Q: El Capitan - Bluetooth Not Available

I was having this problem and found a conversation that suggested that it was VMWare, so I uninstalled it and the problem went away.

However, I don't normally reboot my computer, so when I just did a few minutes ago, the problem returned.  When I reboot after uninstalling VMWare, my computer was not connected to any USB devices.  Just now when I reboot, it was connected to an external HD.  I unplugged the HD and reboot the computer.  The problem has now gone away again.  For the past month+, sleeping has not brought the problem back, only rebooting with an external USB HD connected seems to bring the problem back.

suggested solution:

- unplug all USB devices

- reboot computer

- plug USB device back in

-- don't reboot again (or repeat above steps)

>(I'd hate to think of the worst-case-scenario though)..

why is that?  no permanent changes are made by the kext(un)load command.  since my workaround seems effective, my guess is the bug is in recent versions of the Broadcom kext.  i'd be surprised if anybody having this problem has it on a system using an Atheros bluetooth controller.  if you know otherwise, i'm all ears.

happy new year!

marc

I do have a Broadcom chip:

chipset: 20703A1

firmware version: V114 c4548

Apple Bluetooth Software Version: 4.4.3f4 16616

Chipset: 20703A1Apple Blue

  Firmware Version: v114 c4548

Chipset: 20703A1

  Firmware Version: v114 c4548

Has happened a couple of times.  Both times I disconnected the MBP from a Thunderbolt monitor,  used it as a laptop for a while,  then reconnected it.  The Bluetooth then crashes with that "Bluetooth unavailable" message.

Only fix is a full shutdown and restart.

This has never happened to me before the upgrade to El Capitan.

This issue just started for me this morning... the interesting thing is that I've been running El Capitan on a desktop Mac Pro for a couple of months now and have not experienced the problem.

I have, however, recently reset the PRAM and SMC in order to solve a wildly running fan issue I had been having.

I do not allow my computer to go to sleep so I know that's not the issue.

Also, my wireless keyboard (not Bluetooth, but a dongle based Logitech model) was also not available to my machine.

Thankfully I was able to access and control my machine through an iPhone app that allows remote access.

I shut the machine down and unplugged it. I let it sit that way for 15-30 seconds, and rebooted.

Now things seem to be working again, both Bluetooth and the wireless keyboard, but I find it very odd that this issue emerged seemingly out of nowhere. Incidentally, the process described immediately above is the recommended method of reseting the SMC in a desktop Mac, so it would seem that SMC does have some bearing on this issue (or my instance of this issue). I will report further if the issue is a recurring one. 

This interesting as I had suspected VMWare too. What version of Fusion are you using? I'm using VMWare Fusion 7 and wondered if it was not fully compatible with El Capitan.

I had this problem on a macbook pro with el capitan. I unlocked file vault, turned it off and restarted. When I re-started and re-opened system presences; file vault was re-writing the encryption and it took about 30 minutes. Blue tooth was still not working. I re-started and then blow tooth was working. For what its worth, I have never had this problem before. I got on 2 public networks yesterday and I think that might have had something to do with it.

Hope that helps

No solutions - just adding to the evidence

Machine - MB pro 2008 - 8 gbRam, 500Gb SSD

just noticed BT was off after installing El Capitan about a month ago  (only use to play music through a Bose BT system).

I have reset SMC (different procedure for removable battery machines)

I have removed ***bluetooth.plist

Never have used file vault

Sleep - apparently not an issue - after sleep and restarting -as above with reseting SMC-, no effect.

Nothing works.

Seems like a replay of the Wifi problem with Yosemite - numerous things work at times for some people, not for others. And Apple is silent.

Next step - see if shutdown followed by refill of coffee and restart does anything. After that, will change types of coffee. And also will first lightly touch the power switch and then hit it hard for 2 seconds.

Apple - you have customers who can't use their mice and keyboards. You need to fix this for them right now. It has been 5 months since the problem was reported. Another sign that Apple is not the company it once was.

philshaffer wrote:

 

Apple - you have customers who can't use their mice and keyboards. You need to fix this for them right now. It has been 5 months since the problem was reported. Another sign that Apple is not the company it once was.

hi phil,

sorry to hear that you're similarly being frustrated by this issue like the rest of us.  you seem to think that this forum is a way to reach apple.  it isn't.  if you want to report this problem to apple, use https://bugreport.apple.com .  i'd do it, but i'm too burned out on it :-/

I have a similar system to yours:

a Broadcom chip:

chipset: 20702A3

firmware version: V151 c5842

Apple Bluetooth Software Version: 4.4.3f4 16616

Chipset: 20703A1Apple Blue

However, my problem is that the Bluetooth immediately jumps off the network - connects to my Android phone for a moment, then the message box states that I have no internet connection.

I have been reading forum posts on this subject for hours now, finally finding relatively relevant ones. I deleted the bluetooth.plist, but have no idea what most of the other stuff - DSDT editing, etc. - are about. Upon rebooting, I noticed that the network lists my Active Services: Bluetooth PAN as Type: Ethernet. Does this make any difference?

It sounds as if my issue is different from the others. Any advice for me?

You might also mention that we can't update/sync our calendars with our Android phones! EGAD and DRAT!

I Had the same problem. Deleted the plist, removed all USB devices, shut down for a 1/2 an hour, powered up, and now Bluetooth works again!

I had the same problem after updating to El Capitan v10.11.4. Trash the “com.apple.Bluetooth.plist” and similar bluetooth plist files from Library/Preferences. Here are the steps : http://osxdaily.com/2014/02/17/fix-bluetooth-not-available-error-mac/

I also had no problem at all until 10.11.4 update.  The only thing I was using was an Apple® oversized track pad.  Bluetooth disappeared as described by multitudes here.  PAIN from my neck to my fundament.  Just the sort of inattention to detail one expects from Redmond, not Cupertino.  It's a new world.  Thanks to all for semi-solutions that sometimes work.

Bluetooth disappeared after 10.11.4 update. I download the OSX Combo 10.11.4 - Download OS X El Capitan 10.11.4 Combo Update - and ran it. After a full restart, Bluetooth is back again. All working fine.