Bluetooth issues not solved by Big Sur 11.2

Hellow fellow M1 silicon bluetooth sufferers from the UK. I eagerly downloaded Big Sur 11.2 earlier today on my M1 MBA hoping the bluetooth issues would be gone as many online article declares. Well for me it ain't so great. I have since tried three devices (all speakers). I can say without reservation that getting any actuall audio out of any of them has been an abject failure. They all make the noises that sound like successful connection has been made but whatever handshake is supposed to take place to instantiate audio streaming simply doesn't happen.

Devices that have failed so far:

• Anker Soundcore 2
• Anker Soundcore Boost
• Anker Soundcore Motion+

OK not a particularly representative sample perhaps but all of the above have been pretty dependable on Bluetooth. The Soundcore Boost did once pair with the MBA but this was before any updates, now it is just as silent as the other two units. I hear rather depressingly that even shelling out for Apple Airpods does not guaruntee success as there have been noted cases of those not working either.

The way my Logitech keyboard is behaving is:

1. I can pair the keyboard and it seems to work fine after pairing; however...
2. When I shut down the M1 and/or restart, the keyboard isn't recognized at the sign-in screen (that was a huge problem when I didn't have a USB keyboard and had not paired the older Apple BT keyboard; I had a Mac Mini Brick...);
3. When I get signed back in (via USB or Apple BT keyboard) the Logitech keyboard works just fine again; i.e. no "re-pairing" needed.
4. My Magic Mouse works fine pretty much all the time (it drops out occasionally, but it did that with my 2016 MacBook Air).

Here's a suggestion to any Apple engineer who might be monitoring this thread. First, the obvious: Fix the BT issue. Second, include at the sign-in screen a "virtual keyboard" so that a person having trouble with their BT keyboard can use the mouse to sign-in by clicking on the letters for their sign-in.

I contacted Logitech about my issue with the K780 Keyboard. They just responded:

"If your Bluetooth mouse or keyboard does not reconnect after a reboot at the login screen and only reconnects after the login, this might be related to FileVault encryption.

When FileVault is enabled, Bluetooth mice and keyboards will only re-connect after login.

Potential solutions:

• If your Logitech device came with a USB receiver, using it will solve the issue.
• Use your MacBook keyboard and trackpad to login.
• Use a USB keyboard or mouse to login."

I turned off FileVault and my M1 Mac Mini recognized my keyboard at the login. So the keyboard problem is fixed, but maybe at the expense of security. Not sure why FileVault isn't an issue with my iMac wireless keyboard or Magic Mouse. Seems like Apple still has a bug to work out since this wasn't a problem with my Intel Macbook Air.

Hope this info helps.

I have the M1 Mac Mini and upgraded to BS 11.2. My Logitech K780 keyboard will pair up, but when you re-start it doesn't work. I have to use a USB or the original mac keyboard that came with my 2009 iMac just to log in. Once in, the keyboard is recognized. This is actually the same problem I had before the update, so no change.

The Logitech keyboard has a USB "unifying" device that works fine, but it takes up a USB port. I might as well plug in the USB keyboard (which I had to go out and buy just to log onto the computer after purchase).

Yours is the only post I've found online about the continuing bluetooth issue.

Just an update on my version of Bluetooth issue which has ended happily albeit contingent on things working out consistanly over time.

Two developments have taken place which have lead to happy resolution.

i) Big Sur 11.2.1 came out and was installed.

ii) I had a chat with Apple this evening who were very helpful after they reached out in response to my comment on this thread.

The result of which is that I now understand that when you connect a bluetooth audio device in most cases the audio should be automatically routed through the device, however if you installed shims that install virtual audio input or output devices in the system one of these may be selected rather than your Blutooth device of choice. If you click the "control centre" icon in the menu bar and then click the word "Sound" above the silder it will show audio endpoints that audio can be routed to if there are more than one of these. Once I had selected the device I connected all seemed well for two devices. I am not sure if the OS will remember the choices between connections so I will have to monitor.

Moral of the story for me is that if it looks like your bluetooth audio device connects but your sound is stuck where it was click "Sound" in the "Control Centre" and check what sound endpoint is shown and make sure it is selected.

Hopefully this might help someone else in future.

It looks like 11.3 will likely drop in March so maybe further incremental improvements are made that fix the remainder of bluetooth issues as other updates have partially helped with.

Good luck to anyone else still struggling.

Just did a PRAM/NVRAM reset.

Bluetooth came back.

Deleted any devices it was showing.

Turned on mouse & voila.

Mouse back working again.

My Magic Mouse is behaving very odd after update.

Only recognised if connect via cable, but thinks it is connected wireless.

My bluetooth won't even turn on now.

Icon in menu bar sat with line through it. :(