On my MacBook Pro 16" 2019, the Bluetooth's stubborn about turning on despite removal of all BT devices and resetting (Shft-Opt-clich BT icon); also Factory reset and restart. Does anyone out there have an idea?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
peterwhi Said:
"[...]I'm using Mac OS Big Sur v. 11.2.1. Another detail I've noticed is that in my System Report, I notice that Bluetooth Power is "Off".[...]"
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You are welcome.
Next, Try the Following:
Try dragging the following file into the Trash, and then rebooting:
/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth.plist
Locate it Using Spotlight Search:
See if it now shows: "Bluetooth Power: On"
Does it Now Work?:
peterwhi Said:
"[...]I'm using Mac OS Big Sur v. 11.2.1. Another detail I've noticed is that in my System Report, I notice that Bluetooth Power is "Off".[...]"
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You are welcome.
Next, Try the Following:
Try dragging the following file into the Trash, and then rebooting:
/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth.plist
Locate it Using Spotlight Search:
See if it now shows: "Bluetooth Power: On"
Does it Now Work?:
peterwhi Said:
"won't turn on: [...]no, after the trashing and bin emptying, still no go. The BT is turned off and the buttons remain greyed out. [...]assuming your advice now is to ditch the system (or something) and restore from a backup. But I do have ™ backups."
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Ditching the System:
Yes. Ditching the system seems a way to go about solving this. Consider performing that, but as a last resort, only.
Reinstalling the macOS Anew (From Scratch):
Perform the following in the order provided:
I. Format the Drive - Install Anew:
Are you concerned of losing data? If not, proceed with a fresh install.
To Do So:
II. Once Installed...
Contact the developers of all of the software you had installed. Request a new license key, informing them that your computer crashed.
III. Securing Passwords:
Keep a handwritten, hardcopy of you password(s), and store it in a location that only you are knowledgeable of, and only you have access to. Do not share this information with anyone whomsoever.
IV. Backup your Mac:
Create a Time Machine Backup, that way, you can have something to restore your Mac from, should anything go wrong with the install. Use an external hard drive that is at least 1.5 the total storage capacity as that of your internal hard drive.
Owing to that reassurance, I progressed. I even found the file you originally identified as my quarry: com.apple.Bluetooth.plist. I like your pithy and accurate explanations. They give me understanding, the ingredient I usually find elusive.
However, no, after the trashing and bin emptying, still no go. The BT is turned off and the buttons remain greyed out.
As the problem, I think, arose by way of a fairly gradual deterioration, it's not easy to know how far back I need to reach for a suitable backup — assuming your advice now is to ditch the system (or something) and restore from a backup. But I do have ™ backups.
peterwhi Said:
"Bluetooth won't turn on: On my MacBook Pro 16" 2019, the Bluetooth's stubborn about turning on despite removal of all BT devices and resetting (Shft-Opt-clich BT icon); also Factory reset and restart. Does anyone out there have an idea?"
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Reset the Bluetooth Module:
See if Bluetooth is getting in the way here. Bluetooth may be in a constant loop of not being able to connect. Go Here: Use "Reset the Bluetooth module" to Fix Constant Bluetooth Disconnections - User Tips
peterwhi Said:
"Just before I attempt that, I'm a little insecure about it, because in that Preferences folder I find three plist files there: [...]I don't want to make things worse by trashing — and deleting — the wrong file! So, do you have some idea about what I can safely do in that case?"
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Yes: Create a backup of your Mac of your Mac prior to doing all of this, that way, you'll have something to something to restore from, should anything go working with this. What deleting that file does is: it resets all settings made prior to this. It is a plist file - one that has a "p" for "preference." Use an external hard dive - one that is 1.5 times the storage of your internal one. By having one, you can continue to make backups.
Restoring from a Backup:
You'd be fine, if deleted - and that's what backups are all about. In fact, if you have one that you made prior to all of this occurring, then restore from that. No worries.
peterwhi Said:
"I like your pithy and accurate explanations. They give me understanding, the ingredient I usually find elusive."
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Thank you for that.
Whilst that does seem to be helping, it's not given me my BT back. I can report the result of carrying out that procedure.
I'm using Mac OS Big Sur v. 11.2.1. Another detail I've noticed is that in my System Report, I notice that Bluetooth Power is "Off". (I have no knowledge about the implication of that.)
Another thing is that my dropdown menu at stage I 3 doesn't show "Debug". It offers the options, Reser the Bluetooth module, Factory Rest all Bluetooth devices and Remove all devices, directly. In my earlier attempts to resolve my problem, I had in fact had recourse to all of these actions. None had helped. What I've now done again is just as I have done before, excepting for one condition. That is that this time I unchecked, as per direction III 3, Reopen windows when logging back in." Finally, I noticed that I was re-logged in without the need to elect a user. It automatically logged me in just as before.
So, there it is, still stuck. The article you referred me to was last modified 24 December 2020, surely a wonderfully auspicious date, so this might well indicate that my problem does arise from my more recent OS upgrading. Many thanks.
Just before I attempt that, I'm a little insecure about it, because in that Preferences folder I find three plist files there: com.apple.BluetoothAudio.plist, (same prefix)FileExchange.plist and (same prefix)SetupAssistant.plist, noe of them, com.apple.Bluetooth.plist simpliciter. That file I do find in a more obscure location: `Users/Shared/Previously Relocated Items/etc...
I don't want to make things worse by trashing — and deleting — the wrong file! So, do you have some idea about what I can safely do in that case?
My Mac's Bluetooth won't turn on