2011 MacBook Pros can support Handoff/Continuity

[minicard]

I was able to do this on my mid 2011 Mac mini which does not need the card. It is a little buggy from Mini to iPhone but always works the other way around including Airdrop. I will be installing the BT card on my early 2011 13" MBP tomorrow and hopefully get everything running smoothly.

 

[okayray]

Someone explain this to me...

I have a Macbook Pro 13 mid 2010 and a iPhone 6 and Continuity for answering phone calls on my Macbook Pro doesn't work, and reading the requirement I understand why because of the Bluetooth card and so on... But how does my cousin's Macbook Pro 13 2009 and his iPhone 5s work. We are sitting right next to each using the same wifi and I call his phone and he's able to answer and hear me on his Macbook Pro. When he calls me on my Macbook does nothing only my phone works as it should. On my Mac Mini 2010 if I'm using it and someone call my phone the pop up screen comes up and I can answer the phone call but the person on the other end can't hear my. Anyone know why it would work on a Macbook Pro 2009?

 

[simonsi]

I have a Macbook Pro 13 mid 2010 and a iPhone 6 and Continuity for answering phone calls on my Macbook Pro doesn't work, and reading the requirement I understand why because of the Bluetooth card and so on...

Call handoff doesn't use Bluetooth so something else must be set wrong, try checking that the MBP is signed into FaceTime with both the same email address and phone number of you iPhone settings....

Works fine on my 2011 without the BT card for document handoff.

 

[webcrush]

3rd means of Continuity on a mid-2010 MBP 15"

Although the BLE dongle in my mid-2010 MBP15" was providing me FULL Continuity capability, I just upgraded the BT/WIFI card with the BCM94331PCIEBT4CAX. Only reason was I didn't want to dedicate a USB port full time since we're only given two.

 

[gnipun]

In fact, I logout iCloud on iphone and Mac, and relogin both places. And both side works!

Maybe u can try. I don't think is the tool issue, a lot of ppl has similar issue even they have latest ver hardware

Thank you, I tried it again (twice) and it seems to work fine now!

I think a few of us are having the same issue now? Handoff works from the phone to the pc but not from the pc to the phone. Anyone? Just started used to work fine.

I would recommend logging out of iCloud on both your Mac and iPhone. Doing this twice, fixed the issue for me.

 

[caveman3090]

I was able to do this on my mid 2011 Mac mini which does not need the card. It is a little buggy from Mini to iPhone but always works the other way around including Airdrop. I will be installing the BT card on my early 2011 13" MBP tomorrow and hopefully get everything running smoothly.

can you update me on how things went. i have a late 2011 13" MBP and getting my BT on thursday

 

[minicard]

can you update me on how things went. i have a late 2011 13" MBP and getting my BT on thursday

Everything went well. I am not tech savvy enough to do the BT install so I brought it to a local computer shop. My MBP has had no issues with handoff so far.

 

[caveman3090]

Everything went well. I am not tech savvy enough to do the BT install so I brought it to a local computer shop. My MBP has had no issues with handoff so far.

This you use the CAT to get handoff or was it the manual steps

 

[Ready-for-Apple]

Although the BLE dongle in my mid-2010 MBP15" was providing me FULL Continuity capability, I just upgraded the BT/WIFI card with the BCM94331PCIEBT4CAX. Only reason was I didn't want to dedicate a USB port full time since we're only given two.

And how have you do it working with the dongle?
Everybody says with dongle it doesn't work.

 

[minicard]

This you use the CAT to get handoff or was it the manual steps

CAT method for both my mini and mbp. I find that it works better in my mbp. In my mini which I did not have to replace the BT card it does not handoff from mini to iOS all the time.

 

[sheppy1]

Thinking of upgrading my airport card to be able to use continuity and handoff but wondering if updates to the OS will cause the .kext that you need to edit to revert back to it's original state?

 

[TealShark]

Thinking of upgrading my airport card to be able to use continuity and handoff but wondering if updates to the OS will cause the .kext that you need to edit to revert back to it's original state?

It was hit-or-miss during the pre-release of Yosemite, depending on whether or not the driver file had seen updates or not. But be prepared that you may need to re-do the hack with every update (it's a fairly simple process now).

It's a minor inconvenience, but worth the effort for the features.

