2017 27" iMac 5k bluetooth issues

After reading some mention of Android File Transfer which I also use, I opened Activity Monitor and killed the Android File Transfer agent running in the background. I didn't want to totally uninstall it since I use it frequently. Since then I've been able to put my iMac to sleep and wake it up with bluetooth with no connection issues. I also have all of my USB 3 drives connected as well as an audio interface and a Wacom tablet. I'm going on 4 days now and so far so good. Before I would experience the bluetooth issues seconds after I would wake up the iMac from sleep, whether it was sleeping overnight or just for an hour. Fingers crossed. This is the most progress I've had on this issue in months.

As already stated , and I am reiterating, that Android File Transfer is the root cause of the bluetooth problem. I have done some extensive testing and if you remove that little green tin can the problem will be resolved. Make sure you check Activity Monitor and make sure you have killed all instances of Android File Transfer.. Disabling it is enough but I used AppZapper to get rid of it everywhere entirely. And thank you Apple Support for helping resolve this problem...... NOT !!

I'm so glad that I found this thread. I was on the verge of taking my imac in because I couldn't solve what was killing my bluetooth. Once I got rid of android file transfer I haven't had any issues.

After reading your post, I also uninstalled Android file transfer and we haven't had any disconnections yet...I even had usb hard drives connected and disconnected through the thunderbolt 3 port and through dongles and it seems to be fine...so far...will keep testing and report back...well done for getting this far. Its more info than Apple have provided me with...their answer was "time to reinstall user and OS". Hopefully this is the cause and we can find another solution to connect our Android phones...but that's thread for tomorrow...

FrankieC2 are you running the Android File Transfer app as well ? Can you check the Activity app found in the Utilities directory under Applications and ensure it is not running in the background on you Mac. If it definitely is not running then I suspect this is a different bug unique to Filevaulr and should be reported to Apple Support.

Absolutely agree. No Bluetooth issues since removing Android File Transfer!

Do you have the Android File Transfer on your iMac? If so, remove it, this has fixed the problem for a lot of people, me included. Check what is running at startup.

Yes, I have tried this with a Targus 4.0 bluetooth adapter and while the iMac detected the adapter neither the trackpad or keyboard would connect to it. Also if the iMac is restarted it just reverts back to the internal bluetooth.

For the last few days my keyboard and trackpad have stayed connected. I have not let the iMac go to sleep, the display just goes off and my usb 3 cables are a bit further away from the computer and are working fine.

One extra thing that I did was clear out all the temporary and cached files (there were over 2gb of these) using CCleaner (Parallels toolbox can do this too) since doing that bluetooth has stayed connected. Give it a go it could work. May just be a coincidence.

The annoying thing about this issue is its inconsistency.

Though that being said, when I prevented the iMac from going to sleep the bluetooth always stayed connected even after several days. When I put it to sleep and left it either a few hours or overnight, upon waking up the keyboard and trackpad disconnected, I even had to do a restart to get them connected again. My usb 3 cables don't seem to be interfering anymore as I can now confirm that waking from sleep is the main issue.

But again elsewhere (on this forum) someone suggested removing the Android File Transfer app which I did have running (it has a background presence) and this morning after waking from the sleep neither the keyboard or trackpad disconnected. Coincidence? Time will tell.

Had this problem on my old 27" iMac, but it died so I didn't have to solve it. But now it's back on my 2017 5K iMac.

After I first encountered the problem on my 27" iMac (and tried all the usual to fix it) a friend who owns an Apple Repair shop has suggested that it might have something to do with the File Vault and recommended switching it off. Then the GPU burned out, and I couldn't see the result.

I replaced it with a 5K iMac and have been using it ever since without the bluetooth disconnecting. We decided to encrypt all our work so I turned FileVault on and shortly after (day or two) my Bluetooth started acting up, disconnecting randomly or when I plugged in a USB. It has been like this for approx 2 weeks, then I remembered my friends suggestion.

I have now disabled FileVault and the problem hasn't resurfaced since. I will post an update if it returns or hopefully never returns!

It's the Android File Transfer App that's doing it. Disable from startup. Apple wouldn't make a utility for a competing "universe" cause problems with their operating system. Of course they wouldn't.

[UPDATED Monday 1/14/2019]

iMac 27" iMac 5K mid - 2017 Bluetooth and USB Accessories Issues

iMac's I've purchased and returned so far...

1. First purchase: 10/2018
2. Replacement unit: Got a replacement unit which arrived in 11/2018
3. New unit purchased: 3rd iMac purchased on 12/31/2018

Problem Context [1st and 2nd iMacs]:

I bought my iMac in October 2018 and for 2 weeks it worked just fine then I started having bluetooth issues where after the iMac goes to sleep, I cannot use my bluetooth devices (Apple wireless Trackpad and Keyboard) to wake up my device.

Problems:

1. I have to use usb cable to use it.
2. Then the bluetooth icon shows "Bluetooth Not Available"
3. Restarting the iMac helps for 1-2 hours until a long sleep.
4. "USB Accessories Disabled" started happening when I couldn't use my Blue Yeti USB microphone (which I was able to use 2-3 days prior)

Solutions I've Tried (All didn't work)

1. Turning on and off my wireless keyboard and trackpad
2. Resetting SMC
3. Resetting NVRAM
4. Reinstalling macOS Mojave
5. Resetting bluetooth module
6. Installing my computer and all applications from scratch (not from a backup)

APPLE GENIUS [For 2nd Replacement iMac]

1. The genius technician told me he does not know why Bluetooth doesn't work, everything looks fine and the hard drive diagnostics are clean also

--- ----

3rd New iMac Context

1. Reinstalled EVERYTHING from scratch (Stock iMac, Mac Mojave OS)
2. Had the computer for just 1 week
3. Did not shut it down for ~5 days in a row (just put computer to sleep)

PROBLEMS

1. The same "Bluetooth Not Available" error is showing up.
2. Now my bloody webcam doesn't work... wtf

SOLUTIONS

1. Restart iMac when I need to use Bluetooth devices (i.e. bluetooth headphones)
2. Plug proprietary Apple data cable to my Apple Magic Trackpad 2 in order to use it with confidence

Like, *** Apple? What is going on with this iMac bluetooth issue? Your Support Specialists both in corporate and in-store don't have good answers STILL.

Apple is destroying customer trust with crappy user experience with your software and hardware. Apple has wasted consumers precious time and they need to re-compensate for time lost in some way.

Apple, are you going to take responsibility? Or are you going to keep taking money from your customers (for now, you might lose them) by charging stupid prices for your non-innovative, outdated, and NOW, problem-some tech?

I use CCleaner to check what is set to run at Startup and can remove it from there, though I had deleted Android File Transfer (using Parallels Toolbox) the reference to its startup file was still there though there wasn't actually anything to run as it had been removed but good to remove the reference anyway.

So far I have had no issues with the trackpad or keyboard disconnecting at wake from sleep so perhaps this was (is) the reason for the problem. Anyone else?

Just as an aside, I do not use my Magic Mouse 2 (which came with the iMac) as I don't really like the feel of it much. Instead, if I wish to use a mouse (as I find it easier to use when selecting items in editing photos or videos) I have a white HP mouse which (non-bluetooth) has its own adapter and it works perfectly, as well as being $100 cheaper too!

I suggest you take it in for testing/diagnosis.

Based on your post, it is under warranty.

Barry

Do not forget to remover Android File Transfer from login items under Preferences and Users and Groups otherwise the agent kees running is my impressie.