Hi guys. I found the solution. I had the same problem on Catalina OS. All you have to do is reset SMC and PRAM. Then you will be able to do whatever you want with all your bluetooth devices.
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Can somebody tell me why I can't rename my Mouse and Keyboard on my iMac?
- Thread starter flodschi22
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On 10.15.4, Reset SMC and NVRAM/PRAM, name on Apple Mouse changes but is not retained after closing Sys Prefs and coming back. Magic Mouse 1 name change is permanent. (Also tried Debug mode on Bluetooth [Hold Shift+Option when clicking on Bluetooth icon in Menu] and that did not work in making the name change permanent.)
It would seem that I will need High Sierra to rename older Mouse and Trackpad as that is the last OS that I recall the name changed remained permanent for the older Apple Bluetooth devices.
It would seem that I will need High Sierra to rename older Mouse and Trackpad as that is the last OS that I recall the name changed remained permanent for the older Apple Bluetooth devices.
100% correct. I had the same problem. Bug is not fixed in 10.15.4, but I used an older Mac and was able to rename my bluetooth devices and then when reconnecting them to my Catalina machine, the new names are being used. Thank you.
Same here. Connected the Magic Mouse and keyboard to my 2011 MBP running High Sierra and was able to rename and have the new names stick when reconnecting to my MBP 2019 running Catalina 10.15.4.
No sorry the problem is still present!
SOLUTION OFFERED
Hi, I am not sure if anyone still needs this but this is the process I followed on my MacBook Pro running Catalina 10.15.4
1) Delete / Remove Mouse from Mac
2) Switch off Bluetooth on Mac
3) Switch off Mouse and Reset (Hold down click and power one. I did it until the Green Light blinked twice ie two complete sets).
4) Switch mouse off again
5) Turn on Bluetooth on Mac
6) Turn on Mouse
7) Pair Mouse
8) Rename Mouse as per Preferences -> Bluetooth etc
9) While Bluetooth Preferences is open, Switch off Mouse and the Switch on Bluetooth.
Let me know if it works for you. emailwhileaway@gmail.com
[automerge]1590408487[/automerge]
SOLUTION OFFERED
Hi, I am not sure if anyone still needs this but this is the process I followed on my MacBook Pro running Catalina 10.15.4
1) Delete / Remove Mouse from Mac
2) Switch off Bluetooth on Mac
3) Switch off Mouse and Reset (Hold down click and power one. I did it until the Green Light blinked twice ie two complete sets).
4) Switch mouse off again
5) Turn on Bluetooth on Mac
6) Turn on Mouse
7) Pair Mouse
8) Rename Mouse as per Preferences -> Bluetooth etc
9) While Bluetooth Preferences is open, Switch off Mouse and the Switch on Bluetooth.
Let me know if it works for you. emailwhileaway@gmail.com
Thanks for your help but I sold my iMac and bought a Macbook Pro so it isn't present anymore but thanks for your help!
A certain richardlennoxyz on the Apple Support Communities has this solution:
1 Connect Device
2 Go to settings, right click on device, dont click the menu, leave it open
3 Turn off device
4 Select "rename" in the still open right click menue
5 rename the device and close the pop up
6 Turn device back on and connect
Settings refers to the Bluetooth preference pane for clarity.
This was awesome, I'd nearly pulled out my remaining hair before finally tracking down this ASC forum post.
1 Connect Device
2 Go to settings, right click on device, dont click the menu, leave it open
3 Turn off device
4 Select "rename" in the still open right click menue
5 rename the device and close the pop up
6 Turn device back on and connect
Settings refers to the Bluetooth preference pane for clarity.
This was awesome, I'd nearly pulled out my remaining hair before finally tracking down this ASC forum post.
Although temporarily working on the device on which the procedures were followed, none of the solutions involving Catalina worked for me for good.
The only way I was able to rename my device (Apple Keyboard A1314) and see the name stick even when connecting to other BT devices was using an older version of Mac OS.
The fact that I could not rename a BT device through Catalina and other PCs/Smartphones was driving me crazy. Then I installed El Capitan on a SD card that was lying around and was able to rename it through the conventional method.
AFAIK, all other methods work temporarily or just on one device.
Here are some helpful links to guide through installing older versions of Mac:
macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac-software/download-old-os-x-3629363/
macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac-software/bootable-mac-installer-3575875/
Did not work for me either. Connecting to a different device immediately reverts it back to the old name. I don't have an older Mac that supports El Capitan so I'm outta luck?