 

[sheppy1]

Thanks for the reply! That's all I needed to know happy to carry out the minor hack every time if needed, not like it would be a weekly occurance anyway is it

 

[sheppy1]

Hi,

I'm looking to buy a bluetooth card which has the numbers "607-8962" on the front..the model number is BCM94331PCIEBT4CAX which seems correct but just not sure about those first set of numbers, does this seem correct?

 

[TealShark]

Hi,

I'm looking to buy a bluetooth card which has the numbers "607-8962" on the front..the model number is BCM94331PCIEBT4CAX which seems correct but just not sure about those first set of numbers, does this seem correct?

The "BCM94331PCIEBT4CAX" is the important thing to focus on, in case there are several part numbers that use the same chipset (for instance, mine was 607-8959).

 

[dmsabath]

Bluetooth is not available any more

Greetings.
Made as in instructions but after that no wifi and bluetooth devices.
Installed old kext with Kext Drop. wifi now available but bluetooth is not.
How to fix. Thnx in advance.


MBP 8.3 17'' (late 2011)

 

[sheppy1]

The "BCM94331PCIEBT4CAX" is the important thing to focus on, in case there are several part numbers that use the same chipset (for instance, mine was 607-8959).

Thanks for the help..will get that one bought then

 

[Fr33]

Hello,
I installed my Card its a 607-8962 BCM94331PCIEBT4CAX, but after that the Systemprofiler shows no Bluetooth Device available. Device is a Macbook Pro early 2011.

I try OS X Continuity Activation Tool 1.0.2 but the installation fail with error "NOT OK. No active Bluetooth hardware detected. Aborting."

Have anybody an idea how i can get it work?

 

[rocky29oct]

upgrade steps not working

You have the same Mac id I have, so here is what you have to do, it's a 2 mn job, except for installing the card :

Download and unzip :
https://db.tt/ro0JtHJQ

Delete IO80211Family.kext from /Systeme/Library/Extensions

Reboot, wifi is now dead.

Copy unzipped IO80211Family.kext to /System/Library/Extensions

Terminal this :

sudo nvram boot-args="kext-dev-mode=1"

sudo chown -R root:wheel /System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext

sudo chmod -R 644 /System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext

sudo kextcache -system-prelinked-kernel

sudo kextcache -system-caches

Reboot.

Look for Handoff check box in System Preferences.

Hi,
I have early 2011 13" macbook pro and I downloaded file you mentioned in this forum and followed your steps but my bluetooth is not working and i also do not see any option for handoff in system preference.
Please help.

Thanks.
Rocky

 

[rocky29oct]

Kext file with 0 bytes

You have the same Mac id I have, so here is what you have to do, it's a 2 mn job, except for installing the card :

Download and unzip :
https://db.tt/ro0JtHJQ

Delete IO80211Family.kext from /Systeme/Library/Extensions

Reboot, wifi is now dead.

Copy unzipped IO80211Family.kext to /System/Library/Extensions

Terminal this :

sudo nvram boot-args="kext-dev-mode=1"

sudo chown -R root:wheel /System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext

sudo chmod -R 644 /System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext

sudo kextcache -system-prelinked-kernel

sudo kextcache -system-caches

Reboot.

Look for Handoff check box in System Preferences.

Hi,

I tried your instructions few times with kext file in your link that you provided but after I reboot my laptop after last terminal command, this kext file changes to zero bytes and bluetooth does not work.

Please help...

Thanks.

Rocky

----------

I've been following the posts and tutorials and it's time I take the plunge. Problem is there are lots of methods and I'm lost as to which is the recommended process.

MBP 15" early 2011
- ordered CAX card from ibyqparts on eBay
- saved copy of the IO80211 kext
- used 0x3ED to change first instance of "Mac-" to my board id (Mac-94245A3940C91C80)

Question: do i have to patch the BluetoothFamily kext too like the MBA tutorial recommends?
- I'm planning on installing card and using kext loader to load mod. then reboot and cycle iCloud. Is that right?

This will officially be the first time I mod anything mac related so i'm not afraid to admit I have lots to learn. Any help is GREATLY appreciated so i hopefully don't permanently mess up my laptop's wifi & BT capabilities

Thanks

Hi,


How did you changes mac if using OxEd. I installed this app but when i search text "mac" it highlights some number 60 63 etc.. Can you please help me updating this.

