Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
MBP keeps connecting to mysterious, nameless, not-paired Bluetooth device?
- Thread starter Makosuke
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Another interesting development. While I was logged in as the admin test user (not my own admin account), a mysterious BT device appeared, the kind that usually caused the mouse disconnect. However, this time there was no mouse disconnect! 
I am now in the process of setting up this test account as my real account, and see when it starts behaving similarly, namely BT mouse disconnecting. I hope to find the silver bullet.
I am now in the process of setting up this test account as my real account, and see when it starts behaving similarly, namely BT mouse disconnecting. I hope to find the silver bullet.Hi,
It’s really good to hear how are you are troubleshooting this issue.
Tell me, are you still wearing your Garman watch while doing all of this? Or is it removed and the other side of the house now?
Also the admin account, is that the original account that you set up with the MacBook? Can it be something to do with the Apple Watch unlock thing going on with MacBooks. I understand that there was a real issue with the new M1 MacBooks when they came out. Okay, you don’t have an Apple Watch, but I’m just wondering if the tech recognises it as a watch, is in the right facility, but is not an Apple Watch, and that’s why there is a glitch?
Hope you get it sorted, and as I say, great to hear how are you going about it
Best wishes
Martin
It’s really good to hear how are you are troubleshooting this issue.
Tell me, are you still wearing your Garman watch while doing all of this? Or is it removed and the other side of the house now?
Also the admin account, is that the original account that you set up with the MacBook? Can it be something to do with the Apple Watch unlock thing going on with MacBooks. I understand that there was a real issue with the new M1 MacBooks when they came out. Okay, you don’t have an Apple Watch, but I’m just wondering if the tech recognises it as a watch, is in the right facility, but is not an Apple Watch, and that’s why there is a glitch?
Hope you get it sorted, and as I say, great to hear how are you going about it
Best wishes
Martin
My Garmin fenix 5 smartwatch is always on my wrist, I didn't take it off, in order to try to keep the number of variables low, possibly one at a time.
My admin account is the one I set up the MacBook with, and the BT mouse keeps disconnecting with that account.
The other admin account I created later, and so far the BT mouse never disconnected with it.
What you are describing with the Apple watch, and the initial setup of the MacBook possibly explains one thing I was puzzled with. At one point, I re-installed a fresh Big Sur 11.2.1 on a separate volume, and the BT mouse was disconnecting with that. So it seems it matters if it's the first admin account, that the MacBook was set up with, or subsequent ones? Weird.
I am now re-installing a fresh Big Sur 11.2.1 again, let's see.
My admin account is the one I set up the MacBook with, and the BT mouse keeps disconnecting with that account.
The other admin account I created later, and so far the BT mouse never disconnected with it.
What you are describing with the Apple watch, and the initial setup of the MacBook possibly explains one thing I was puzzled with. At one point, I re-installed a fresh Big Sur 11.2.1 on a separate volume, and the BT mouse was disconnecting with that. So it seems it matters if it's the first admin account, that the MacBook was set up with, or subsequent ones? Weird.
I am now re-installing a fresh Big Sur 11.2.1 again, let's see.
I'm lost. I have a fresh Big Sur now installed on a separate volume, but it does not show any signs of the problem with BT. It has been up for about 5 hours, and never had a single BT disconnect incident. Neither with the original admin account, not a second one I created. But it was mostly the first admin account I was monitoring. The one we expected to fail. But it didn't.
I can still boot up the original MacOS installation, and try to find the silver bullet, that makes the BT mouse disconnecting when logged in with my own admin account.
Actually, there is one difference I can think of between the two "first admin accounts". My own admin account, that I had the original MacOS set up with, was created with an earlier MacOS version, and then I upgraded to Big Sur 11.2.1. Which could be different from an admin account created in Big Sur 11.2.1.
I can still boot up the original MacOS installation, and try to find the silver bullet, that makes the BT mouse disconnecting when logged in with my own admin account.
Actually, there is one difference I can think of between the two "first admin accounts". My own admin account, that I had the original MacOS set up with, was created with an earlier MacOS version, and then I upgraded to Big Sur 11.2.1. Which could be different from an admin account created in Big Sur 11.2.1.
