Level 1

27 points

PS4 Controller Bluetooth Connectivity Problems

Hi there. I've been using the PS4 Controller with my Late 2013 Macbook Pro for a while, and bluetooth connectivity was fine for a while. Around the time I updated to Yosemite (although I'm not 100% certain that would be the cause), the controllers stopped being able to connect.

When I attempt to pair the device, it shows up as discoverable, allows me to hit 'Connect' in the Bluetooth preferences pane, and actually says 'Connected', although it continues to have the spinning load wheel next to it. Typically, when the controller ACTUALLY connects, the light on the back of the DS4 changes from quick flashes to a solid orange color. After a while of this, the controller stops attempting to connect, and the Bluetooth pane says the pairing failed.

I have reset the PRAM and SMC multiple times, am fully up to date on software, have tried plugging the controllers in via USB first (which works, but I want Bluetooth working again), and have done a ton of searches for similar issues. Very few people seem to have an issue remotely close to this, and the ones that do are able to fix it with an SMC reset.

Thanks in advance for any help!

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1), PS4 Dualshock 4 Controller

Posted on Nov 20, 2014 1:45 PM

Top-ranking reply

MattiaTraverso

Level 1

5 points

Posted on Jan 5, 2015 2:21 PM

I had the exact same issue you had, and I took the following steps to fix it:

1) Turn off Bluetooth

2) Terminate every single process in Activity Manager that you can terminate

3) Open the terminal and type sudo rm -R /Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth.E5A09B51-7B2E-53AC-ADF0-*********.plis t (I censored part of the name since I am not sure whether these characters have any importance)
or sudo rm -R /Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth.plist

4) Trash the file manually if you can't get this to work ^

5) Restart your macbook

6) Open the newly formed Bluetooth.plist with Sublime Text, delete everything inside and re-save the file (I know, this feels like black magic, and I don't think it had any input... but I am just telling you the steps I took!)

...and now it works flawlessly. Tried with two controllers, and they still work even after I pair them with other devices.

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30 replies

Apr 17, 2015 4:28 PM in response to Theyis

Hi Guys,

i´m having the exact same issues Sir Rain 3 has. I already deleted the com.apple.Bluetoothplist file from Preferences/Library file as well as the other Bluetoothplist file in the Prefernces/Library/ByHost directory. I also reseted the PRAM and SMC but still the controller won`t connect to my MacBook Pro. (Retina, Mid 2014)

Are there any other suggestions how to solve this problem? Both of my Controllers work fine with the PS 4 though.

Would be great if there´s someone who could help!

Thanks in advance!

thedonz

Level 1

8 points

Oct 8, 2016 7:28 AM in response to MattiaTraverso

6) Open the newly formed Bluetooth.plist with Sublime Text, delete everything inside and re-save the file (I know, this feels like black magic, and I don't think it had any input... but I am just telling you the steps I took!)

This step is CRUCIAL. Without doing this, it didn't work. Now it's excellent!

Thanks for the tip!

Oct 16, 2016 4:36 PM in response to thedonz

Folks, I appriciate all the messages here. I've tried everything and I still can't get this to work.

macOS Sierra 10.12

iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2011)

2.7 GHz Intel Core i5

20 GB 1333 MHz DDR3

I bought a Dualshock 4, paired it successfully and it worded very well. Then on day 2, I couldn't get it to stay connected. It will pair for about 2-3 seconds, then the controller will shut off and the pairing will drop. I thought the remote was a dud, so I returned it. This is the second remote and I've had the same experience. The first day, it worded great, the next day, it shuts off after a few seconds. It has to be my Mac, right...? What are the chances that two controllers would have the exact same problem... The battery is fully charged, I've tried deleting the pList, using BT Explorer, etc... everything. I'm a very tech savvy guy and this is the first problem i've been unable to solve, pretty much ever, and i've been a Mac guy since 1995.

Anyone else out there have any ideas...?

schro3f

Level 1

6 points

Dec 10, 2017 5:22 PM in response to thirkleby

How about that, mine was alwys working but havent used in acouple monts. Battery has run out probably so charging it and wanted to see some settings. Now mine also doesnt connect no more hahahaha ***

Im looking into this post and tried the solution with the bluetooth explorer app. Its connect for 1-3 seconds and then goes OFF. Im gonna look for some other methods and report back

Apr 9, 2015 12:38 PM in response to MattiaTraverso

I tried copying and pasting what you wrote and its not working for me. I have no idea how to go about accessing what you are talking about to delete the preferences

Oct 14, 2015 9:17 PM in response to MattiaTraverso

This worked for me. MacBook Pro Retina 15" Mid 2014 running El Capitan.

Nov 8, 2015 3:18 PM in response to elementsixtythree

I am having the above issues as well. This did NOT work for me. Late 2013 MacBook Pro, El Capitan 10.11.2

leonmax

Level 1

8 points

Feb 27, 2016 11:10 PM in response to XxRagnarockxX

The last one saved me!!! Thank you XxRagnarockxX

Apr 22, 2016 11:54 PM in response to XxRagnarockxX

This is the best answer!

Aug 13, 2016 11:58 AM in response to XxRagnarockxX

Please i need these IO Tools https://developer.apple.com/downloads/ THE LINK DOESNT WORK

Nov 23, 2017 2:45 AM in response to XxRagnarockxX

Hi, when I try to open Bluetooth Explorer it goes to the doc with the black dot under it but it doesn't open, what should I do?

Dec 10, 2017 1:57 PM in response to schro3f

Thanks for response. Controller is genuine PlayStation product bought new from GAME store.

All it says on Bluetooth screen is “Witeless Controller”

Vantro

Level 1

12 points

Dec 21, 2017 3:43 PM in response to XxRagnarockxX

Only this worked, incredible. Thanks man!

Jan 1, 2018 10:28 AM in response to MattiaTraverso

Hey thanks a bunch for the help. I was having the same problem with a late 2009 MacBook Pro. I found the bluetooth list manually under Library>Preferences>By Host. Deleted it, restarted my Macbook, and paired first try. Thanks again.

schro3f

Level 1

6 points

Mar 17, 2017 3:22 PM in response to blueclient

Super thanks! worked like a charm, though i lost all my other items, but those connect quite easily

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PS4 Controller Bluetooth Connectivity Problems