Thanks.
Rocky

 

[rocky29oct]

Good news for 2011 MacBook Air and 2011 Mac mini owners, here's a refreshed tutorial that enables Continuity on those machines as well. No hardware upgrade is required on these Macs. Handoff, Instant Hotspot, and iOS↔OSX Airdrop now fully work. I've tested it with Yosemite GM (14A379a).

Update 23.10.2014: I've released a Continuity Activation Tool. No more painful manual hacking. Link.

Update 20.10.2014: UncleSchnitty has posted a complete, up-to-date guide with a more detailed tutorial and extra troubleshooting steps. Good stuff. I recommend you head over his post instead of mine if you want to give the tutorial a shot. Tip: carefully read the whole thing first, don't rush, and stick *exactly* to what is written.
The tutorial is built on top of previous great tutorials made by forum members mikecwest and Lem3ssie (thanks guys!).
The new steps basically disable a blacklist in the Bluetooth drivers.


TUTORIAL

1. Download and install 0xED in your Applications folder, you can get it from here:
http://www.suavetech.com/0xed/

2. Download and install KextDrop in your Applications folder, you can get it from here:
http://www.cindori.org/software/kextdrop/

3. Open Terminal and type :

sudo nvram boot-args="kext-dev-mode=1"

4. Restart your machine.

5. Open Finder, type CMD+Shift+G and go to /System/Library/Extensions/

6. Copy the files below to your desktop and then delete the originals. Make an extra backup copy of the 2 files in a separate folder just in case.

IO80211Family.kext
IOBluetoothFamily.kext

7. Go to Terminal, and type: (exactly as below)

ioreg -l | grep "board-id" | awk -F\" '{print $4}'

8. Your result should look like : Mac-742912EFDBEE19B3, (yours might be different.). Copy it to your clipboard (Select and CMD+C). Don't close terminal yet.

9. Open Finder and hit CMD+Shift+G, go to ~/Desktop/IO80211Family.kext/Contents/Plugins/AirPortBrcm4360.kext/Contents/MacOS
Note: if you have a different OS language, you might need to replace "Desktop" in the path with your local translation.

10. Right Click on AirPortBrcm4360, and choose OPEN WITH: OTHER: 0XED

11. Press CMD+F, search for "Mac-" (without the quotes). Make sure the search type is Text and not HEX.

12. Look at the first result, for example, it might be Mac-C3EC7CD22292981F

13. Go back to the FIND box, in the FIND field enter that first "Mac-" number that you found.

14. In the REPLACE field, enter the number you got in Terminal, (remember you left it open.)

15. Click REPLACE

16. Repeat steps 11 to 15, but this time for the last "Mac-" result that you can find in the file.

17. Click SAVE (the red circle button)

18. Open Finder and hit CMD+Shift+G to open the "Go to" popup, and go to ~/Desktop/IOBluetoothFamily.kext/Contents/MacOS

19. Right Click on IOBluetoothFamily, and choose OPEN WITH: OTHER: 0XED.

20. Press CMD+F.
In the SEARCH field type:

MacBookAir

Click FIND NEXT.

21. You will find a block of text containing

'MacBookAir4,1''MacBookAir4,2''Macmini5,1''Macmini5,2''Macmini5,3'

Manually replace the numbers with ones only so they all look like:

'MacBookAir1,1''MacBookAir1,1''Macmini1,1''Macmini1,1''Macmini1,1'

Important: Be careful not to add any character while doing the replacement.

22. Click SAVE (the red circle button) and quit 0xED.

23. Open KextDrop, and Drag and drop the IO80211Family.kext that you modified into the window.

24. Click INSTALL.

25. Repeat steps 23 and 24 but for your modified IOBluetoothFamily.kext

26. Go Back to Terminal, and type the following commands. Wait for each one to finish.

sudo kextcache -system-prelinked-kernel

sudo kextcache -system-caches

27. Reboot. Make sure you have an Internet connection for the next steps.

28. Go to > SYSTEM PREFERENCES> GENERAL, at the bottom click ENABLE HANDOFF.

29. Go to > SYSTEM PREFERENCES> ICLOUD, click on SIGN OUT.

30. On your iOS Device, go to SETTINGS> ICLOUD and SIGN OUT.

31. Restart your Mac and iOS device.

32. Go to > SYSTEM PREFERENCES> ICLOUD, and enter your credentials to sign in.

33. On your iOS Device, go to SETTINGS> ICLOUD and SIGN IN.
[url=http://i.imgur.com/zNF1hbr.png]Image[/URL]

Edit: added more manual steps (steps 20 & 21)
Edit 2: clarified step 6 and intro, corrected typos

Hi,
I followed your steps exactly the way you described but my bluetooth is still disabled and ays not available. wifi is working fine. I also do not see handoff option in system preference.

