Bluetooth connectivity issues

My router has both the 2.4 & 5 Ghz bands. The 5 works no better than the 2.4. I only have powered hubs. The only ways the keyboard and the trackpad work reliably are either connected through a hub via a Lightning cable to the Mini without Bluetooth, or turning off wi-fi which allows me to use them as Bluetooth devices.

I had the same problem with my 2018 mini even with new magic keyboard 2 and trackpad 2. I asked Rene Ritchie about it a “Bluetooth Mini gate”on twitter and he replied “nothing whitespread”. I returned my mini and got a MacBook Pro and with MBP I have had 0 problems.

Its frustrating trying to find a solution for a great computer like the mini and I think apple it’s not going to do anything about it; just maybe a miraculous software update.

Note: I scape the mini Bluetooth issue for a probable stage lighting on the MBP. What’s wrong with apple?

Hi, BeekeeperDan !

The link was intended to enlighten those who wanted to know a) why the newest crop of Apple products has this problem but older ones do not, and b) to show that Apple has to live up to governmental regulations that can, and do, shift with regularity. It was not intended to provide a solution, but rather to point out how we got here and why Apple can't "just fix it".

The primary tenet - at least as I understand it - for getting a consumer device 'approved' by the FCC is the device must accept interference, and cannot cause interference. The rules as to what is, and is not, interference change over time, as well as how the device handles that interference. In my mind, that Apple has done as well as it has among these shifting rules is a minor engineering miracle, especially in light of Apple's traditional engineering culture of 'follow the standards'.

I hope this clears things up.

I have the same issue. AirPods frequently drop connection, MagicMouse2 slows down, does not move smoothly. I reported this to apple support in the first week of purchase (Nov, 2018.) Many phone calls, discussions later, it is now the month 4 of purchase. In the meantime, I had it repaired, nothing has improved. Apple replaced the logic board (they say they could not reproduce the problem, but as a possible solution replaced the logic board.) I can't believe this explanation.

I Tried lots of different configurations, from no wireless, wired connections (except bluetooth) to re-installing. Nothing works. Apple support people always point out the interference as the problem. My iPhone, MacBook Air, iMac all in the same location, never had a similar issue.

Now as there is no solution, I asked apple to refund. Apple says it is company policy not to refund unless it is in the first two weeks of purchase. Is this my problem? I contacted Apple in the second day of purchase. Why not give me this option then?

I can't believe Apple trying to get away with this. You are an unsatisfied customer, they can not solve your problem and they can not give refund you either, which means you are stuck with the product that does not satisfy you.

Neither did I expect from Apple. My house is full of Apple stuff, but I never felt so bad about Apple's treatment before.

If you have any doubts with the performance of your device, please don't miss the two week window they (may) agree to refund. After that you are all alone to deal with the troubles and frustrations.

I already gave up trying to use the logicool K380 bluetooth keyboard. 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. Listening to music or listening to anything for that matter, with airPods on a brand new Mac mini can drive you crazy. I can take occasional disconnection of the bluetooth mouse or trackpad, but it is stupid to pay so much and not be able to enjoy two apple hardware devices connected.

By the way, none of this happen on iMac, MacBook Air, iPhone... at the same spot, similar circumstances.

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 !

I appreciate being reminded of FCC rules, but none of the 4 different Apple support advisers mentioned once about that. And I don't think these rules change now and then. If Apple changed something, they should let their customers know.

For those who keep on telling me to try this and that here is the list of things that I tried (may help fellow frustratees):

1. Called Apple support second day of my purchase, they told me to re-install MacOS, I reluctantly did so knowing that the MacOS was already brand new and this wouldn't help --> It didnt

2. Tried everything from no possible interference around (no wifi, no bluetooth device except the airPods, no USB, not even the monitor but a remote connection via lan) -->no improvement

3. Sent Mac mini to Apple for repair => logic board replaced

4. Just as it arrived, without installing anything, with completely wiped out HD and re-installed MacOs, just as in 2. with no I/O connected, I tried to listen to something on airPods --> In horror, after all this efforts there was no improvement. The sound would still randomly skip. Yes I checked again with my MacBook Air in the same spot, right on the same desk, side by side with MacMini. It was flawless.

Sorry, if I knew that I would have to 'debug' Mac mini hardware for four months after I purchase, I would really think twice. Maybe this is not the product I want. But Apple insists it is what I want. They won't refund. So I would like to do a favor to fellow Mac fans to let them know what could happen.

A powered hub works, kinda, at least for lighter tasks. Unfortunately, the power to heat the CPU (aka work) far outweighs the power savings from the hub. I leave a mouse connected to the CPU at all times, just so I can continue to work. I’ve found that, after the Bluetooth goes wonky the only way to fix it is a full reboot.

I do, however, think the power problem was ALWAYS there but software handled it better. The latest OS upgrade did something to the Bluetooth module that allows it to disconnect during a brownout. I think it’s related to the new gaming efforts, trying to increase response time.

To end my case, Apple confirmed that my issue was due to poor shielding of the UBS3 device in question.

As just said above, this is as much an issue with third party manufacturers who make USB devices/cables without proper shielding.

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.

My Mac Mini has problems with a non-Apple Bluetooth mouse after I play a video with VLC. I leave a wired mouse connected so I can restart the Bluetooth . Ethernet, WiFi repeater bridge.

My older-gen Mini hated non-Bluetooth mice, using the alternate radio frequency dongle. It also hated when the USB connected Blu-ray drive was open (radio interference?).

Yes, I've been experiencing frequent random disconnects from all my BT devices (Apple mouse and keyboard, Bose Soundlink phones). I thought it might be the Bose headphones which have been problematic on other computers, but it does this with just the mouse and keyboard. Mouse and keyboard reconnect usually within seconds, but often the mouse slows down and everything locks up for about a minute. I haven't been able to see anything suspicious in Activity Monitor. I've had my new Mini for 2 weeks, and hoping an update with cure this.

Like other users, I am having the exact same problems with the MacBook Pro 15" 2018 as well. There's several threads on the issue. It's absolutely nauseating having to have disconnects sometimes several times a minute, sometimes 'only' several times an hour. Both V1 magic mouse and keyboard have been working, and still do work, perfectly on my MacBook Pro 2013 and on other computers. It's the 2018 generation that Apple seems to have used some flawed bluetooth module in I assume.

Buster, all my cables ARE Apple cables! These are the very same cables I use on my MBP with absolutely no issues. Apple confirmed my first Mac Mini 2018 was faulty. Your assumptions are incorrect. However, I have found a way to minimise the loss of keyboard and mouse connection and that was to change the router channel from 8 to 1. Today I ony lost connection to my keyboard once, and that was just for a few seconds. Let's be frank here, there is a problem and inteference from non-Apple cables is bullsh*t - the bluetooth and wifi modules inside the mac mini should be able to cope with this. It's all utterly rediculous, even my nasty PC can run run the same hard drives I connect to my mac and connect flawlessly to my bluetooth keyboard and mouse without any issues at all.