Go to blue tooth settings, right click on the item you want to rename and select the "rename" option. Easy peasy.
Thinking that you've posted this without reading the thread.
If you did you'd see that the issue was that the name wasn't sticking afterwards.
Renamed with Catalina, my Magic Mouse 1 never remembers his new name (even with above advices).
So I installed the free evaluation version of VMWare Fusion, and I created a virtual machine with OSX 10.10 Yosemite. I tried to rename the Magic Mouse from OSX 10.10 in the virtual machine, but as the bluetooth (controler and driver) is shared with Catalina, that doesn't work. So I plugged a USB bluetooth key and dedicated it only with the virtual machine (and also disable the option sharing of Bluetooth and USB). Remove the association of Magic Mouse with Catalina. Associate the Magic Mouse under OSX 10.10 and rename it. That's the only way for my Magic Mouse 1 to be renamed, and now under Catalina the mouse has the new name.
So I installed the free evaluation version of VMWare Fusion, and I created a virtual machine with OSX 10.10 Yosemite. I tried to rename the Magic Mouse from OSX 10.10 in the virtual machine, but as the bluetooth (controler and driver) is shared with Catalina, that doesn't work. So I plugged a USB bluetooth key and dedicated it only with the virtual machine (and also disable the option sharing of Bluetooth and USB). Remove the association of Magic Mouse with Catalina. Associate the Magic Mouse under OSX 10.10 and rename it. That's the only way for my Magic Mouse 1 to be renamed, and now under Catalina the mouse has the new name.
Yes you can.
On my MacBook Pro mid 2015 (originally delivered with OSX 10.10.3, and now running Catalina) I installed a 10.9 Maverick in a virtual machine that works well.
Here is the compatibility matrix for VMWare Fusion : Supported host operating systems for VMware Fusion and VMware Fusion Pro (2088571)
Wait, how am I just learning you can rename your devices, maybe I know but don't change them much. Not sure if the issue was resolved but he said he got it from his ex wife? Maybe she got something done to wear you can't change the name just do you remember her ? You should of sold them and bought new one with that money.
Don't know if I'm too late with this reply, but in case you haven't solved it, or if there's somebody else with this problem. I puzzled over this for ages, till I found a post somewhere else (I can't find it now). The information I found, worked for me. It seems that you can only do a permanent name change on a device that has 32 bit, not 64 bit processor. You CAN rename your mouse under the 64 bit, but it seems to be only temporary. If you switch computer, the mouse reverts to its old name again.
To permanently rename your mouse, connect it to a 32 bit Mac, go to system prefs / Bluetooth. When you select bluetooth you will see a list of devices (in this case your mouse), select the device you want to rename (it must be connected in order to change the name). Go to the bottom of the panel, where you see a + and - button. Next to this, there's a cog wheel, with a downward arrow. Select this and you will see a dropdown box with an option to rename. On a 64 bit machine, the cog is not there. Instead you select the device and right click on it and you will see the same menu (again, mouse has to be connected or the menu will not appear).
Hope this helps somebody, as it helped me.
To permanently rename your mouse, connect it to a 32 bit Mac, go to system prefs / Bluetooth. When you select bluetooth you will see a list of devices (in this case your mouse), select the device you want to rename (it must be connected in order to change the name). Go to the bottom of the panel, where you see a + and - button. Next to this, there's a cog wheel, with a downward arrow. Select this and you will see a dropdown box with an option to rename. On a 64 bit machine, the cog is not there. Instead you select the device and right click on it and you will see the same menu (again, mouse has to be connected or the menu will not appear).
Hope this helps somebody, as it helped me.
Apple hasn't sold a Mac with a 32-bit processor since 2007. The bug just seems to be in Catalina; any operating system earlier than that will work around the problem, and the problem doesn't seem to be universal on all computers using Catalina now.
SOLUTION (which I just did today): Create an external HD that goes back to Mavericks or later and change the name of the mouse under the old OS, which will then port-forward to Mojave or Catalina.
FWIW: Apple in their own wisdom, eliminated the ability to rename bluetooth devices in more current versions of the OS. Go figure!!!!
FWIW: Apple in their own wisdom, eliminated the ability to rename bluetooth devices in more current versions of the OS. Go figure!!!!
This worked for me too, hold after restart/shutdown. I has to use a 2nd mouse to click on the rename button but it did work. I've been trying to get this to work for years!
This seems to have worked for me, thanks!
Although you need to be sure to have a wired mouse hand to complete the process.