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Bluetooth mouse won't reconnect

Hello,

I had some problems with Wifi in macOS Sierra, hence I reinstalled the macOS thru Internet Recovery (Option-Command-R) on Macbook Retina, But before that I erased user data on my harddisk. Then during recovery I went thru Mac OS X El Capitan to macOS Sierra step by step.

And after that on the freshly installed OS I got a problem with the ArcTouch Bluetooth Mouse that was previously working fine all the way in El Capitan and Sierra. The mouse can be successfully connected to macOS but it never reconnects after reboot or sleep. The only way to make it back again is to remove and pair then.

I've tried SMC and PRAM reset. Nothing helps.

I reinstalled once again the macOS thru Command-R. It didn't help.

I removed all paired devices and reset Bluetooth module. (thru Shift-Option-BT_icon_click -> Debug). Didn't help.

Checked twice my mouse under Windows 10. It gets connected and reconnects every single time after reboot or mouse turning off/on. So, this is not the mouse's problem.

What are my options then? Any solutions or just wait for 10.12.1?

P.S.

By the way. I'm not quite sure if all that mess with recovery solved my wifi problems. But that's another story about my wifi becomes laggy or apps lose connection while wifi is up and running or apps stay unconnected after waking the mac. All I could do with wifi was to reconnect or off it and on then. I need to check it, whether it has been solved or not.

MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016), macOS Sierra (10.12)

Posted on Oct 22, 2016 4:35 AM

Best reply

deejerydoo

Level 1

24 points

Posted on Sep 27, 2017 8:24 PM

This is a classic example of two of the world’s leading lights, in technology, behaving badly/ineptly or some could say in collusion, by default, not necessarily with any malicious aforethought (one for the lawyers), perhaps…

The scenario runs like this:

Apple releases an update to its OS which changes the way it handles Bluetooth pairing. They will often do this regardless of any adverse effects these changes may cause to third party Bluetooth devices. Let’s face it, they often release updates that break their own Bluetooth devices, never mind third party ones.

This causes Bluetooth pairing issues with multiple vendor’s Bluetooth devices.

At this point the vendor of the Bluetooth device has two options:

Officially end support for MacOS for the device and update their product support information on their Web site, to reflect this.
Work with Apple to resolve the issue, whilst updating their product support information, detailing the known issue, until the issue is fixed and they are able to maintain proper support for the device on MacOS.

What has happened here is that Microsoft and Apple have not worked together, for whatever reason, to fix this bug. Add to this, Microsoft have not done the right thing and updated their product support information, for this device, on their Web site, to reflect either a known bug, that is being worked on, or official end for support of the OS, for this device.

In essence this is an example of both vendors not valuing the hundreds of people (check the thread counts for this issue on both the Apple and Microsoft support forums, as well as third party forums) who have, are and will continue to experience these problems, now and with future generations of Bluetooth devices. Ultimately, Bluetooth devices are seen as almost disposable peripherals. If the OS vendors break them, with OS updates, that change the way Bluetooth devices are handled, then they pretty well expect you to move on and buy another device that will work. This ongoing situation benefits both Apple and Microsoft, as well as other Bluetooth peripheral vendors, as it guarantees a reasonably significant percentage increase in sales of Bluetooth devices. In the end, the ultimate losers are, as usual, us suckers, at the bottom of the technology food chain.

The irony is that Bluetooth devices are often sold as the premium end of the peripheral market, with inflated prices to suit. Thereby making them less of a disposable device than cabled or RF wireless devices, which will undoubtedly work for you for longer, with fewer of these vendor driven, "built in obsolescence features”, AKA crappy Bluetooth support.

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82 replies

jurap

Level 1

5 points

Jan 28, 2017 10:51 AM in response to Call Me LB

MacOS 10.12.3. and a brand new MS Designer Mouse - will not reconnect after mac is woken from sleep. Pressing mouse buttons, on/off, 3 or 5 seconds, doesn't help either. Thinking about returning the mouse back to the store and getting a wired USB mouse instead... any suggestions?

Jan 28, 2017 11:00 AM in response to DFerreira042

OK, two days after: no change. The mice (all 3) still show up as generic Bluetooth devices and when the computer times out (30 minutes and the screen saver kicks in on power), except for the very first time the mouse is unresponsive on login. I must open the Bluetooth panel to get it to reconnect, which it does successfully every time.

I can't help but think this is a result of the mice not being properly identified, so the OS is not waking the connection. Not sure if that is an issue belonging to Logitech or Apple, although given that there are others with Microsoft mice who have the same problem, I would guess this lands on Apple to fix.

Does anyone know if there is a hack to edit a PLIST and change the device type for paired devices? Maybe that would work at least temporarily...?

Tulam

Level 1

4 points

Jan 28, 2017 12:58 PM in response to jurap

I had exactly the same mouse for couple of weeks had the same issue. I have tried every resource but no luck ended up returned the mouse. Spent too much time trying to resolve it but if apple decided to restrict certain mouse on the bluetooth mouse list then there is nothing you can do. I have replaced it with the Magic Mouse 2 instead although it's a big different on price but stress-free.

