Bluetooth: Not Available on El Capitan 10.11.6

Over the last year I've had my bluetooth module act very oddly. For most of this time it has just read "Bluetooth: Not Available". I'm not sure when it started, since I didn't have much use for it but I always kept an eye on it since it would be useful if I had it.


Well this last month it just started randomly working. I was able to debug external bluetooth modules using LightBlue with no issues, life was good. Well I had a different issue where I could not get my external hard drive to connect through a powered USB 3.0 HUB. To fix that I reset the NVRAM and on bootup it fixed my external drive problems! But to the unfortunate demise of the bluetooth module... it has gone back to the "Bluetooth: Not Available" error.


So it went from me thinking that my module was broken to it seemingly working and something else going on. I have tried the following steps to fix it:


  • Reset the SMC
  • Reset the NVRAM (again, thankfully my external drive still works)
  • Sleeping the Mac and waking it back up
  • Restarting the Mac
  • Shutting down the Mac and turning it back on


None of those above steps worked. I can't find any information on this issue outside of resetting the SMC or NVRAM. Is there anyone out there that has studied this issue and have a way of fixing it without me having to just get the module replaced (which I am not convinced will actually work, since the module appears to function).

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Mar 5, 2018 12:31 PM

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Mar 5, 2018 12:45 PM in response to VanTechniek

You should try each, one at a time, then test to see if the problem is fixed before going on to the next.


Be sure to backup your files before proceeding if possible.


  1. Start the computer in Safe Mode. Test if BT is now working. If so, then restart normally and test. This is slower than a standard startup.
  2. Repair the disk by booting from the Recovery HD. Immediately after the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Utility Menu appears. Choose Disk Utility and click on the Continue button. Select the indented (usually, Macintosh HD) volume entry from the side list. Click on the First Aid button in the toolbar. Wait for the Done button to appear. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu. Restart the computer from the Apple Menu.
  3. Create a New User Account Open Users & Groups preferences. Click on the lock icon and enter your Admin password when prompted. On the left under Current User click on the Add [+] button under Login Options. Setup a new Admin user account. Upon completion log out of your current account then log into the new account. If your problems cease, then consider switching to the new account and transferring your files to it - Transferring files from one User Account to another.
  4. Download and install the OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 Combo Update or 10.12.6 Combo Update or Download macOS High Sierra 10.13.3 Combo Update as needed.
  5. Reinstall OS X by booting from the Recovery HD using the Command and R keys. When the Utility Menu appears select Reinstall OS X then click on the Continue button.
  6. Erase and Install OS X Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Apple logo appears. When the Utility Menu appears:
  1. Select Disk Utility from the Utility Menu and click on Continue button.
  2. When Disk Utility loads select the drive (out-dented entry) from the Device list.
  3. Click on the Erase icon in Disk Utility's toolbar. A panel will drop down.
  4. Set the Format type to APFS (for SSDs only) or Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
  5. Click on the Apply button, then wait for the Done button to activate and click on it.
  6. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
  7. Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Continue button.

If the above fails then make an appointment at the Apple Genius Bar for service. If you need to find an Apple Store - Find a Store - Apple.

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Bluetooth: Not Available on El Capitan 10.11.6

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