Bluetooth connectivity issues

Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference

Apple cannot fix what is wrong. In all probability you have a cable leaking RF in the 2.4Ghz frequency, which is used by both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. We know this to be true by your own words : when you connect your Apple bluetooth accessories by wire the problem goes away. This necessarily proves the problem is wireless in nature. If the problem is wireless in nature, then something is interfering with the wireless signal. If something is interfering with the wireless signal, the most likely culprit is a faulty cable. To Wit :

If you're using USB 3 devices with your computer, you can limit their potential to interfere with nearby wireless devices:

• Use a high-quality, shielded USB cable with each USB 3 device.
• Move your USB 3 devices—including any USB hubs—farther away from your wireless devices.
• Connect USB 3 devices to the ports farthest from your computer's Wi-Fi antenna. For example, if your computer has ports on the back, prefer the USB ports closest to the middle. If your computer has ports on the side, prefer the USB ports closest to the front.
• Turn off any USB 3 devices that aren't in use.

Apple cannot, does not and will not warrant the fitness of products they do not manufacture. Therefore, it is not logical or reasonable to demand a "fix" from Apple. The "fix" for which you search is unplugging every cable within 30 feet of your Mac, and plugging them in one at a time until you find the faulty cable(s).

Good luck !

Magic Mouse and wireless Apple keyboard are sluggish to connect on restart, and mouse freezes constantly, sometimes completely disconnecting. Both are less than 15" from my 2018 Mac Mini, on same surface. Never had this issue with either my 2013 MBP or my 2015 iMac. Thinking of returning.

I replied down thread that I was having problems with my Trackpad2. Yesterday I began having the same connectivity problem with my Apple Bluetooth Extended Keyboard.

I sent this message to Apple at this URL: https://www.apple.com/feedback/macmini.html

"I am using a Mac Mini 2018 with a Bluetooth Apple Extended keyboard and a Magic Trackpad2. Both of these devices have trouble maintaining Bluetooth connections. The only ways that I can keep them connected to the Mini is to either plug them in via Lightning cables or run the Mini with an ethernet cable and wi-fi turned off. Neither solution is acceptable.

Please reply with either a fix for this issue or how I can get this issue resolved."

Hi, ukwoodgnome !

Given this entire thread is testament to this article :

Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference

I would like to know : why do you believe this is an Apple problem? Given that Apple is aware of the problem to the point of cranking out a help article to deal with problems Apple did not create, why do you believe Apple is being silent?

It has been well documented in this thread alone the vast majority of Mac bluetooth and WiFi issues are being caused by unshielded cables not manufactured by Apple. By your own words, switching out your Mac Mini didn't really improve your situation. Logic dictates if the problem was not in your Mac Mini, it needs be the problem lies in your environment. If the problem lies in your environment, why does Apple have to provide the fix? Why is it so hard to believe the problem is not in your Mac, but in the unshielded cables of your peripherals?

The first step to solving your particular problem would be unplugging every non-power cable from your Mini, then every Mac and adapter within 30 feet of your Mac Mini, then plugging the cables back in, one at a time, until your interference problem re-appears. Until you perform this step, you cannot say one way or another what is causing your particular problem let alone claim it is a design flaw inherent in Mac Minis.

Good luck !

Not only it sometimes disconnect, as soon as I turn it on, music on my airPods start skipping, sometimes as long as 10~20 seconds.

K380 keyboard does not work or loses connection frequently

Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference

I will go out on a limb and guess you have not read either article. After you get done reading them, I would love to hear how establishing an environment with rampant EM interference is Apple's fault.

Good luck !

Hi, tburzio !

Given these forums have - through a lot of effort and testing - proven there are two main causes of the bluetooth/Wi-Fi problem:

1. EM interference
2. Android File transfer app

and given that both are not under the control of Apple, exactly how did you arrive at the unsubstantiated claim this is an Apple internal problem? I ask because for you to have any actual first-hand knowledge would mean you are violating your Apple NDA. That is a bold, foolhardy move to do on Apple forums. It should be child's play for Apple Security to track you down. It also means if you don't have any actual first-hand knowledge then you just posted a made-up lie.

So please - tell us in detail which it is.

I have had these issues too and returned my unit hoping that it was a bad unit and not a bad design. I couldn't get my Beats wireless headphones to stay connected and had the same problems you indicated

I'm having the exact same issues with my 2018 Mac Mini. Firstly, the Bluetooth range is dismal.I can't move my magic trackpad more than 10 inches from the mini or it becomes unusable. Second, Bluetooth audio devices have hella time connecting, and disconnect without fail after 15 seconds or so. My Bose sound link Mini and beats headphones are so frustrating to use with it, I gave up on them. I'm using a wired lan, so WiFi interference isn't the issue. I might actually try a separate Bluetooth USB dongle at this point. I'm not sure if there's any other solution.

I haven't had any issues with my Apple Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad 2 but I haven't been able to connect a Logitech MX Anywhere 2S bluetooth mouse. It shows up in the bluetooth devices list but when I click on "Connect" it keeps going back and forth between "Connecting", "Connected" and "Not Connected" until it finally stops with the Connect button again.

Update: I just plugged in a Broadcom USB Bluetooth dongle, and used the bluetooth explorer app for xtools to force MacOS to use the USB dongle over the internal bluetooth. All issues solved. I can now use my magic trackpad on the other side of the office (if I wanted to) and the Bose speaker connects without hassle now.

I have similar problems with my new 2018 Mac mini.

My old wireless apple mouse and keyboard were working mostly OK with a 2012 iMac. These were essentially unusable due to loosing connection/not being able to connect initially with the new Mac mini.

After resetting the Mac mini's bluetooth module and deleting some bluetooth .plist files as well as resetting the keyboard and mouse to factory settings, the performance was upgraded from unusable to annoying. Connecting now works fine but I still get occasional dropouts from both periferals and poor mouse precision/delays in response.

This problem has been driving me crazy since I picked up my new Mini last month. Mouse and keyboard drop in and out. Sometimes constantly, other times they work fine for hours. Have new batteries etc. I updated from an iMac 27" and I'm using all the same peripherals. Took several minutes to type this message with keyboard disconnecting and connecting while I tried to type. Who has time for this?? So disappointed with this new Mini. Please help.

I have experienced similar issues, specifically with my Magic mouse 2 becoming unresponsive & occasionally losing connection. In addition it is failing more frequently to unlock with my 3rd gen AppleWatch saying the signal is too week despite it being 2 feet away from the Mac Mini.

Anyone got this problem resolved? Hope more of you can call Apple for help, which I did, but the problem persists. In this way, they will be aware of this issue and a solution may come soon. If this is a software issue, an OS update will be issued; if hardwares, there may be a recall of some kind. I thought of sending mine in for repair but since this problem is so wide spread, sending it in too early may not be useful before they have a firm solution. Keep calling people!

I just got off the phone with Apple Support and the rep told me that they are aware of this issue and to expect a fix for it in the next macOS release. I am currently running 10.14.2

One interesting note: I was also told that this bluetooth issue does not occur when the wifi is turned off. Is everyone else who is seeing this issue, also using the wifi connection?

Since I am currently using wifi to connect to the internet, I plan to run a hardwired ethernet cable to my mini as a work-around. Keeping my fingers crossed that it is not a waste of time.