Switch Pro Controller Won't Connect After Restart

[alexanderlindo]

I have a Pro Controller that won't connect to my M1 Mac after restart. Initially the controller pairs and works flawlessly, all functions including vibration and gyro work flawlessly, I am able to turn the controller on and off and it will reconnect successfully but once I restart my mac, it will no longer connect. I then have to "Forget / Unpair" the device and repair it again. At this point is connected successfully again.

I am looking for either 2 solutions 1) to fix the issue with the controller being unable to connect after restart, or 2) create a script that will unpair the Pro Controller at shut down, so that I only have to pair it again when rebooted. If anyone has any information on how best to go about either option, please do not hesitate to chime in.

This is a new Mac with little to no third party software installed, It came with Ventura and was updated to Sonoma.

 

[bogdanw]

Does it happen if you turn off Bluetooth before restarting and turn it back on after restart?

Turn Bluetooth on or off on Mac https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/blth1008/mac

 

[alexanderlindo]

Yes it does.

 

[bogdanw]

You could try blueutil to unpair/pair the controller.
https://github.com/toy/blueutil
"blueutil
--pair ID [PIN] pair with device, optional PIN of up to 16 characters will be used instead of interactive input if requested in specific pair mode
--unpair ID EXPERIMENTAL unpair the device
ID can be either address in form xxxxxxxxxxxx, xx-xx-xx-xx-xx-xx or xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx, or name of device to search in used devices"

I would install it From source and integrate it into an AppleScript saved as an app.

 

[alexanderlindo]

Thank you for that information and explanation. I have noticed an issue during the pairing process and wonder if it could be a bug. When pairing the device, a random pairing code comes up on the screen, but only for a split second and disappears before I can enter it. I do know that when pairing with my keyboard I am required to enter a pin code and have no issues in doing so, however when pairing the Gamepad this code pops up for a split second and then disappears. From my experience, if the code was not entered successfully the gamepad would not pair and work successfully. This is a real head-scratcher for me. Why does the Pro Controller pair and work successfully (even with simultaneous disconnects and reconnects being a non-issue) until I restart my Mac. It is as if upon restart, macOS Sonoma forgets the device exists even though it is still in the bluetooth list.

 

[bogdanw]

Some suggestions from Apple:
Connect a wireless game controller to your Apple device https://support.apple.com/HT210414

 

[alexanderlindo]

Thanks again for your help bogdanw I already did all the above already. I took your advice and have installed "blueutil" and have created a shell script to unpair the device at startup.