Galaxy S5 bluetooth won't connect??

I would scroll over your last reply in total and paste it in the Feedback for your product as, you are making valid points and Apple need to be told how people feel. They rely on new markets to avoid facing existing customers concerns to some extent and your experience is a clear example of the lack of humility and integrity at Apple on some issues: Feedback - MacBook Pro - Apple

just returned my brand new $3,400 Macbook Pro because it will cost me almost as much as the machine to replace the peripherals that I can no longer use with Apple's new machine. They don't want to play nice with others it's time to move on to something else. I also bought an iPad Pro that I can't use the Bluetooth on because I own an Android phone. It will be my last Apple product.

Apple have always been 'my way or the highway'. In terms of a lot of software it is good as, their products run better when not disturbed by 3rd party software although, probably most of us have some as, there are better products than Apple's for some applications. E.g. Thunderbird is faster, crisper and does not go wrong and yet it is better than Apple Mail which has been worked on for years by Apple and is still inferior. I have had many conversations with Apple about these problems, however, they all sing from the same song sheet as, their living depends on it and Apple like money a lot as their profits attest. The lack of useful conversation on these aspects by Apple is a pity as, it alienates a lot of people who have spent considerable amounts of money on Apple hardware and have a right to be able to use it as they see fit.

I have a Samsung S5 and have a wireless back on it and have a charging stand in my kitchen and one in my car so, I never have to plug it in with a cable. It is easy, efficient and a very good phone and luckily I can use it with my iMac using Bluetooth. I have had this system on my phone for years now and Apple say that wireless is not well enough developed yet, which is patently false as, all the top Samsung models have it and it works perfectly. Have you actually spoken with Apple senior Techies on this to see if you can find a workaround as, sometimes there are ways of utilising what you need to use? I have often had to speak with quite a few Senior Techies before finding one that has a really thorough understanding of certain aspects of Apple's hardware and software uses. They can use each other as a resource, however, there are some that really know a lot because they are really smart and have sussed out things way beyond the normal curve.

What are/were you trying to connect to the MacBook Pro in the way of peripherals and failing to ?

They support all versions of USB from 1.1 to 3 and out of those Thunderbolt sockets FireWire ,HDMI, DisplayPort, ethanet, DVI and VGA (albeit via adapters),- There are even third party hubs for around $100 that solve the problem and add a built in card reader !

Just about the only things not supported are parallel port and traditional modems !

As for bluetooth few of the OS support all protocols , however there are often other and better connection methods including Wifi and even good old cable!

If its tranfering files/images etc they are an array of software apps to solve many issues such as Instashare that deal with cross platform transfers very effectively.

Compatible after you spent $3400 on a computer and then have to buy a bunch of $29 adapters to make your things connect. I am all for change and new technology but for a company to become so proprietary so fast that you end up breaking the bank. My firebox which drives audio input and my monitors was no longer supported along with my Nikon ice scanner when I bought the new iMac. I thought that would change after Apple took it away from me and talked me into a MacBook Pro. I never thought I would say this because I have been with Apple products since the Apple Newton. But it seems that Windows is now the lesser of the two evils. At least the machines that are being produced give you options as to what you can plug into them and they will phase them out slowly so as to not break the bank and allow you to transition slowly. Not just punch you in the face like Apple does with these massive changes that cause you to have to discard all of your other products because they're no longer compatible yet they look like they just came out of the box. Apple screwed me for both money and time telling me that they will resolve the issue and make things right. But really just pushing the ball down the street in order to wear me out and make me go away. I went away and bought a product from another company. Shame on Apple. I expect this to fall on deaf ears as everything else has. Maybe it's shame on me for wasting more time explaining the situation or just trying to Who files and photos from my Samsung phone into my iPad Pro .

Apple cut out most of my reply so, I will put the rest here:

I must admit that I only have an iMac and buy 2nd hand every few years so, that I have iMac's for say 3 years from 3 years old until they are 6 years old. The DVD has been removed in the newer models now so, that's negative in my book as, I use the drive and buy Mac's because I do not want peripherals all over the desk which was always the point of buying a Mac.

At least to some extent I use Apple rather than them using me as, they are specialists in creating addiction which you can see in people's list of Apple products. All the products talk to each other so, a lot of people spend their lives reacting to notifications and stuck looking at screens on phones, iPads, desktops and MacBook's. That's a kind of unhealthy dependency in my view. I'm sorry that you have experienced the dark side of Apple as, they could play ball if they wanted to, but, push very hard all the time. The quicker the changes and the amount of tweaking that goes on all the time will cause their own problems eventually as, it becomes a competition within a perception of keeping up.

Even now the amount of times that senior Techies do not come back on problems is getting higher as, the demands on them are escalating every day and they cannot keep up. They have become another Apple product problem.

Contact the phone provider.

Barry

Going from connected to unconnected is totally normal if there isn't some actual Bluetooth activity going on between the two devices (such as transferring a file, streaming some music).

The devices only remain connected during Bluetooth activity, not when there's nothing going on.

snozdop is 100% accurate (frashizzle)

Although snozdop is in fact correct, there are definitely some software related issues in regards to bluetooth connectivity between the two platforms, android and os x. The OP has a valid issue and the problem isn't just the norms of bluetooth! If you can't tell, I'm having the same problem now haha.

Your problem may be that you don't have bluetooth sharing enabled under the sharing section within system preferences on the Macbook.

Open system preferences > Select the tab labeled "Sharing" > Check the box next to "Bluetooth Sharing" > under the section "When receiving items:" select the option "Accept and Save" > Chose where to save those files to when receiving them from the device in the box below > Additionally, I enabled the "Always Allow" option under "When other devices browse:" > and then selected the folders I wanted to allow other devices to browse but that's up to you. I had to much time on my hands tonight but hope this helps some one whose confused when it's not as seamless as it appears (I ran into the same issue)!

Thank you, this was exactly my issue.

.....same issue, followed the steps provided, still not connecting

.....pretty disappointing when you spend 3k on a Mac Pro and can't even use the bluetooth just because you have a android phone....

Thank you so much for this. After spending an hour or so tonight looking through various forums / threads your simple answer resolved my problem perfectly!