Mac Bluetooth Not Working on MacBook Air/Pro/Mac Mini (Fixed)

Bluetooth is an essential part of our life. We rely on it to connect our Mac to wireless devices, such as keyboards, headphones, mice, printers, speakers, etc. It's wonderful not having to use cables.

While setting up a Bluetooth connection is easy, sometimes things may not go smoothly. You may encounter Bluetooth issues on Mac during setup or after a connection is built. In fact, many users have reported experiencing Bluetooth problems after the Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura, or Monterey update. The Reddit post below is one of them.

Bluetooth turning off after Sonoma 14.0
by u/YouLikeFresca in MacOS

Here are the common Bluetooth problems on Mac and their solutions:

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Why is my Bluetooth not working on my Mac?

There are several reasons why your Bluetooth may not work on Mac. The most likely ones are:

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How to fix Bluetooth issues on Mac?

Bluetooth issues on MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, or other Mac models usually result from software issues you can troubleshoot yourself instead of asking for professional help. Take the fixes below to fix Bluetooth not working on Mac.

Make sure that the Bluetooth device is properly connected with the following requirements checked.

• Prerequisites for Bluetooth to work on Mac:
• ✅ Ensure Bluetooth is turned on and the device is within 30ft of your Mac, without interference from household gadgets and metal stuff, such as microwaves, or baby monitors.
• ✅ Ensure the device has enough battery.
• ✅ Ensure your device is turned on and discoverable. If it's a new device, check the manual for instructions. Remember that devices like AirPods require you to press a setup button to pair with a Mac.

Fix 1: Ensure your Bluetooth device is compatible with the current macOS

If your Bluetooth stopped working on Mac after a recent update, the current system may no longer support the wireless device. For instance, macOS Monterey includes a Bluetooth security update, requiring wireless devices to support Bluetooth 4.1. If you started to have Bluetooth issues after installing macOS Monterey, it's likely your Bluetooth headphones aren't compatible with it.

We suggest you check if the issue occurs with other devices. If it doesn't, you can confirm it's a device issue. If it does, keep testing other solutions below.

Fix 2: Turn off and on Bluetooth

Sometimes, turning off Bluetooth and then turning it back on is all needed to fix macOS Bluetooth not working. Simply toggle the Bluetooth icon in the top-right menu bar or the Control Center off and on.

Fix 3: Restart your Mac

Apart from restarting Bluetooth, rebooting your computer is also a common practice to try when the Bluetooth won't turn on on Mac. Many minor glitches or performance issues can be resolved with a reboot since it refreshes the system. To do this, go to the Apple menu and choose Restart.

Fix 4: Optimize your Mac and remove junk files

A Mac gets cluttered with unnecessary files and system junk over time. Such a bloated system will not only affect the Mac's performance but also cause Bluetooth issues. If your MacBook Pro won't recognize Bluetooth earbuds, it's a good idea to run a thorough scan on your internal hard drive and optimize the storage space with iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Mac.

It's a powerful and intuitive disk cleaner that can analyze disk space, list files in descending order by size, and discover junk files (log files, app caches, preference files, unemptied Trash, and other temporary files), allowing you to quickly delete unwanted files and optimize your Mac.

Fix 5: Turn off AirPlay Receiver

If AirPlay Receiver is turned on on your Mac, it's helpful to disable it. Some users have found that turning off AirPlay Receiver resolved the issue that Mac Sonoma Bluetooth keeps disconnecting. Here's how:

Fix 6: Reduce the number of connected Bluetooth devices

If the Bluetooth keeps disconnecting or keeps turning off randomly on Mac, check how many Bluetooth devices are connected to your Mac. If there are more than two wireless devices, consider disconnecting those you no longer need or using some of them with a cable.

Fix 7: Unplug all devices and replug

Suppose reducing the number of Bluetooth devices on your Mac doesn't do the trick; then try disconnecting all the USB and Bluetooth objects, restarting the Mac, and then connecting them again. It's worth mentioning that you should safely eject the USB storage devices before unplugging them.

Fix 9: Remove the Bluetooth .plist files

If your Mac can't find Bluetooth devices or is stuck at the phase of searching for devices, delete the Bluetooth property list file. It stores user preferences and settings for Bluetooth devices. Deleting it resets these settings to the default, overcoming corruption in the file.

Fix 10: Update macOS to the latest

If your MacBook Bluetooth is still not working, update your Mac to the latest version. Especially, if the Bluetooth issue appears after a macOS upgrade, installing minor updates may help eliminate it, as they often address bugs on the previous version.

Fix 11: Reset Bluetooth module on Mac

Resetting the Bluetooth module on a Mac can also resolve connectivity issues and improve Bluetooth performance. This will debug Bluetooth on Mac more thoroughly. Here's how to reset Bluetooth module on Mac:

Fix Bluetooth issues on macOS Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura, and Monterey:

Fix Bluetooth issues on macOS Big Sur and earlier:

You'll notice your Bluetooth device being disconnected while the module is reset. It will automatically reconnect soon.

Fix 12: Reset the SMC

Some users were able to resolve their M1 Mac Bluetooth issues by resetting the SMC (System Management Controller), which is responsible for managing various low-level functions on Intel-based Mac. If you haven't tried it, give it a go.

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