Mac Bluetooth problems: how to fix them

When a Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, speaker or pair of headphones will not connect to your Mac, or keeps dropping, take the safest checks first. The last step is to remove the device and pair it again.

Before you start

Bluetooth is the short-range wireless link between your Mac and an accessory. Most problems come from a flat battery, an accessory still connected to another device, or a stale pairing record on the Mac. If you have no working keyboard or mouse, connect a wired one first, so you can still click while you work through these steps.

The steps take about 10 minutes and delete nothing. Menu names are for macOS Ventura and later (System Settings). On earlier versions, use System Preferences and choose Bluetooth.

Try these fixes in order

Fix 1: Check the device itself

1. Charge the device or put in fresh batteries. A weak battery is a common cause of dropouts.
2. Switch the device off and on again.
3. If the device was last used with a phone, tablet or another computer, turn Bluetooth off on that other device. Many accessories connect to the last device they knew.
4. Bring the device close to the Mac, with nothing in between.

Fix 2: Make the device discoverable and connect

Each device has its own way to enter pairing mode, usually holding a power or Bluetooth button until a light flashes. Check the device's manual for the exact method.

1. Open Apple menu then System Settings then Bluetooth. You may need to scroll the sidebar to find Bluetooth.
2. Check that Bluetooth is switched on at the top of the page.
3. Find your device in the list. Hover over it and click Connect.
4. If the Mac shows a number sequence, type it on the device or press Enter as prompted.

After a successful connection, the device is shown as connected. You can also pick the device from the Bluetooth icon in Control Center.

Fix 3: Turn Bluetooth off and on, then restart

1. In System Settings then Bluetooth, switch Bluetooth off. Wait ten seconds, then switch it on again.
2. Try your device again.
3. If it still fails, choose Apple menu then Restart and try once more after the Mac starts.

Fix 4: Forget the device and pair it again

A damaged or outdated pairing record is one possible cause when a device that used to work now will not connect. Removing it forces a clean start.

1. Open System Settings then Bluetooth.
2. Control-click the device name in the list, then click Forget. Confirm if the Mac asks.
3. Switch the device off, then put it back into pairing mode.
4. When it appears in the list, hover over it and click Connect.

For a full walkthrough of pairing from scratch, see how to pair Bluetooth on a Mac.

Fix 5: Reduce interference

• Bluetooth and Wi-Fi both use the 2.4 GHz radio band, so they can disturb each other. Apple says USB 3 and Thunderbolt 3 devices, microwave ovens, cordless phones and fluorescent lights can also cause interference. Move the accessory and the Mac away from them.
• Keep metal objects and thick walls out of the path between the two devices.
• Disconnect Bluetooth devices you are not using.

For constant stuttering, see Bluetooth keeps disconnecting or stutters.

Fix 6: Headphones connected but no sound

1. Open System Settings then Sound.
2. Under Output, select your headphones or speaker. For a headset microphone, use Input.

If sound is only in one ear or too quiet, see Bluetooth headphones one side or low volume.

If it still does not work

• Test the accessory with another phone or computer. If it fails there too, the accessory is the problem.
• Install any macOS update in System Settings then General then Software Update.
• For a Mac with no Bluetooth at all, see Bluetooth won't pair or connect.
• Use the support page on the accessory maker's website for firmware updates and model-specific steps. Apple's own accessories are covered at support.apple.com.

Frequently asked questions