Wireless keyboard and mouse on New MacBook

I just got a MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2019), 1.6 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5, with 16GB memory. As it only has two Thunderbolt ports and nothing else, I also bought a USB C Hub Thunderbolt Adapter 7 in 2 MacBook Adapter with Thunderbolt3 Port, 4K@30Hz HDMI, USB-C Data, USB 3.0, SD/TF Card Reader for MacBook Pro 2020/2019/2018, MacBook Air. I am running Big Sur 11.6. My brand new wireless keyboard and mouse seem to drop the connection very regularly. Sometimes I will be typing away and only some of the text appears. At times I can bang hard on a key and it will simply not appear on the screen. Also the mouse behaves as if it too is dropping connection. It appears on the screen and when I move it, it disappears and reappears way off from where I am trying to point it. This is very sporadic and may happen 10 times in one hour, or maybe only 2 or 3 times in a whole day. Very unpredictable. BTW, I tried using my old Logitech keyboard and mouse, and they do the same thing. They were fine on my old Mac Mini. Is there some adjustment I can make to the MacBook?

MacBook Air

Posted on Oct 18, 2021 7:17 AM

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9 replies

Oct 19, 2021 12:56 PM in response to mikefromcaledon

mikefromcaledon,



We appreciate those details. Have you tested in another user? Being able to see if the issue occurs in another user account will to identify if it is something that is affecting your entire system or just one particular user account. To do this, you'll want to set up a Test User account and then try to replicate the issue in that account.


1. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Users & Groups.


2. Click the lock icon, then enter an administrator name and password.


3. Click the add button (+) below the list of users.


4. Complete the fields shown for a Standard or Administrator account, then click Create Account (or OK).


5. Go back up to the Apple menu in the upper left of the computer and select "Log Out". At the login screen, choose the "Test User" just made.


6. Once inside the Test Account, try to replicate the issue to determine if it just occurs in one account or on the whole computer.



Thank you.

Oct 23, 2021 7:30 AM in response to mikefromcaledon

mikefromcaledon,


We appreciate you trying in another user account. To help isolate the issue further, we would also suggest testing if it also occurs while in safe mode. As noted in the article below "Safe mode prevents your Mac from loading certain software as it starts up, including login items, system extensions not required by macOS, and fonts not installed by macOS. It also does a basic check of your startup disk, similar to using First Aid in Disk Utility. ":


How to use safe mode on your Mac


If the issue also happens while in safe mode, we recommend that you reach out to Apple Support directly. Please reach out here:


Thank you.

Oct 25, 2021 10:30 AM in response to Lissy_12

Hi Lissy_12,


I have decided to take a step DOWN the technology ladder a bit.  To resolve this problem, I have decided to abandon my wireless keyboard and mouse, and instead go backwards technology-wise and get a WIRED keyboard and mouse. I tried using my old wired mouse for the weekend, and it worked perfectly.  So I will return my wireless keyboard and mouse to Amazon, and order a wired keyboard instead. I am tired trying various steps and ideas, none of which have resolved the issue.  I know that reverting to a wired set up will fix the problem, even though as I say, it feels like I’ll be going backwards in technology.  I am maddened and thoroughly disappointed with Apple. This was an expensive purchase.  I could have bought three Windows based laptops for the price of this MacBook, but I thought I was buying a superior product.  This issue should never have existed and I don’t understand why it does.  It’s a brand new computer, brand new keyboard and mouse. Problems like this should not exist with new equipment.  I feel very disillusioned with Apple.  


But I want to say thank you Lissy_12 for all your suggestions.  I appreciate your efforts.  


…..Mike…..

Oct 30, 2021 3:14 AM in response to mikefromcaledon

I just thought I'd make one last update to this situation. I am using my old wired mouse and it works just fine. I got a wired keyboard yesterday. I hooked it up and immediately, the problem was gone! When I press a letter on the keyboard, that same letter appears on the screen immediately. What a concept! Everything works perfectly. It is so refreshing to have things operating as they should.

So that is it! Problem not exactly resolved as such, but very satisfactorily worked around.


.....Mike.....

Oct 19, 2021 12:05 PM in response to Lissy_12

Hi Lissy_12,


Thanks for your response.  I have already addressed some of the possible reasons in that article.  


I have built a shelf under my desktop to accommodate the MacBook.  It is now about 8 inches away from the keyboard and mouse and there is no obstruction blocking the signal - they are within sight of each other.


There is no other Wi-Fi device connected to the computer.  I thought that my B/U drive might be causing the problem, but I have had it disconnected for days now, and the problem still exists.


The only other cable in the area is the power cable for the MacBook. There is no other USB device in use in the whole house. 


None of the other possibilities are likely. It is a very sporadic problem. Earlier it was as if I was typing in a different language as almost all the letters were jumbled as I typed, leaving a complete mess of gibberish on the screen. And again, I had to bang on the “O” key over and over and over again to make it appear on the screen.  Today it was O.  Later it will be another letter.  It is never the same letter.  And the mouse is ridiculous too, hopping and missing and skipping all over the place.  I am almost at the point of throwing this MacBook away as it is practically impossible to use like this.

Oct 20, 2021 1:52 AM in response to mikefromcaledon

Well I created a test user account this morning, as suggested.   I did some of my usual things like browsing online, some Facebook, Messenger and some writing in a Word doc and in Text Edit.  Everything seemed to be ok, however the mouse was still “lumpy” and constantly disappearing and reappearing somewhere else. Trying to click on something with the mouse is a REAL challenge as it keeps moving way from where I am pointing.  However, I felt that the keyboard functions were all working properly.  I started writing a response to this posting in the test user account, and I was half way into the response, when the keyboard started going nuts again!  It was showing different letters on the screen from what I was typing and it was all gibberish.  I tried to press the Backspace key, and it wouldn’t go back!  So many other keys were also simply not responding!  So my hopes were dashed, once again.  I closed out of the test user account, logged in to my regular account and here I am writing this response and suffering as usual with a sporadic mouse, a sometimes failing keyboard, and I am slowly losing my patience.  I am sorry I bought this computer.  It is ridiculous.  Does anyone have any other idea as to what I can do?

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Wireless keyboard and mouse on New MacBook

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