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User profile for user: roele
roele Author
User level: Level 1
31 points

Unable to rename bluetooth device

I'm not sure if this is related to newly released macOS 10.12.4 but i re-added once of my Bluetooth devices after the upgrade and i'm unable to rename it via Bluetooth preference pane. The device is connecting and working properly, it's just the name that can't be set anymore. The rename action simply does not do anything.


I already tried

1) Re-adding device

2) Deleting the com.apple.Bluetooth.plist file, restarting and re-adding the device.

3) Resetting PRAM


Anyone else seeing this? Any ideas?

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2016), macOS Sierra (10.12.4)

Posted on Mar 28, 2017 11:35 AM

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User profile for user: JohnnyG_71
JohnnyG_71
User level: Level 1
4 points

Posted on Jan 12, 2018 1:40 PM

tmlanku was the first (and only?) person who actually posted the real solution to this. Unfortunately, for some reason, the [Helpful] button on their post is greyed-out.


Anyway, here is the solution (at least as it was for me and many others):

1. The device must be currently actively connected to bluetooth on your computer.

2. The device must not have the USB cable plugged into it.


Once I removed the USB cable from my Magic Trackpad 2, it successfully saved the name change.

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User profile for user: JohnnyG_71
JohnnyG_71
User level: Level 1
4 points

Jan 12, 2018 1:40 PM in response to thebenner

tmlanku was the first (and only?) person who actually posted the real solution to this. Unfortunately, for some reason, the [Helpful] button on their post is greyed-out.


Anyway, here is the solution (at least as it was for me and many others):

1. The device must be currently actively connected to bluetooth on your computer.

2. The device must not have the USB cable plugged into it.


Once I removed the USB cable from my Magic Trackpad 2, it successfully saved the name change.

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User profile for user: i_rina
i_rina
User level: Community Specialist

Mar 29, 2017 11:36 AM in response to roele

Thanks for trying all these steps so far. We were able to to get someone on 10.12.4 to reproduce the issue.

At this time, you should get in touch with Apple using this link:
Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

You can also schedule yourself a contact using the Contact Apple Support link here:
Apple - Support

Explain what you've tried in this thread and that we've reproduced the issue. They should get you in touch with a Senior Advisor to continue to assist.
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User profile for user: Teddy_B
Teddy_B
User level: Community Specialist

Mar 29, 2017 9:55 AM in response to roele

Thanks for clearing that up for us.

When you rename the device, it may take few moments to change the label in your Bluetooth Preferences.

If it still won't accept renaming, let's try to isolate this issue by creating another user account on your Mac and testing connecting and renaming your Bluetooth device there.

You can use this article to get help with setting up a new user for this testing:
macOS Sierra: Set up users, guests, and groups on your Mac

Let us know if the behavior occurs still after trying these steps.

Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities.
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User profile for user: loretta1982
loretta1982
User level: Level 1
8 points

Aug 26, 2017 4:39 PM in response to roele

😕 😢 IM CONFUSED... HOW DO I RENAME MY BLUETOOTH MOUSE??? 😢 😟

  1. Renaming your Bluetooth mouse is possible.
    • ✅ PLEASE post solution here.
    • ✖ Don't post solution here.
  2. Renaming your Bluetooth mouse is NOT possible.
    • ✅ PLEASE post BUG fix ETA here.
    • ✖ Don't acknowledge this as a BUG & have everyone individually contact Apple support.


i dont have time to contact Apple support "geniuses" (which, btw, is slightly offensive to real geniuses)

because i need to work in order to afford all the Apple cable converters i need

to charge and connect such luxuries as this macbook (that im having this bluetooth mouse renaming issue on)

because otherwise this entire issue becomes irrelevant to me :o)

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User profile for user: raina_b22
raina_b22
User level: Community Specialist

Mar 29, 2017 8:53 AM in response to roele

Hello roele,

It sounds like you're having some trouble customizing the names of your devices in your System Preferences > Bluetooth screen. I'll do my best to assist with that.

When using the System Preferences screen for Bluetooth, I noticed that I was unable to rename certain devices until I had connected them via Bluetooth.
Is the device you're trying to rename currently connected?

Try connecting the device, and attempt to rename while the connection is active and then tell us what happens.

Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities.
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User profile for user: tmlamku
tmlamku
User level: Level 1
4 points

Aug 20, 2017 9:19 AM in response to RChrisley

I had this issue also. I called Apple Support and they were stated this bug has not been fixed. However, I was able to resolve it.


My computer is a 2015 MacBook Pro running 10.12.4. I have both a Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad and Magic Trackpad 2. When both devices were connected via USB, I could not rename the device. However, I found that when the items were disconnected via USB, but connected by Bluetooth, I was able to rename them. I hope this helps!

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User profile for user: gwchang
gwchang
User level: Level 1
4 points

Aug 23, 2017 7:55 PM in response to roele

I had the same problem on my iMac after getting the new keyboard with keypad and the new trackpad. Since I didn't unpair my old devices, it gave me "Keyboard #1" and "Trackpad #1" Like most people here, I tried renaming it through the bluetooth menu, but the names wouldn't change. How I ended up fixing the problem was resetting the Bluetooth Module and Resetting Apple Devices following the instructions here:


OS X’s Hidden Bluetooth Debug Menu: Reset Devices and More – The Mac Observer


After doing that, I had to re-pair my devices (I used screen sharing, but you may need a USB mouse to do so). Once that was done, I was able to get the new names to stick.

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User profile for user: indiekiduk2
indiekiduk2
User level: Level 1
19 points

Sep 23, 2017 7:28 AM in response to roele

Unable to rename Matias Wireless Keyboard (ISO) on macOS 10.12.6. Also am unable to connect to it, after it was connected to another device (it can be paired with 4 devices). It has to be re-paired to the mac every time. It does reconnect fine to iOS 11 devices. On the Mac there is no connect menu item in the BT menu bar item, like there is for Magic Mouse and Air Pods. In Bluetooth prefs right click, although there is a connect item, selecting it has no effect. I was wondering if this inability to connect is related to being unable to rename?

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User profile for user: PCalico
PCalico
User level: Level 1
36 points

Oct 8, 2017 10:50 AM in response to indiekiduk2

This is similar to my issue, in that my BT keyboard can be paired with 5 devices. I thought possibly the naming was done on the first option -- So pairing it with my MacBook Pro as my first device (BT function number 1 of the 5) was easy. Then I tried to rename the keyboard. I've had no luck in much the same ways as previous posters.


I haven't yet added it to a second device hoping to solve this first -- before adding anymore variables.

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Unable to rename bluetooth device

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