Once you are in this panel, check that Bluetooth is turned on. If the accessory you want to connect appears in this section, try clicking “Connect”. If it does not work or the accessory itself is not detected in this section, do not worry because there may still be a solution. Keep reading because in the following sections we will continue exploring what the origin of your problem may be.
Have the latest software version
Something always essential to avoid having problems on a device of this type is that its software is in the latest available version. In the case of Macs, it is especially notable, since Apple itself will ask you to be on that version so that the technical service can review it, since it is understood that any failure of this type could be related to a bug in the version in which it is installed. what are you.
Therefore, if you want to ensure that you have the latest version of macOS installed, you will need to go to System Preferences > Software Update. If this option does not appear, it is possible that your Mac is in an old version, in which this was checked from the App Store, in the “Updates” tab. If there is a pending update you must have internet to download it.
Close everything on the Mac and/or restart
These recommendations that we are going to give now seem very obvious, but the truth is that they are usually more effective than one believes and in the face of problems of all kinds. Firstly, it is convenient that close all applications that you have open, but totally, do not minimize them. To do this, you may have to go to the Apple menu at the top and enter the “Force Quit” option to completely close all of them. Once you do, check if you can now connect the Bluetooth accessory.
If after that it has not been resolved, perhaps you could try restart the mac. Either with the option that does so or manually, that is, turning off the equipment and waiting a few seconds later to turn it on again. This will close all open processes, including those in the background. It is possible that after rebooting the problem has been solved.
Restore, an ideal solution?
We assume that a complete formatting of the computer, including reinstallation of the operating system, is always the most effective solution to eliminate software problems. Now this may be a solution. too drastic and that we do not recommend carrying out without first having tried other possible solutions such as those that we will discuss in the following sections.
For this reason, we recommend that you return to this point if you are ultimately unable to solve the problem with the rest of the proposals that we will make. If so, it must be a complete format without loading a backup of any kind. Of course, try to check beforehand that you have the apps synchronized with iCloud so that data such as photos, videos, notes, calendars and more can continue to be saved even if you configure the Mac as new.
Steps to follow to solve the problem
The first solutions that we have shown you are for a simpler first scenario. IF after having done the above the problem persists, below we are going to show you other more advanced options, in which we are going to interact with our computer and with the Bluetooth accessory.
Measure distances well
You don’t need to take out a meter stick, a ruler or any other type of distance measuring gadget. You just have to remember a basic aspect of Bluetooth technology and that is that it allows two devices to communicate with each other without the need for cables and without necessarily having to be physically linked. Now, the distance that should exist between one and the other should not be so little excessive.
If you are trying to connect a device that is in another room to your Mac, try connecting them by reducing the distance between them. If you have a MacBook you can take the laptop to the room where the other one is, since it does not necessarily have to be the accessory that moves. If you are in the same room, although there may be elements that interfere in the middle, the truth is that this should not be the cause of the failure, which is why we continue to recommend reading this post to see if you can find the definitive solution.
Check the device you are connecting
Continuing with the above, it is possible that it is not the Mac that is failing, but the accessory itself. Therefore, we propose a series of checks that will help you know if this is what is causing the problem:
- Connect another accessory: If you try pairing another Bluetooth accessory to your Mac and it works, the chances that it is the other device that fails greatly increase. If that doesn’t connect either, everything indicates that the failure is on the Mac.
- Check that it is turned on: And, although it may also seem obvious, you must keep in mind that it must be activated so that the Bluetooth technology it incorporates is also activated.
- Do you have any way of linking? There are some accessories that it is not enough for them to be turned on, but some pairing mode must be activated. Check its instructions to find out if this is the case and, if so, how to proceed to link it.
- Is it a new product? If you recently purchased that accessory, you can request its return due to malfunction or claim the legal warranty and have it repaired or delivered a completely new and functional one.
Unpair and re-pair the accessory
If you managed to pair the Mac with the accessory and yet it does not work normally, we still have two options: it may be the Mac that fails or the accessory itself. However, there is a possibility that it is in some way both, since the connection has not been well established. Therefore, it is recommended that you proceed to unlink them and relink them.
To do this you must go to System Preferences > Bluetooth on the Mac, choose the accessory in question and click on the “Disconnect” button. To reconnect them, all you have to do is follow the same procedure, although we first advise you to have turned off the accessory for a few seconds so that when you turn it on, its connections are reestablished.
Delete these files from the system
There are some files stored on the Mac in relation to Bluetooth connections and that in some cases can cause problems like the one you are experiencing. Eliminating them can be the latest solution at your fingertips to try to fix the problem. To do this you must follow these steps:
- Open Finder.
- Click on “Go”, located in the top menu bar.
- In the search box type (without quotes) «/Library/Preferences» and click on «Go».
- Locate a file called «com.Apple.Bluetooth.xxx.plist» and delete it.
- Restart the Mac. It is advisable that you do it manually, turning off the computer and keeping it that way for at least 30 seconds until turning it on again.
If you have a desktop Mac use Setup Assistant
iMacs are computers designed to have as few cables as possible. In fact, they all come with a Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse (or Magic Trackpad, optionally). Likewise, the Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro are also desktop computers. As for the Magic peripherals, they are wireless devices, so if you have one of these devices, you turn it on, but you have Bluetooth connectivity problems, there is an option in the Mac Settings, so you can access your device, for example. connection problems with devices. Also, if you only have Bluetooth devices and do not have wired peripherals, this option will be very useful for you.
On the Mac, go to System Settings > Bluetooth and click on the “Advanced” tab. In this tab two options will appear that we must have activated. These perform a very simple function: if your Mac, when starting up, does not detect any keyboard or mouse, it will open a configuration wizard so you can configure Bluetooth devices and thus use your computer. These options are usually activated by default, however, check that you have them activated. Especially if you only have a wireless mouse and keyboard.
As an additional recommendation, if you have a Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard or Magic Trackpad, periodically check their battery levels. These peripherals do not have direct notifications to indicate their battery percentages. So you may be using them when they’re about to run out and yet you haven’t realized it. To check the percentages, you can do it from System Settings > Bluetooth, or by opening the Control Center, in the top menu bar and clicking on the Bluetooth tab. There a quick list will appear, with the devices that we have linked first. Next to the name of the mouse, keyboard or trackpad, the battery percentage will appear.
If you suspect that your computer hardware has failed
If absolutely nothing we have discussed in this post has helped you solve your problem, unfortunately you will not have much option left. It is likely that your Mac has a defect on the board and/or in the component itself that allows you to establish the Bluetooth connection. The best option in these cases is to go to technical serviceeither from Apple or a SAT (Authorized Technical Service).
This situation is the most complicated that can arise. In fact, it is the least common of all those described in this article. However, if you are experiencing failures with Bluetooth connections and there is no way to reverse this, going to an Apple Store or a SAT will allow you to diagnose the computer. Thanks to special programs used by technical service personnel, they can observe in detail what is failing. In this way, you can determine if, indeed, the problem is in the computer’s hardware.
He repair price It will vary depending on what exactly the problem is, as well as the model of your Mac. It may even be free if the equipment is under warranty and it is detected that it is not a problem due to misuse but rather a factory defect. In any case, the specialists will give you all the information beforehand so you can make a decision.
