OS X Bluetooth Issues (Keyboard, Mouse, Trackpad)

[Michael Kummer]

Since the last days of the Public Beta period, I've experienced Bluetooth issues on my Retina 5K iMac running OS X 10.11 El Capitan. These issues resulted in my Apple Wireless Keyboard, Magic Trackpad and Magic Mouse not working properly (i.e. erratic cursor movement) and disconnecting frequently.

After a long list of troubleshooting steps (documented here), I finally took the iMac to the Apple Store to get its antennas and AirPort card replaced. I hope that fixes the issue. If not, it's got to be a bug in El Capitan that hasn't been solved in 10.11.1 Beta yet.

Anyone else experiencing similar issues? Any solutions?

Thanks
Michael

 

[pituin]

I'm having issues with my magic mouse. It doesn't disconnect, but the cursor lags a lot and the mouse loses the connection very frequently.

I know it's not the hardware, because I've used it in my bootcamp partition with Windows 10 and Ubuntu, and it works without problems. So it's got to do with El Capitan, I'm afraid. I'm on the same beta, as I updated to see if it was fixed, but I guess it isn't.

 

[fox1401]

yesterday my Magic Mouse failed to connect also. I had to switch off the mouse and turn it on again to get connected.

 

[southerndoc]

I'm also having trouble with my keyboard and trackpad. The cursor has significant lag, and the keyboard seems to have a mind of its own. I'll keep typing and nothing shows up, and then sometimes it seems like the spacebar is stuck.

I think this may have an issue to do with handoff. I'm running 10.11.1 beta, whatever the latest build is.

 

[MacVidCards]

FYI, BT is run via USB. So you may be suffering from USB issue

 

[Michael Kummer]

I'm having issues with my magic mouse. It doesn't disconnect, but the cursor lags a lot and the mouse loses the connection very frequently.

I know it's not the hardware, because I've used it in my bootcamp partition with Windows 10 and Ubuntu, and it works without problems. So it's got to do with El Capitan, I'm afraid. I'm on the same beta, as I updated to see if it was fixed, but I guess it isn't.

Oh boy...I would hate having to keep using a wired keyboard and mouse until Apple fixes the issue...

 

[Michael Kummer]

FYI, BT is run via USB. So you may be suffering from USB issue

What do you mean by that? Isn't the BT controller part of the AirPort card? You mean the AP card is connected via USB to the logic board?

 

[jmgregory1]

My wife was experiencing the same thing with her 2013 iMac. Her Magic Mouse went crazy, or maybe I should say it drove her crazy, so I put her trackpad back and she hasn't had any issues since. Strange because the MM replaced the trackpad after it was causing erratic behavior a few months ago.

I have experienced some connection issues with my rMBP Bluetooth over the past few betas, but it's only been related to my headset, so it's not a big issue for me.

Seems like Apple has been trying to do some things with BT, probably related to the low power BT implementation that will hit with the new keyboard, trackpad and mouse.

 

[rbart]

I had the same issues in Yosemite, but it's OK since I have upgraded to El Capitan.
I hope it will continue, but BT is definitely not rock solid since 10.10 and handoff arrival.
Sometimes it works perfectly for monthes, sometimes it lags, disconnnects ...

 

[navaira]

The thing that fixed my BT problems (same as described above) was switching wi-fi to 5GHz (in router settings). Which also allowed me to learn that my Chromebook doesn't see 5GHz networks with Chrome OS running, but when you put Linux on it, everything works. Silly Google.

 

[pituin]

The thing that fixed my BT problems (same as described above) was switching wi-fi to 5GHz (in router settings). Which also allowed me to learn that my Chromebook doesn't see 5GHz networks with Chrome OS running, but when you put Linux on it, everything works. Silly Google.

I'm always on 5Ghz, switched to 2.4Ghz just to try, still lags

 

[yansun]

My Magic Mouse also lags again really bad. Thought the issue was resolved with El Capitan but apparently it is not (MBA with external monitor)...

 

[cbrand493]

It's obvious what's going on here. The new Magic Mouse/trackpad/keyboard are out and apple want you to upgrade so they built self destruct code into the last updates of el cap to make your BT devices go bonkers when the new peripherals are released.

 

[yansun]

Damn you apple ... ;-)