Enable Continuity on Older Devices using Bluetooth USB Dongles

[angusmcfisher]

Hey guys,

Just to let you know that the Continuity Activation Tool has been updated to allow you to use bluetooth dongles. Check it out.

https://github.com/dokterdok/Continuity-Activation-Tool/#bluetooth-40-usb-dongles

 

[Apple_Robert]

Has anyone on the site been successful with a USB dongle? If so, which brand worked best?

 

[Richdmoore]

I just checked, I have a 21.5" 2011 iMac but it still is not compatible because I use the Athoros wifi. maybe the 27" iMac uses another card.

From the faq:

Atheros Wi-Fi AirPort cards will prevent Continuity from working even when adding a Bluetooth 4.0 dongle. The System Diagnostic feature of CAT tells which Wi-Fi brand is active. There are no workarounds and no patch is expected to change this, an AirPort card upgrade is required.

 

[fstop65]

Has anyone on the site been successful with a USB dongle? If so, which brand worked best?

I am using a Macbook Pro 15" late 2011 running Yosemite. I purchased the IO Gear (GBU521) for 13.50, ran the activation tool, and then signed out of, then back in to my iCloud account on the MBP, and it works great. Good Luck!

 

[Apple_Robert]

I am using a Macbook Pro 15" late 2011 running Yosemite. I purchased the IO Gear (GBU521) for 13.50, ran the activation tool, and then signed out of, then back in to my iCloud account on the MBP, and it works great. Good Luck!

Since I made the post you responded to just now, I purchased said usb adapter. It works well. For some reason, I can't use (consistently) "MacID" app (allows me to log into my MBP, lock screen, wake from lock, auto lock screen when away, (when iPhone is out of range) as well as enter Admin password with Touch ID) while having hand off from iPhone and MBP at the same time. I got both to work at the same time once but, haven't been able to recreate it.

MacID works great when hand off via the dongle isn't in the picture.

For now, I am using Airdrop between my iPhone 6, MBP, and iPad Air. If I need to temporarily use hand off with two of my devices, I can turn hand off on via the settings. I am not using hand off as much as I am MacID at the moment.