Level 1

21 points

Bluetooth connectivity issues

Anyone else have bluetooth issues with their 2018 Mac mini? Particularly with audio devices.

Whenever I connect with AirPods or a bluetooth speaker, the sound cuts in and out. Also when I connect, the output doesn't automatically switch to the bluetooth device and when I try to manually connect it only works 50 percent of the time. I usually have to remove the bluetooth device and re-sync.

I've waited so long for a Mac mini update and the fact that this new one doesn't work properly is killing me. I'm thinking of just returning it if this bluetooth issue doesn't resolve itself.

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

Posted on Nov 20, 2018 7:33 PM

Top-ranking reply

Ed_Hawco

Level 1

13 points

Posted on Dec 30, 2018 2:54 PM

I had Bluetooth issues with my new MacMini 2018 from the beginning. The new KB was mostly OK (occasional disconnect, but rarely) and the new Magic Trackpad 2 was mostly OK (occasional disconnect; more frequent than the KB, but not by much). However, my older Magic Mouse was unusable. It was constantly disconnecting and reconnecting, and was really jittery when it was connected. It was worse when an external drive (USB-3) was hooked up and in operation.

I tried all the usual things - securing the batteries, deleting the mouse preferences, etc. Some of those things would work for a few minutes but then the problem would come back. Finally I started thinking about my WiFi router. It's a pretty old Airport Extreme, single band, on 2.4GHz. I've been wanting to upgrade it anyway, so I got a new (non-Apple) dual band router and hooked it up.

End of Bluetooth problems. As long as I'm signed in to the 5GHz network, all devices work flawlessly. If I switch to the new router's 2.4 GHz band, it works OK for a while but soon starts to degrade again.

This is not intuitive. What does the Wifi band have to do with Bluetooth devices? Well, it's above my pay grade, but I do know that USB-3 works on 2.4 GHz, so somehow the Wifi using that band messes up some BT connections. Regardless of why, this solution worked for me. AFAIK most routers are dual band these days so you probably don't even need to buy a new one. Just make sure you have a network on 5GHz and use that.

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145 replies

Apr 15, 2019 10:51 AM in response to tburzio

I kind of verified my suspicions: haven't had any issues with wifi off for 4 days. Turned it back on and hours later the problems started with Magic Trackpad disconnecting, then the mouse. Turned wifi off again and stable since.

Could this really be interference? I'll try and turn off 2.4GHz wifi next and only keep 5GHz on.

Apr 15, 2019 12:09 PM in response to tburzio

Oh, that's an interesting observation. Maybe it was coincidence with the wifi after all. Because my connection started to drop when using Windows in a VM and running some heavy tasks there. I also noticed the fans going up and the the BT connections started to die. Then I turned off wifi but I was also done with the high CPU load operation.

Now that I think about it: the last time it happened, it was a similar situation with OBS running. Again I remember the fans revving up and then boom, there goes the keyboard.

If this is really the case, an external BT module plugged into a USB hub with external power supply should stop this from happening, right?

yucelh

Level 1

8 points

Apr 18, 2019 4:46 AM in response to flavrocha

@flavorcha,

no, not that I know. Last advice I got from Apple was to wait for a software update. How a software update will solve a very highly likely a hardware issue is a mystery though. If this issue is bothering you, I highly recommend you just return it while they still accept (2weeks.) After that, they will never accept it. Apple advisers will keep on giving advice, try this and that. Later they will ask you to take a log and send for which they will spend a week to analyze. Soon you will find your two week window is gone.

It is sad to see how they treat their most loyal customers so badly.

May 1, 2019 4:27 PM in response to coxnvox

I spent 3 days trying every method known until I turned off 2.4ghz signal on my router which I believe is the same frequency as BT. So far so good. If your router supports 5g just kick off that. Worth a try.

Ed_Hawco

Level 1

13 points

May 1, 2019 6:41 PM in response to Rich Carlson

You don't have to shut down your 2.4 GHz network. Most routers now let you run both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks simultaneously. The 2.4 only seems to interfere when that's the network the Mac is connected to.

That's what I did; set up a router running both 2.4 and 5 GHz networks. I connect my Mac Mini to the 5GHz; no more problems. I can still connect other devices to the 2.4 network.

May 1, 2019 6:59 PM in response to jrmrt3

I worked out this situation about 5 months ago and have never had issues since.

It is crazy to think that there is no solution from Apple regarding this, especially since their Apple Watch uses the 2.4ghz only yet You can only have your Mac and watch work properly if you have a router capable of both bands - well this has been my experience- happy WiFi playing

Bobbypoz

Level 1

37 points

Nov 30, 2018 4:39 PM in response to TomGB

Pretty much the same for me. I get no mouse after a shut down and sometimes the poor precision/delays with mouse. Hope Apple fixes this soon.

fxd2018

Level 1

4 points

Dec 10, 2018 2:32 PM in response to Bobbypoz

Mee too same problem bluetooth and even usb wireless dongle interferences, various lag on the system

Feb 2, 2019 11:22 AM in response to jrmrt3

Everything was fine until the latest update was installed. 10.14.2 (18C54)

This is not a USB port power issue. It's a software issue and needs to be addressed by Apple immediately.

Apr 1, 2019 3:28 PM in response to jrmrt3

Same with my Bluetooth Apple mouse and keyboard

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Bluetooth connectivity issues