2018 Mac Mini bluetooth and Wi-Fi interference

This week moved from late 2012 Mac Mini to a new 2018 Mac Mini. Same physical location, network, Apple bluetooth keyboard, Apple bluetooth mouse between the old and new Macs. In short, bluetooth connections to keyboard and mouse drop constantly when using wifi on new Mac (and after a few minutes Wi-Fi connection stops working completely). When connected via ethernet everything works fine. Hardware or software defect bug? Mojave 10.14.1.


Thank you!

Mac mini (2018), macOS Mojave (10.14.1), null

Posted on Nov 11, 2018 9:29 AM

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Posted on Apr 10, 2019 6:01 PM

Like you, upgraded from 2012 to 2018. A little sad and excited. Though six year, my 2012 (quad core) never missed a beat and everything - just worked.


Unfortunately, Wifi & Bluetooth dropouts on my 2018 model have been nothing but trouble. That is, until I changed my modem Wifi setting to 5ghz.


Since then, no drop outs. Older usb cables work and problem solved. If it wasn't for the forum, I would have taken it back. Struggled through for almost two months.


Still glad I upgraded, however, find myself thinking of the previous trouble free experience....

77 replies

Apr 14, 2019 5:33 AM in response to pierrefromportland

I have found certain USB 3 devices and hubs interfere badly with the Magic Mouse and occasionally the KB (causing lost connections).

I bought a new mini last week and I thought I had a hardware problem, Magic Mouse was almost impossible to use.

Then I read up on how USB 3 can sometimes seriously interfere with bluetooth.

BTW, I am using the far left USB A socket on the mini. As yet no TB/USB 3 devices.

I started unplugging USB 3 devices, nothing attached, mouse behaves normal!

First off my TM drive is USB 3, connected direct to mini, it interferes with mouse, it runs off the USB A socket on mini.

Belkin USB 3 hub, this interferes with or without devices attached. It runs off the same USB A socket.

Then I tried my super el cheapo, Chinese knockoff USB 3 hub, using the USB A socket.......ZERO interference, even with the TM drive and other drives attached.

Quite a bizarre outcome. The Belkin cable looks much beefier than the cheapo hub cable. I have read that cables need to be high grade and well shielded.

So what gives? I'd like to get the Caldigit TS3, but wary of spending a lot of $$ on something that might interfere.

Anyone has a mini and the Calgit?

Clearly this is not especially an Apple hardware issue.

Hoping this has helped others.


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2018 Mac Mini bluetooth and Wi-Fi interference

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