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Bluetooth Interference - Logitech Mouse and AirPods

Jay42

Jay42

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jul 14, 2005
1,416
588
I've found that my Logitech MX Master mouse doesn't really work via bluetooth when I have my AirPods connected to my MacBook (13" MBP TB, 2.9 ghz, 16 gb, 1 tb). It's very frustrating. I've tried changing the bluetooth channel on the mouse (there are 3) to no avail. Anything else I can do?

I'd like to avoid using the Logitech USB receiver since that now also requires a dongle on the new MBP! :rolleyes:
 
Damn - no one? Can you only use one bluetooth device at a time?
 
Jay42 said:
I've found that my Logitech MX Master mouse doesn't really work via bluetooth when I have my AirPods connected to my MacBook (13" MBP TB, 2.9 ghz, 16 gb, 1 tb). It's very frustrating. I've tried changing the bluetooth channel on the mouse (there are 3) to no avail. Anything else I can do?

I'd like to avoid using the Logitech USB receiver since that now also requires a dongle on the new MBP! :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I don't have the Airpods, but I do have the Logitech MX Master and I can tell you the BT situation is very bad for me. Sometimes it works well, sometimes I have to reconnect it again, sometimes it stops working in the middle of using it! I use it with my iMac as well as my MBP and I almost gave up on using the BT on iMac (I use the wireless dongle there). On MBP it's a bit better, but it still disconnects almost randomly.

This sometimes happens with Apple devices too, I have a Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad 2. Still, it happens A LOT less with these devices.

I don't think Logitech is to blame here, BT is just.... problematic, really. Sadly, I'm not sure what the solution is here.
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Jay42 said:
Damn - no one? Can you only use one bluetooth device at a time?
Click to expand...

No, no, you can definitely use more than once - as I said, I use 4 input devices at the same time and I plan on getting a new Wacom Intuos that is BT as well - you can use more. But, whether it's interference or something else - BT is just flaky.
 
aevan said:
I don't have the Airpods, but I do have the Logitech MX Master and I can tell you the BT situation is very bad for me. Sometimes it works well, sometimes I have to reconnect it again, sometimes it stops working in the middle of using it! I use it with my iMac as well as my MBP and I almost gave up on using the BT on iMac (I use the wireless dongle there). On MBP it's a bit better, but it still disconnects almost randomly.

This sometimes happens with Apple devices too, I have a Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad 2. Still, it happens A LOT less with these devices.

I don't think Logitech is to blame here, BT is just.... problematic, really. Sadly, I'm not sure what the solution is here.
[doublepost=1485026430][/doublepost]

No, no, you can definitely use more than once - as I said, I use 4 input devices at the same time and I plan on getting a new Wacom Intuos that is BT as well - you can use more. But, whether it's interference or something else - BT is just flaky.
Click to expand...

I have the same issue. Apple sent me a new bluetooth magic keyboard and separate bluetooth numeric keypad, related to a usb-c connection issue with the LG5K monitor. I had been using a wired Apple usb keyboard and Microsoft wireless (usb dongle) Explorer Mouse. Well, that's when I found out about the bluetooth issues.

I have two bluetooth keyboard and two bluetooth mice. All four devices exhibit dropping of connections then re-connecting. I have not tested this while not attached via usb-c to the LG5K external monitor (I will do so).

According to Apple Engineering, there is an issue with the LG5K regarding video switching, usb-c connections (the ones on the back of the monitor) to external hubs, and bluetooth connections. A software/firmware update is expected but I have no timeline as to when that will occur.
 
I have the same problem. My MX works fine, but when I use the AirPods the mouse freezes up every 10 min. I gave up and stopped using the AirPods with my Mac.
 
