How to undo "forget this device" on iMac

[Angy]

Running high sierra. Just installed a fresh copy last night. A week or so ago, my son went to disconnect the MPOW 059 headphones I use for my audiobook biz and accidentally clicked on "forget this device".

Can't find a way to see them in the bluetooth devices, and have tried repairing and debugging using the shift+option then restarting.

Any ideas?

 

[chabig]

You need to find the manual for the headphones and put them in pairing mode.

 

[Angy]

You need to find the manual for the headphones and put them in pairing mode.

I know how to put it in pairing mode, you push the power button for about 2 seconds after you push it for 5 to turn it on. it says "Pairing your device" in a strange monotone british accent and then nothing.

 

[chabig]

I would do the following in order:
1. Turn Bluetooth off then on, see if they pair.
2. Log out and back in, see if they pair.
3. Restart the machine, see if they pair.

 

[Angy]

Cant turn off bluetooth on the iMac because it tells me I have no way to control the machine (mouse is bluetooth).

Log out of what? Then log back into what? The iMac?

I've restarted thrice in the hopes it would show so I could pair, but no dice.

FWIW, I can pair on my iPad and iPhone with the headphones, without any issue. it's just the iMac.

 

[chabig]

Since you've restarted the machine and that didn't fix it, I assume it's an issue with the headphones. Some bluetooth devices have a maximum number of devices that they can pair with. According to an online review I found, your headphones can only pair with two devices. Since they are paired with your iPad and iPhone, that means they can't pair with the iMac at the same time unless you unpair from either the iPad or iPhone. Check your headphone user guide.

https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/mpow/059-bluetooth-headphones-over-ear#comparison_2149

 

[Angy]

Since you've restarted the machine and that didn't fix it, I assume it's an issue with the headphones. Some bluetooth devices have a maximum number of devices that they can pair with. According to an online review I found, your headphones can only pair with two devices. Since they are paired with your iPad and iPhone, that means they can't pair with the iMac at the same time unless you unpair from either the iPad or iPhone. Check your headphone user guide.

https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/mpow/059-bluetooth-headphones-over-ear#comparison_2149

No, they're not currently paired with anything else, I've got bluetooth turned off on my iPad and iPhone right now, to ensure the headphones didn't try to connect with those devices. I am only trying to connect to the iMac.

I have the manual, but thank you for the link.

Also, I was simply meaning that I *could* pair with other devices, so it's not the headphones. Its the fact that my son clicked "forget this device" on the iMac instead of "disconnect" when he was trying to disconnect them after using them.

 

[chabig]

Its the fact that my son clicked "forget this device" on the iMac instead of "disconnect" when he was trying to disconnect them after using them.

Maybe. I'm not so sure. All that means is that the Mac no longer knows about those headphones. They are able to be paired again. I'm afraid I'm stumped, but I still suspect the headphones.

Refer to this MacRumors page to reset Bluetooth on the Mac:

https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/reset-mac-bluetooth-module/

 

[Angy]

Maybe. I'm not so sure. All that means is that the Mac no longer knows about those headphones. They are able to be paired again. I'm afraid I'm stumped, but I still suspect the headphones.

Yeah, I imagine I could pair them again if I could get the iMac to recognize that there's a device there, but it won't recognize it. Its odd. I simply don't feel it's the headphones because they work just fine on other devices and pair automatically without any issue when I turn on bluetooth on those devices.

The used to do the same to this machine here, until "forget this device" was clicked, and then it disappeared from the list, and when I look for devices (by opening up BT settings) it doesn't show at all.

Maybe someone else knows how to fix this. Thanks for your time.
[doublepost=1524334539][/doublepost]Ok, it was definitely the iMac. I was able to find an old logitech wired mouse and plugged that in, turned off bluetooth, then turned it back on. Opening up the bluetooth settings using the hot bar at the top and turned on the headphones. Pressed them to pair and when it said pairing about 5 seconds later, they showed up under the "known" devices with a "connect" button next to them. Hit that, and Im connected now.

Hopefully this will help others though, I came across so many threads with people having the same issue but no fixes.
[doublepost=1524334795][/doublepost]

Maybe. I'm not so sure. All that means is that the Mac no longer knows about those headphones. They are able to be paired again. I'm afraid I'm stumped, but I still suspect the headphones.

Refer to this MacRumors page to reset Bluetooth on the Mac:

https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/reset-mac-bluetooth-module/

Just saw this link. I did try that, came across it, didn't work.

Turning it completely off, leaving it off for half a min, then turning it back on, let it recognize there was another device it could connect to.

 

[chabig]

Thanks for posting your solution.