Hi G,
Looks like you got a fix!
Suggest look at the “what’s changed” notes on the version history of the macOS updates. If there are any mention of Blue tooth fixes/improvements, that could be it.
Great work, happy you got working BT kit now for your macbook!
Best wishes
Martin
PS:
Hope you stay on this forum. Been good reading your troubleshooting here
Looks like you got a fix!
Suggest look at the “what’s changed” notes on the version history of the macOS updates. If there are any mention of Blue tooth fixes/improvements, that could be it.
Great work, happy you got working BT kit now for your macbook!
Best wishes
Martin
PS:
Hope you stay on this forum. Been good reading your troubleshooting here
I wouldn't call it a fix, but a solution nevertheless. Yes, it seems a fresh installation helps, but it's pretty drastic.
And I don't think a BT update in Big Sur 11.2.1 changed anything either. I already had that version installed, but my "grandfathered" admin account must have had some weird setting.
And we will never know now, because I lost my patience, and factory reset my MacBook. I just want it to work as it should.
And I don't think a BT update in Big Sur 11.2.1 changed anything either. I already had that version installed, but my "grandfathered" admin account must have had some weird setting.
And we will never know now, because I lost my patience, and factory reset my MacBook. I just want it to work as it should.
Actually it is not even a solution. I factory reset my MB (wiped out all volumes, and re-installed Big Sur 11.2.1 without restoring any previous data or apps), and I have already got multiple BT disconnects. :-(
I have no idea how it could not show any symptoms yesterday when I installed a fresh Big Sur 11.2.1 on a separate volume. Must have been a coincidence.
I have no idea how it could not show any symptoms yesterday when I installed a fresh Big Sur 11.2.1 on a separate volume. Must have been a coincidence.
And the plot thickens. I noticed one minor looking difference between installing the MacOS on a separate volume, and wiping out my MacBook completely, and re-installing it from recovery. When re-installed in recovery, my mouse appears with a black icon (which I would expect, since I have the space gray one), however, it appears with a white icon if installed on a separate volume.
But I'm sure the difference is not the result of what volume the OS was installed on, but that I used slightly different methods in the two cases.
The complete re-installation I did from the recovery app (Command + R while booting)--I just pressed the "Reinstall macOS Big Sur" button.
While I used an external USB stick I downloaded Big Sur 11.2.1 to, when installing on a separate volume.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372
And the other difference is that when installed from the USB stick, the mouse does not disconnect!
So, I again wiped out all the volumes, and reinstalled Big Sur from scratch, but from the USB stick this time. And the mouse is not disconnecting! (so far)
How is this possible? I downloaded the needed files to make the USB stick the day before yesterday. Wouldn't it be the same files used for installation from the recovery app? At least it looked to me that everything was downloaded through the internet.
But I'm sure the difference is not the result of what volume the OS was installed on, but that I used slightly different methods in the two cases.
The complete re-installation I did from the recovery app (Command + R while booting)--I just pressed the "Reinstall macOS Big Sur" button.
While I used an external USB stick I downloaded Big Sur 11.2.1 to, when installing on a separate volume.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372
And the other difference is that when installed from the USB stick, the mouse does not disconnect!
So, I again wiped out all the volumes, and reinstalled Big Sur from scratch, but from the USB stick this time. And the mouse is not disconnecting! (so far)
How is this possible? I downloaded the needed files to make the USB stick the day before yesterday. Wouldn't it be the same files used for installation from the recovery app? At least it looked to me that everything was downloaded through the internet.
I realized there was another difference between the two reinstallations.
When doing it from the recovery app, I didn't have the magic mouse on, while it was on during the installation from the USB stick. So, I tried yet again reinstalling from the recovery app, and had the magic mouse on, and it's the same result. Mouse icon white in BT device list, and it's not disconnecting.
It gave me another idea. I re-connected the magic mouse, and it now appears with a black icon. And now it's disconnecting! :-(
When doing it from the recovery app, I didn't have the magic mouse on, while it was on during the installation from the USB stick. So, I tried yet again reinstalling from the recovery app, and had the magic mouse on, and it's the same result. Mouse icon white in BT device list, and it's not disconnecting.