Please help.

Thanks.

Rocky

 

[dokterdok]

Hi,
I followed your steps exactly the way you described but my bluetooth is still disabled and ays not available. wifi is working fine. I also do not see handoff option in system preference.

Please help.

Thanks.

Rocky

Rocky, your Bluetooth kext is likely badly patched, got corrupted, and won't startup. I suggest you restore your original drivers and then use the Continuity Activation Tool, which is safer and faster than tutorials.

 

[rocky29oct]

Rocky, your Bluetooth kext is likely badly patched, got corrupted, and won't startup. I suggest you restore your original drivers and then use the Continuity Activation Tool, which is safer and faster than tutorials.

I ran this continuity activation took but i get a message next to bluetooth "No Active Bluetooth hardware detected. Aborting".

Rocky

 

[dokterdok]

I ran this continuity activation took but i get a message next to bluetooth "No Active Bluetooth hardware detected. Aborting".
Rocky

Ok, if you've just replaced the wireless hardware, first make sure that everything is installed/wired correctly. Follow a well-explained guide to do it (e.g. iFixit).

If you haven't changed your hardware, than do this to restore your original drivers.


Restoring original wireless drivers : tutorial

1. download and install Kext Drop in your applications folder
2. repair permissions with the disk utility
3. open Terminal
4. type diskutil mount "Recovery HD"
5. type hdiutil mount /Volumes/Recovery\ HD/com.apple.recovery.boot/BaseSystem.dmg
6. wait for the window to be displayed and copy IO80211Family.kext and IOBluetoothFamily.kext from /System/Library/Extensions to your desktop.
7. close the recovery image Finder window
8. open Finder and go to /System/Library/Extensions/
9. delete IO80211Family.kext and IOBluetoothFamily.kext
10. open Kext Drop
11. from your desktop, drag and drop IO80211Family.kext into the window, click install. Do the same for IOBluetoothFamily.kext
12. go back to terminal and type sudo kextcache -system-prelinked-kernel
13. type sudo kextcache -system-caches
14. repair permissions with the disk utility
15. reboot
16. activate continuity with latest version of the Continuity Activation Tool

If the steps above seem too technical, you may as well wait for the next version of Continuity Activation Tool which will do that for you. I hope this helps.

 

[rocky29oct]

Ok, if you've just replaced the wireless hardware, first make sure that everything is installed/wired correctly. Follow a well-explained guide to do it (e.g. iFixit).

If you haven't changed your hardware, than do this to restore your original drivers.


Restoring original wireless drivers : tutorial

1. download and install Kext Drop in your applications folder
2. repair permissions with the disk utility
3. open Terminal
4. type diskutil mount "Recovery HD"
5. type hdiutil mount /Volumes/Recovery\ HD/com.apple.recovery.boot/BaseSystem.dmg
6. wait for the window to be displayed and copy IO80211Family.kext and IOBluetoothFamily.kext from /System/Library/Extensions to your desktop.
7. close the recovery image Finder window
8. open Finder and go to /System/Library/Extensions/
9. delete IO80211Family.kext and IOBluetoothFamily.kext
10. open Kext Drop
11. from your desktop, drag and drop IO80211Family.kext into the window, click install. Do the same for IOBluetoothFamily.kext
12. go back to terminal and type sudo kextcache -system-prelinked-kernel
13. type sudo kextcache -system-caches
14. repair permissions with the disk utility
15. reboot
16. activate continuity with latest version of the Continuity Activation Tool

If the steps above seem too technical, you may as well wait for the next version of Continuity Activation Tool which will do that for you. I hope this helps.

Ok. Let me try these steps. I just deleted these kext and installed original one using kext drop. now that I have already installed these kext can I still follow your steps?

Thanks.

Rocky