Some devices are just more prone to RF interference than others. Sounds like the AirPods are causing the Logitech mouse to flake out. I had an issue once with a set of bluetooth headphones that would cause my wife's WiFi to lag CONTSTANTLY. . even from the other side of the house [go figure]
 
Mindinversion said:
Some devices are just more prone to RF interference than others. Sounds like the AirPods are causing the Logitech mouse to flake out. I had an issue once with a set of bluetooth headphones that would cause my wife's WiFi to lag CONTSTANTLY. . even from the other side of the house [go figure]
Click to expand...

Sorry, but that's a BULL answer. The Logitech mouse works fine until the AirPods are employed at which time the MAC Bluetooth stack actually FORGETS the mouse. That sounds like an Apple problem to me.

I've submitted the feedback on mine - I have the MX Anywhere 2 with the latest firmware and the 15" MBP Touch Bar + AirPods... This should "Just work" - It "just does" on my Surface Book! And that thing is horses**t for reliability otherwise!
 
Another oddity: When trying to connect the Logitech MX Master, it does not appear in the bluetooth list in the menubar, but as soon as I open the bluetooth preference pane, it appears in the list and connects to the mouse.
 
I have found Logitech mice very problematic in terms of a stable, consistent BT connection to my various Macs. This is not just me; there are pages of complaints about people experiencing Mac-related BT issues with the MX Master and Anywhere 2 mice. I can't speak to other mouse manufacturers and their consistency when it comes to BT connections to MacBooks, however I'd imagine the same issues are prevalent since some of the issues are indisputably the fault of MacOS.

My specific issue with the Anywhere 2 was that there was significant lag when connecting via BT versus the USB adapter. Couple that with another issue which is being able to reconnect BT devices reliably & consistently from long periods of sleep (not specific to Logitech devices), and I've just learned to use the USB adapter for both the Anywhere 2 & MX Master mice. I can't say I've personally tested BT performance on my MX Master since I received it recently and just defaulted to using the USB adapter, however multiple reports online seem to indicate the issues exist with both of these mice.

Apple actually did at some point last year address Bluetooth mice issues in a MacOS update that did improve BT performance, however I do still notice occasional stutters when connecting via BT. Introducing add'l BT devices obviously will make the issues more pronounced; since I use BT headphones as well, I just live on the USB adapter. Nothing irritates me more than trying to get work done and having my mouse mis-click due to lag.

This doesn't bother me terribly atm since I have a native USB-A port on the MBP, however I do occasionally use the mice with my USB-C MacBook and I do find it pretty silly to have an Apple dongle hanging off the side of my laptop just to ensure I have a reliable wireless connection to my mouse of choice.
 
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Trey M said:
I have found Logitech mice very problematic in terms of a stable, consistent BT connection to my various Macs. This is not just me; there are pages of complaints about people experiencing Mac-related BT issues with the MX Master and Anywhere 2 mice. I can't speak to other mouse manufacturers and their consistency when it comes to BT connections to MacBooks, however I'd imagine the same issues are prevalent since some of the issues are indisputably the fault of MacOS.

My specific issue with the Anywhere 2 was that there was significant lag when connecting via BT versus the USB adapter. Couple that with another issue which is being able to reconnect BT devices reliably & consistently from long periods of sleep (not specific to Logitech devices), and I've just learned to use the USB adapter for both the Anywhere 2 & MX Master mice. I can't say I've personally tested BT performance on my MX Master since I received it recently and just defaulted to the USB adapter, however multiple reports online seem to indicate the issues exist with both of these mice.

Apple actually did at some point last year address Bluetooth mice issues in a MacOS update that did improve BT performance, however I do still notice occasional stutters when connecting via BT. Introducing add'l BT devices obviously will make the issues more pronounced; since I use BT headphones as well, I just live on the USB adapter. Nothing irritates me more than trying to get work done and having my mouse mis-click due to lag.

This doesn't bother me terribly atm since I have a native USB-A port on the MBP, however I do occasionally use the mice with my USB-C MacBook and I do find it pretty silly to have an Apple dongle hanging off the side of my laptop just to ensure I have a reliable wireless connection to my mouse of choice.
Click to expand...

