Now mouse just goes out randomly. So I just got a cheap Insignia USB keyboard and my sons old USB mouse, its hard to believe apple can't make a $100 product that works with their own hardware as good as a $15 3rd party keyboard/mouse does? Just go buy a new $100 "magic" one Im sure that will fix the problem until they force us to buy another new one?

As this is the only thread on this issue that has an Apple response, I'll comment here and point out the larger thread where many people are experiencing the bluetooth issue (there's also a number of high profile articles and youtube videos)

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252078550?answerId=253997754022&page=1

Apple Community Specialty - thank you for responding. This is unresolved if can please escalate.