trackpad won't connect with bluetooth

My new Macbook Pro (which was migrated from my older Mac Pro tower) failed to discover and connect to my trackpad this morning (despite having connected yesterday), so I used the Apple Developer tool called "Bluetooth Explorer.app", found and deleted the trackpad from the Device Cache, and walked through the Setup Trackpad steps in System Preferences. That seemed to work.

I realize that not everybody has knowledge of or access to the (free!) Dev Tools at Apple, but if you know your way around developer.apple.com you can often find some interesting tidbits. Well worth signing up for (https://developer.apple.com/downloads/index.action?name=for%20Xcode%20-# Download "Hardware IO Tools for Xcode")

I'm not sure why caching a device would prevent re-connection -- I've got a theory that it's something to do with Migration Assistant or upgrading from 10.7 to 10.8 -- the device is recognized as cached but the cached info is out of date or has metadata applicable only either to the older computer or 10.7.

My other theory is that perhaps when the device lost connection that it did not get "put away" correctly. I also noted that prior to my removing from the cache, that the Bluetooth Explorer was unable to pull down the device's SDP record (error 0x4). The SDP record are how Bluetooth devices tell the host computer what capabilities they support, and I think the OS caches these.

Joe K.

Mine too has started disconnecting and reconnecting every 2 seconds after I replace the batteries.

I tried several different sets of rechargable batteries and found that, for me, it was in the batteries.

I have used some ultra pro for the last year, rotating and recharging them. This time, trackpad would not stay connected. The engergizer recharge I stuck in is working fine and it even shows the same battery level as the Ultra Pro.

Before I verified the battery solution, I did try Bluetooth Explorer and did what Joe K. advised. It was a simple to download since I had registered as a developer years ago. BE started up and I found the Device Cache and deleted my device, then use system preferences>Bluetooth to pair it up again.

I will update if I start having trouble again.

thanks! This sorted the problem for me. I'd forgotten I'd had the track pad set up on my Mac Mini which is not always on so it was an intermittent fault. All is now working as it should.

I had this same problem on a recurring basis. Using Apple Care, one of the phone geniuses told me to do the following.

SMC reset

unplug power cord for 15 sec

Over a year later, I just tried this by basically power cycling but unplugging the cord in the middle. And the track pad came back.

Hope this works!

Here's what I did to make the Magic Trackpad to connect:

1. Take off the battery cap of the Magic Trackpad
2. Turn off Bluetooth on the computer (in Bluetooth Preferences)
3. Turn on Bluetooth on (in Bluetooth Preferences)
4. Replace battery cap of the Magic Trackpad
5. Press "+" to add a device in Bluetooth Preferences on your computer
6. Press, AND HOLD, the Power Button on the Magic Trackpad, AND KEEP HOLDING while green light is blinking.
7. Select the Magic Trackpad
8. Once the Magic Trackpad is connected you may release the Power Button on the Magic Trackpad

Thanks for the tip! I don't develop anything, but was easily able to signup, download the Dev Tools, select "Show Device Cache" under Utilities and delete the trackpad. Then I set up the trackpad as a new device, and voilá - I have my trackpad back!! It took me 2 difficult days of dealing with a standard mouse and attempting easier solutions before I finally decided to try this out. This process saved me before classes start - I don't think I could handle the stress of a new semester without my trackpad.

Thanks. Worked like a charm with the proviso that you need to have a corded mouse connected to click the bluetooth back on again.

Thanks for the tip.

This one worked for me. Thanks for information.

Thanks, Jeff. Your solution solved the problem for me.

Thanks Jeff. Your solution worked like a charm.

Just have to add that Jeff DeMello's solution worked well. Had to turn off the Bluetooth and start the trackpad a couple of times but it finally worked like a champ. This is not my normal experience with Apple devices so I am curious what is going on here that these devices lock up and don't connect/pair up with the computer.

Jeff DeMello's solution solved my problem.

I found that my trackpad paired up to another computer close by on it's own. I clicked on Bluetooth devices and went to the Trackpad and clicked on "disconnect". Then went to the computer I wanted my trackpad to pair with and turned off Bluetooth and then back on. Trackpad paired with no problem.

Not to coin a phrase, but the same thing is happening to me. Recently, for whatever reason, my trackpad, wireless on the iMac is disconnecting. The cursor will just stop. First time, I replaced the batteries and that worked. Second time I couldn't remember how long it had been so I replaced the batteries again and it worked. Happened this morning and I know the batteries are good so I took them out and put them back in. Cursor fired up and all is well. Didn't do anything with the bluetooth setting on the Mac. THis never used to happen and I can't think of anything different going on. I did get my wife a wireless Apple magic mouse recently, but I think this was happening before that. The two computers are farily close, so if it's a wireless interference issue, that might explain it. So far I have no fix other than the above.

Jeff's solution worked for me, right at the point I was about to start pulling out my hair!!!