Bluetooth won't turn on for Mac

Question

Level 1

62 points

Bluetooth won't turn on for Mac

I'm not sure, but this may be an issue since the last system update. My bluetooth on my Mac Mini isn't accessible. I can't turn it on to airdrop photos from my iPhone to my computer. When I mouse over the bluetooth icon in the menu bar, I get a "bluetooth not available" message. When I go to System Preferences>Network>Bluetooth, the button "turn bluetooth on" is grayed out and will not respond to a cursor click. See screen shot:

I would appreciate any help you can offer with this since my photo stream also doesn't seem to be working so I can't share photos from my iPhone with my computer unless I email them.

Thanks

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Apr 20, 2017 4:54 PM

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Answer 1

brenden dv

Community Specialist

Apr 21, 2017 3:23 PM in response to SilverdaleJB

Hello SilverdaleJB,

Thanks for that info and choosing the Apple Support Communities. If I understand correctly, you are unable to turn on Bluetooth on your Mac. You can figure out if unexpected behavior is related to a user file or setting by trying to reproduce the issue from another user account. This process includes creating a new user account, logging in to it, and testing for the issue.

How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac

If you're still having this issue, try running the built in Apple Hardware Test or Apple Diagnostics, depending on what year your Mac is from:

How to use Apple Hardware Test on your Mac
How to use Apple Diagnostics on your Mac

Cheers!

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Answer 2

SilverdaleJB Author

Level 1

62 points

Apr 22, 2017 8:47 PM in response to brenden dv

This solved my question, but only insofar as that restarting my computer turned on the bluetooth again. I have no idea why it decided it was "unavailable," not able to be either turned on or off, while I was using the computer before.

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Answer 3

raina_b22

Community Specialist

Apr 23, 2017 7:53 AM in response to SilverdaleJB

Thanks for replying, SilverdaleJB, and that additional info, it really helps! If this issue happens again, feel free to reply to this thread and we will be happy to help you further. Have a great day and thanks for using the Apple Support Communities!

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Answer 4

SilverdaleJB Author

Level 1

62 points

Apr 24, 2017 11:27 PM in response to raina_b22

I think this may be connected to the original issue .... now my DVD reader attached by USB to my computer is not working ... not reading a disc I inserted. The mac is not recognizing that there's any content in the reader. I know this is no longer a Bluetooth issue, but this is the first time I've tried to read a DVD since the Bluetooth issue arose.

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