CCnNYC2

Level 1

20 points

Feb 2, 2017 8:35 PM in response to stainlessstill

Like others I have this problem: constantly with Logitech MX Master or Anywhere 2 mice, rarely with a Logitech keyboard. Lately it's gotten much worse: I had to start turning bluetooth on and off on my iMac because not even turning the mouse on/off nor re-pairing was working (I had to plug in the magic keyboard and use Siri to turn the BT back on). Now not even that is working! I've also always had trouble with BT headphones--slightly better with AirPods than Beats or another brand using BT 2.0 I think, but still not great. Clearly the bluetooth bandwidth is being easily overwhelmed. I really hope there is a software fix for this. I never had this trouble until I got a 2015 iMac, so I'm worried the trouble might also involve that version of the BT antennae.

loxmi

Level 1

4 points

Feb 18, 2017 5:21 AM in response to stainlessstill

Hi,

Any updates to this issue? I have Logitech bt adapter that reconnects every time after reboot/sleep. But mouse (MS designer) reconnects only when You open BT preferences, then it suddenly automatically connects.

its this only Sierra issue?

Feb 18, 2017 5:57 AM in response to loxmi

I do believe so. I haven't had issues until I upgraded to Sierra. Fortunately they appear to have subsided for the most part. Instead of having to open the bluetooth preference pane daily, it's been happening less often but still an issue.

apoc_reg

Level 1

8 points

Feb 20, 2017 3:53 AM in response to stainlessstill

Same exact issue with a bluetooth arc touch mouse, so frustrating as I love the mouse. Going to have to return by the sounds of it?

Tried the Magic Mouse but don't like that at all, the one button and lack of ability to keep hold of it make it rubbish as a portable solution

Feb 24, 2017 9:00 AM in response to stainlessstill

Incredibly, same problem here, Microsoft Arc Mouse, MacBook Pro with Mac OS Sierra 10.12.3, mouse pair, but not reconnect after wake up. The incredibly part is that this problem is around three months now (considering the post of stainlessstil) and there is no solution yet. Come on Apple!

Feb 25, 2017 4:58 AM in response to stainlessstill

Same mouse problem on my mid-2014 15" MacBook Pro.

Mine is also a Microsoft Arc Touch Bluetooth Mouse, which is otherwise a fantastic piece of kit. Under OS X Sierra it constantly disconnects and requires repairing.

This is very frustrating. The mouse used to work just fine, but now I cannot rely on it.

Apple, please get this fixed as soon as possible. Standard Bluetooth devices should work with a laptop as pricey as a MacBook.

Dibblah

Level 1

4 points

Feb 27, 2017 12:58 PM in response to stainlessstill

One solution for those of you who still can return your Microsoft Arc Bluetooth mouse is to do so and then buy the Microsoft Arc Touch Wireless Mouse. The same mouse but with a little USB adapter for 2.4 GHz wireless connection ... ie not Bluetooth

see https://www.microsoft.com/accessories/en-us/products/mice/arc-touch-mouse/rvf-00 052

Mar 7, 2017 8:48 PM in response to Dibblah

This version is also wireless but not Bluetooth right? Have u tested it? This version works? Like if I get one it is actually a USB connection with the Mac but it connects to the mouse wirelessly? So we could forget about the issues with the Bluetooth....Because it is a USB connection with the Mac, please tell me u have tested it and it works...

Apr 1, 2017 2:31 PM in response to stainlessstill

macOS 10.12.4 update.

Still no luck with the MS Arc Touch Mouse. Same behaviour as in previous Sierra releases.

Last time a tried to transfer a fairly large file via BT from an android phone. The connection was constantly interrupted after some 8 mbytes and that was not a phone error (the file of 60 mb could easily be transferred from an Android phone to an Android phone but not to Mac). BT is quite a downside of a Mac.

3.D.

Level 1

4 points

May 17, 2017 8:43 PM in response to stainlessstill

After a few attempts parring the mouse I noticed the plst created a new log and the system registered but as many of you noticed fail to pair. I ran the console to see the logs on the system and it seems to fail down at the kernel level that the OS has implemented to the hardware.

5/17/17 10:32:48.000 PM kernel[0]: **** [IOBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport][InterruptReadHandler] -- Received kIOReturnNotResponding error - retrying: 1

Currently imaging a nother machine to test with an older OS. any one know what OS the mouse used to work on?

Jun 6, 2017 8:15 AM in response to stainlessstill

I had this problem when I upgraded to macOS Sierra 10.12.5:

I tried several solutions and the following (to my surprise) resolved my issue...

Download Arc Mouse Drivers from Microsoft:

IntelliPoint 8.2

Arc Mouse | Device downloads | Microsoft Accessories

Note: The latest supported version in the dropdown reads MacOS 10.4.x-10.7 32 & 64bit

After installation you will be prompted to restart (Do not restart yet)

Pair the Arch Touch mouse with your Mac and make sure it is working.

Remove any duplicate pairings for the Arc Touch mouse in bluetooth settings.

Restart the Mac

If not detected on restart, remove duplicate profiles and pair again.

This worked for me and my Arc Touch mouse now remains paired when the screen is locked or lid is shut. The mouse now also reconnects/pairs when I shut down or restart.

Jun 6, 2017 4:14 PM in response to rlfosterjr

Thank you. For me it's like a hope to bring things back to normal.

Unfortunately, I could make nothing of it.

I installed IntelliPoint 8.2. Re-paired the mouse. Restarted. And my mouse couldn't reconnect.

I reset PRAM, deleted Bluetooth.plist, reset Bluetooth etc.

Not a single time it helped me to reconnect the mouse automatically.

I mean I didn't manage the driver from ArcMouse to work for my ArcTouch BT Mouse.

For those, who had it installed and has failed to reconnect the mouse, I can only give a hint on how to legitimately uninstall IntelliPoint. Go to /Applications/Utilities and run IntelliPoint Uninstaller.

P.S. I could only find the uninstaller by exploring the driver dmg package.

Bluetooth mouse won't reconnect