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shblet343 Author

Level 1

26 points

Bluetooth missing from system preferences?

Hello.

I've seached for ideas everywhere but am not having much luck.

I'm running a 27" iMac OSX, 10.8.3 (12D78) Mountain Lion

w/3.2 GHz i3

12 GB 1333 MHz DDR3

A few days ago, my magic mouse lost it's scoll, swipe, zoom, and right click abilities. The batteries were low, so I dismissed it. I have since replaced the batteries, and then noticed that the bluetooth icon is missing at the top of the screen/staus bar. I looked in system preferences, and the Bluetooth icon is also missing from there. Under the Mouse pane, there is no options for the magic mouse, only tracking speed and click speed.

I searched the archives and it appears it's a pretty common occurance. The difference is my BT mouse still works, only as a regular mouse. (Single click and pointer tracking).

I first tried a timemachine restore, with no luck.

Next, I tried a reboot. No luck.

I tried the SMC reset. No luck there either.

I know the BT is working somewhat, because after I reboot the system, the mouse pointer doesn't move, but if I click and hold the mouse buttom for a few seconds, I get control over the mouse, but like I said, with no options or extra abilities. But even with the mouse moving, there is no BT icon either on the staus bar or in system preferences.

Any ideas on what to try next?

iMac (27-inch Mid 2010), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Apr 12, 2013 11:57 AM

Best reply

Anthonyri

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Dec 9, 2017 4:27 PM

I just bought this used 2012 MacBook Pro, the owner set it back to factory settings. and everything was fine but when I wanted to connect my headphones (via bluetooth) and opened the system preferences bluetooth wasn't there in the first place. it tried you trick but it didn't work, you got another solution for me?

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44 replies

shblet343 Author

Level 1

26 points

Apr 27, 2013 11:50 AM in response to Paul_31

Moved com.apple.Bluetooth.plist to the trash. Rebooted, and it still behaves exactly the same. I tried it again, this time turning off the mouse. Once it was rooted, the pointer was dead, I turned the mouse on, held down the Button (shell), and it turned the pointer back active. Still no Bluetooth icon, still no multifunctioning mouse, and no information available within the harware listing under System Report for Bluetooth. ???

Old Toad

Level 10

207,643 points

Apr 27, 2013 12:45 PM in response to shblet343

Look in your HD/System/Library/PreferencePanes folder for the Bluetooth.prefpane file. Is it there?

If it's not there download and run the OS X Mountain Lion Update v10.8.3 (Combo) updater and then check your System preferences again.

shblet343 Author

Level 1

26 points

Apr 27, 2013 3:12 PM in response to Old Toad

Yes, the Bluetooth.prefPane is there. ???

I tried to attach a screen shot using Grab, but it says content not allowed? Anyway? It shows being updated as of September, when everything else is June 20. Strange.

Since it is there, now what?

Old Toad

Level 10

207,643 points

Apr 27, 2013 5:10 PM in response to shblet343

Reset the System preferences to create a jpg or png file for screen grabs. The forum won't take tiff files.

shblet343 Author

Level 1

26 points

Apr 27, 2013 6:05 PM in response to Old Toad

Old Toad

Level 10

207,643 points

Apr 28, 2013 9:12 AM in response to shblet343

I'd try the combo updater in any case and see if that won't jump start it in the System Prefs.

Oct 17, 2013 1:58 PM in response to shblet343

shblet343....Did you problem get resolved or not? I see I know have the exact same problem. Let me know please.

seamusmc

Level 1

8 points

Nov 12, 2013 4:47 AM in response to TheOtherDale

I am having the same problem as well. Using Mavericks with latest updates. Contrary to what the stupid forum is stamping I'm using 10.9 13A603

Message was edited by: seamusmc

Specs updated

Old Toad

Level 10

207,643 points

Nov 12, 2013 10:48 AM in response to seamusmc

Your's isn't the same as you're running Mavericks and they are running Mt. Lion.

Boot into the Recovery volume (boot with the Command + R keys held down) and reinstall the system. That should restore the Bluetooth preference pane.

Feb 19, 2014 5:39 PM in response to Rod Fox

This did the trick for me! (running Mavericks 10.9.1)

Thanks Rod!

rebby575

Level 1

9 points

Mar 5, 2014 7:45 AM in response to Rod Fox

That worked for me, Rod Fox, when all else failed. I was "" that close to calling Applecare.

Thanks.

ssmith00

Level 1

0 points

Mar 18, 2014 7:38 AM in response to Old Toad

Is the response (below) to seamusmc (using Mavericks), or to the original post from shblet343 (mt. lion)?

Boot into the Recovery volume (boot with the Command + R keys held down) and reinstall the system. That should restore the Bluetooth preference pane.

I am using Mt. Lion, and have reinstalled 10.8.3. Notta...

Apr 22, 2014 8:53 AM in response to Rod Fox

Shazam! The "Rod Fox Fix" had my bluetooth back to normal as soon as I heard the reboot chime.

13" MBP, Retina, early 2013, with Mavericks 10.9.2 (current as of this post).

For the record, I had no joy moving Bluetooth.prefPane file to either desktop or trash.

terryzx

Level 1

12 points

Sep 22, 2014 4:14 AM in response to Rod Fox

Worked great for me on Maverick 10.9.5

THANX MUCH!!!

steevb

Level 1

0 points

Dec 26, 2014 3:35 PM in response to Rod Fox

I am using Yosemite 10.10.1 and lost the Bluetooth preference pane just as shblet343 describes. Suggestions in this thread included "Take your Mac to the Applestore" and "Reinstall your system". I am so happy I kept reading because Rod Fox's suggestion WORKED!! 🙂 It was much easier and safer to hold down 4 buttons for 5-6 seconds. Thank you Rod Fox.

shblet343: Please mark Rod Fox's answer with "This solved my question" or at the least "This helped me". It deserves to be called out.

Bluetooth missing from system preferences?