Bluetooth not pairing after update

Question

Bluetooth not pairing after update

I have a Macbook Pro running the latest update of Yosemite, 10.10.3. Prior to the update, my Bluetooth connections were spotty at best. Bluetooth devices don't always appear, and when they did appear, the connection would drop or not connect at all. Since I updated a few days ago, I can't connect to anything (my speaker close by doesn't even show up in Bluetooth preferences.) I've tried all the basic stuff, like removing devices and trying to readd them, turning Bluetooth off and back on, trying different devices (that work perfectly with my iPhone), and I've even tried resetting the PRAM and doing the Apple hardware test. I'm at wit's end. Anybody have any ideas? I'd be deeply in debt to whoever can get this darn thing working again.

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2012)

Posted on Apr 20, 2015 10:01 AM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Apr 20, 2015 10:07 AM in response to Sharon Farmer

Try downloading and installing the OS X Yosemite 10.10.3 Combo Update. You can also try:

Shut down your Mac, disconnect all USB devices for two minutes, start up, and re-connect your USB devices once again.

If you have Wi-Fi enabled try turning it off to see if BT starts working: AirPort and Bluetooth- Potential sources of interference.

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Answer 2

Apr 20, 2015 10:18 AM in response to Kappy

Kappy: Thanks for the response. I don't have anything connected USB. I've installed the latest Yosemite supplemental update, tried shutting down and restarting. Still no go.

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Answer 3

Apr 20, 2015 10:20 AM in response to Kappy

My apologies. I did the supplemental update, not the combo. Downloading that now. Will also try turning off WIFI and will respond with results. Thanks!

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Answer 4

Apr 20, 2015 2:30 PM in response to Sharon Farmer

Do you have a cordless phone (or something similar) in the area?

Barry

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Answer 5

Apr 20, 2015 2:52 PM in response to Barry Hemphill

Oooh, Barry, I didn't even consider that. I am in an office building with a cordless about 20 to 30 feet away. If the signal was interfering, would it affect the Bluetooth connection only when someone was on the phone, or would it happen all the time? I use my iPhone to make the same connections in the same location when I am unable to do so with my Macbook and those connections work fine - no signal dropped.

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Answer 6

Apr 20, 2015 2:59 PM in response to Sharon Farmer

A guess......if it was interfering, I would think only when in use.

I have seen instances where cordless phones interfere with BT.....probably a frequency thing.....?

Barry

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Answer 7

Apr 22, 2015 9:43 AM in response to Barry Hemphill

Okay, so I've downloaded the combo update, turned off WIFI and it's seeing the Bluetooth device and connecting (after several attemps) but it's not keeping the connection. The connection drops after a while, or stutters (it's a speaker.) As soon as I started having problems, I immediately tried the Bluetooth connection on my iPhone to the same speaker and it's flawless. No dropping, no stuttering. So the cordless phone interference theory went out the door. It's definitely my Macbook. Any other ideas?

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Answer 8

Apr 22, 2015 10:21 AM in response to Sharon Farmer

The last thing I can think of to try is to reset the SMC and PRAM.

Barry

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Answer 9

Apr 22, 2015 10:54 AM in response to Barry Hemphill

Thanks, Barry. I've already reset the Pram. Will try and reset the SMC.

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Answer 10

Apr 22, 2015 10:55 AM in response to Sharon Farmer

That is, from here, the last resort. If that does not help, a trip to the Apple store for testing would be my next step.

Barry

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