So people believe these issues are software based? I haven't had any trouble with wireless earphones. Could it be software issues triggered only by particular conditions?
 
Trey M said:
This doesn't bother me terribly atm since I have a native USB-A port on the MBP, however I do occasionally use the mice with my USB-C MacBook and I do find it pretty silly to have an Apple dongle hanging off the side of my laptop just to ensure I have a reliable wireless connection to my mouse of choice.
Click to expand...

I find this frustrating as well, as it is like having to use a corded mouse, but without getting any of the benefits! I hope Makers will begin to offer USB-C micro receivers readily across product lines...and I know I am asking too much here but if they were 5 GHz that would be awesome.
 
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ZapNZs said:
I find this frustrating as well, as it is like having to use a corded mouse, but without getting any of the benefits! I hope Makers will begin to offer USB-C micro receivers readily across product lines...and I know I am asking too much here but if they were 5 GHz that would be awesome.
Click to expand...
I hadn't thought of that but a USB-C nano receiver would be amazing!
 
I have the same problem and diagnosing it for a few days now. Here's what I've discovered.

- I used my Master MX Mouse + Airpods on the Mac Pro 2013 + LG5K monitor and it worked fine. There were no disconnects. I used it for 3-4 hours.

- The OSX on both my macbook pro touch bar and mac pro are up-to-date.

- This could possibly be a bluetooth problem on the Macbook Pro Touch Bar.
 
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thepresident said:
I have the same problem and diagnosing it for a few days now. Here's what I've discovered.

- I used my Master MX Mouse + Airpods on the Mac Pro 2013 + LG5K monitor and it worked fine. There were no disconnects. I used it for 3-4 hours.

- The OSX on both my macbook pro touch bar and mac pro are up-to-date.

- This could possibly be a bluetooth problem on the Macbook Pro Touch Bar.
Click to expand...

Definitely not specific to Touch Bar MacBooks, this is prevalent across all MacBooks
 
No problems here, 15" Touchbar, MX Master, music playing to AirPods. Keyboard is also bluetooth, 10.12.5 beta. No logitech software installed (The shape of the mouse + being bluetooth is more important to me than the additional buttons).
 
My Logitech mouse has interference issues with my Logitech keyboard. Because I have a gaming G700 mouse, I cannot use the unifying receiver. If the two receivers are plugged in next to each other, the mouse becomes unusable. Have to separate them by one or two USB ports.

The mouse also has interference whenever something else is plugged in next to it (such as a flash drive). It's really annoying that they have these issues, but they are still the best mice out there.
 
just pitching in to say that I definitely have this same problem, which is why I came back to this forum. I never really pieced it together that it's an issue with the AirPods, but now that I think about it, the frequent 5 second hang definitely happens much more frequently (and perhaps exclusively) when I'm also paired with Airpods.

it's almost like everything bluetooth (my AirPods, mouse, and keyboard) will just hang for about 5 seconds. most of the time it's just the mouse, but sometimes it'll also affect my AirPods and keyboard.

and similar to OP, I have this same issue: "Another oddity: When trying to connect the Logitech MX Master, it does not appear in the bluetooth list in the menubar, but as soon as I open the bluetooth preference pane, it appears in the list and connects to the mouse."
 
Just got the new MX Master 2S and I too am having the same problems when I have my AirPods connected to a 2017 MBP w/ touch bar. The mouse just freezes for 5-10 seconds at a time. So yeah the problem persists on these newly released models as well.
 
This seems annoying, does it happen with the USB adapter or connected to the Macs Bluetooth?
 
slowburner00 said:
For me its when i'm connected directly to the Macs bluetooth, havent tried with the adapter.
Click to expand...
Will be interesting to see if anyone can try with the adapter and see if it fixes. Although on the new pros that means carrying it and a dongle around so not the best solution
 
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