It gave me another idea. I re-connected the magic mouse, and it now appears with a black icon. And now it's disconnecting! :-(
Last edited:
Hi G,
Did you find out what the difference was between the White BT mouse icon and the Black icon?
I looked up on the internet, and see that only one Apple Watch at a time can unlock a MacBook. That could possibly be the issue with the 1st install having BT issues. The 2nd install would be the 2nd user to the MacBook by default etc.
It may be time to place the Garmin watch away from the MacBook, and see it it makes a difference as well. Just to discount the possible issues to consider etc.
Regards
Martin
The last few times I re-installed the macOS, I actually had the white mouse icon right after the installation, no matter what. Even if I had no mouse turned on at all. And it appeared as "Miklos Gal's Mouse", so I have no idea what's going on anymore. If I turned on my mouse (the first time right after the re-installation), it looked like it was properly connected, and I could use it. It turned black only, if I removed the white one, and repaired my mouse.
Sure, I can try to move my Garmin watch away. But I'm skeptical, and how come none of my computers are bothered by my Garmin watch (not by anything actually), only the most expensive one! :-/
I can safely say I am now obsessed with this problem. I just can't let it go. And Apple refuses to refund me, as well as the store I purchased it in, naturally. And it is very hard to tell if something I did fixed the problem or not, because sometimes it takes 10 minutes to get the first disconnect, but sometimes it takes half a day.
And at this point Apple is telling me to bring the MB to an Apple authorized service, which is almost an hour drive. Also, I have to drop the MB, and pick it up a few days later. Almost four hours wasted, just with transporting the MB. Come on Apple! I get better customer service from Aliexpress.
Why can't they send me a loaner MB, and then I would ship the broken one for repair.
Sure, I can try to move my Garmin watch away. But I'm skeptical, and how come none of my computers are bothered by my Garmin watch (not by anything actually), only the most expensive one! :-/
I can safely say I am now obsessed with this problem. I just can't let it go. And Apple refuses to refund me, as well as the store I purchased it in, naturally. And it is very hard to tell if something I did fixed the problem or not, because sometimes it takes 10 minutes to get the first disconnect, but sometimes it takes half a day.
And at this point Apple is telling me to bring the MB to an Apple authorized service, which is almost an hour drive. Also, I have to drop the MB, and pick it up a few days later. Almost four hours wasted, just with transporting the MB. Come on Apple! I get better customer service from Aliexpress.
Why can't they send me a loaner MB, and then I would ship the broken one for repair.
Hi G,
That sounds awful service from Apple! Are you on AppleCare? Which country are you in?
When I spoke to customer services in the UK, They said for the UK, any issues, Apple can get a Courier to pick it up, and drop it off. That sounds complete crap that you have to drive hours to drop off the laptop, when a courier can do it for you as part of the service.
definitely worth taking off the Garman watch, and seeing if that has any effect to it. Apple probably turn around, and say it’s not their problem if that’s the case, non-Apple products et cetera.
Hope you get it sorted!
Regards
Martin
That sounds awful service from Apple! Are you on AppleCare? Which country are you in?
When I spoke to customer services in the UK, They said for the UK, any issues, Apple can get a Courier to pick it up, and drop it off. That sounds complete crap that you have to drive hours to drop off the laptop, when a courier can do it for you as part of the service.
definitely worth taking off the Garman watch, and seeing if that has any effect to it. Apple probably turn around, and say it’s not their problem if that’s the case, non-Apple products et cetera.
Hope you get it sorted!
Regards
Martin
I'm in the US, where one would think customer is the king. And it has so far been my experience, except for Apple. It's a complete and utter surprise to me. It took me decades to finally give in, and allow myself the luxury. At least that's what I though paying the premium price would mean.
I don't have AppleCare, but the MB is still under warranty. I purchased it about 5 months ago.
If the Garmin watch indeed turns out to be the culprit, I wouldn't accept that "it's not our product" from Apple (although, let's not jump the gun, maybe they wouldn't say it). I said it before, I just can repeat. My Lenovo laptop with a Lenovo BT mouse works perfectly under the same conditions. And it costs about third as much.
I don't have AppleCare, but the MB is still under warranty. I purchased it about 5 months ago.
If the Garmin watch indeed turns out to be the culprit, I wouldn't accept that "it's not our product" from Apple (although, let's not jump the gun, maybe they wouldn't say it). I said it before, I just can repeat. My Lenovo laptop with a Lenovo BT mouse works perfectly under the same conditions. And it costs about third as much.
Hi G,
would the Magic Mouse work with the windows laptop?
Is it worth trying for a day and see if it disconnects with the Lenovo laptop as well?
Would the Lenovo BT mouse work with the MBP? Same again, worth a try to see
May be a faulty Magic Mouse.
Any joy, with the Garmin watch away from the MBP?
Regards
Martin
Oh yes, that was one of the first thing I tried. The Magic Mouse worked perfectly with the Lenovo laptop (Windows 10), but the Lenovo BT mouse kept disconnecting from the MBP.
I turned my Garmin watch off, and so far I didn't have any BT disconnect, but it's too soon to draw any conclusion. It was only an hour ago a started working (using my MBP). As I mentioned earlier, sometimes it takes half a day to get the first hit.
I turned my Garmin watch off, and so far I didn't have any BT disconnect, but it's too soon to draw any conclusion. It was only an hour ago a started working (using my MBP). As I mentioned earlier, sometimes it takes half a day to get the first hit.
It took a few hours, but I had my first mouse disconnect, and the Garmin watch is powered down. So, it was not it.
It seems we are not the only ones having had this problem, at least I found this article on Reddit (I hope it's allowed to post links like this here).
Just mentioning, because I saw the same message in my system log.
Although, I can see the message a LOT of times, but there are "only" a few disconnects. Oh, and I only have the original Apple charger connected. Also, I had mouse disconnects even when I was on battery, without ANY USB-C cable connected.
I had this feeling, and it is just getting stronger, that Apple knows very well what is going on, but they just don't want to admit their fault.
Just mentioning, because I saw the same message in my system log.
Although, I can see the message a LOT of times, but there are "only" a few disconnects. Oh, and I only have the original Apple charger connected. Also, I had mouse disconnects even when I was on battery, without ANY USB-C cable connected.
I had this feeling, and it is just getting stronger, that Apple knows very well what is going on, but they just don't want to admit their fault.
Hi G,
argh, it does sound like it is the Bluetooth connectivity on the MacBook then, doesn't it, if both the MM and the Lenovo mouses keep disconnecting. But this doesn't happen on the Lenova laptop.
Is the MacBook a M1 chip?
If not, did the Mouse disconnects happen on the MacOS before Big Sur?
Are you left or right handed?
Wondering if its the side the mouse is sitting, next to the laptop.
If you are using an external monitor, is it worth putting the laptop the other side, and seeing if that helps?
Just brainstorming here!
Regards
Martin
Damn!
ok, if intel Mac, then next thing can try - install dual boot another operating system - windows, Linux etc. Does the bt mouse disconnect?
If it does then can argue there is a BT hardware issue with the Mac, leave both OS on Mac and hand over to Apple to sort if it gets to it
hope that helps 8)
martin
ok, if intel Mac, then next thing can try - install dual boot another operating system - windows, Linux etc. Does the bt mouse disconnect?
If it does then can argue there is a BT hardware issue with the Mac, leave both OS on Mac and hand over to Apple to sort if it gets to it
hope that helps 8)
martin
I tried installing Ubuntu 20.04.2.0 LTS on separate partitions (root, swap), but my MBP couldn't boot from the USB drive I prepared with the instructions I found at Create a bootable USB stick on macOS. It's not the boot from USB security setting, I have already configured that.
Does it make sense to try and install Windows with bootcamp? Would those be drivers supplied by Apple, so they could equally be broken (assuming it's not a hardware issue)?
Does it make sense to try and install Windows with bootcamp? Would those be drivers supplied by Apple, so they could equally be broken (assuming it's not a hardware issue)?
Well, if the mouse does not disconnect under Windows installed through bootcamp, that would prove there is no hardware problem. So I installed Windows 10 through bootcamp, and I am actually writing this post in Microsoft Edge on my MacBook pro. ;-) So far the mouse did not disconnect, but of course it's too soon to draw any conclusion.