Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Some Apple M1 Mac Owners Reporting Bluetooth Connectivity Issues
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
My Apple Magic Keyboard works fine, never a problem, but if the computer is shut down, it will not re-connect to my Microsoft Mouse 3600 (Bluetooth). Needs a USB (wired/wireless) mouse to get the party re-started.
{Mac mini M1 16GB / 1TB SSD}
{Mac mini M1 16GB / 1TB SSD}
Anyone had issues with Powerbeats Pro Wireless connected to a Mini M1? Mine headphones, which have worked great for 2+ years and stay solidly connected to both an Intel-MBP (2019) and my iPhone 12Pro, keep dropping connection to the Mini during Zoom calls.
HELP!!!!
HELP!!!!
Would be great to know how bluetooth is going in the 11.1 betas. Can anyone give us an update on this?
I'm having this issue as well. There is an input delay, in addition to the sporadic inclusion of extra spaces, characters, and unprompted deletion of words...it seems to have a mind of its own! I'm using a third-party keyboard that works perfectly with my iPhone and iPad. I hope this is not a hardware issue and can be fixed with an update.
Since Logitech's rf "unifying receiver" works flawlessly for me across both Mac and Windows machines, and Bluetooth is quite shoddy under a lot of different circumstances, this is the only appropriate answer.
Oddly, I never had issues with my old 2009 MBP and various Bluetooth keyboards and mice. Never used the unifying receiver because Bluetooth just worked. On the 2018 mini Bluetooth is a nightmare even if the range of 5.0 is much greater than what the 2009 MBP used (2.0?).
I guess we'll get rf level stability when Apple introduces something like the "W1" Bluetooth chip to devices that aren't for audio. Would be a game-changer.
I think the issue today is there are so many more bluetooth devices in our homes or near by when we are in apartment complex.
For me me Macs are fine if they are not around any other devices. If I have another Mac, a iPad or my iPhone in close proximity to my Mac bluetooth is a nightmare. Frequent disconnects of my Magic Keyboard and Mouse.
Blue tooth seems to be find if you have one device communicating to an other device. But throw in more devices nearby and bluetooth sucks.
For me me Macs are fine if they are not around any other devices. If I have another Mac, a iPad or my iPhone in close proximity to my Mac bluetooth is a nightmare. Frequent disconnects of my Magic Keyboard and Mouse.
Blue tooth seems to be find if you have one device communicating to an other device. But throw in more devices nearby and bluetooth sucks.
For what it's worth, I've been experiencing the same bluetooth glitches on my 2018 Mac mini. Mainly mouse issues. I've exhausted all of the same avenues that have been previously mentioned with no success.
BUT! After some research and trial & error tonight I've found something that may work. I put a 2" roll of blue tape under the Mac mini and placed it on my desk and I haven't had any major bluetooth issues in the last 6 hours. Ive noticed a couple of very small hiccups but nothing major. Maybe the casing itself around the Mac mini is causing the issue.
Not sure if this will work for everyone but place something hollow under your Mini and see what happens.
Best of luck and Happy Holidays!
BUT! After some research and trial & error tonight I've found something that may work. I put a 2" roll of blue tape under the Mac mini and placed it on my desk and I haven't had any major bluetooth issues in the last 6 hours. Ive noticed a couple of very small hiccups but nothing major. Maybe the casing itself around the Mac mini is causing the issue.
Not sure if this will work for everyone but place something hollow under your Mini and see what happens.
Best of luck and Happy Holidays!
Last edited:
I have the same issue on my Mac mini M1. Only started to happen after switching from LAN to Wifi connection to my home network. I prefer to stay on Wifi, but this interrupts are painful. Hope this will be a software fix soon.
I used a mid-2011 Mac since, well, mid-2011, and never had a single issue with bluetooth connectivity. It's been creeping like sludge for some time; I was just waiting for the M1. So, got the Mac Mini M1. First day, noticed the bluetooth keyboard (Logitech) and mouse (Apple) disconnecting and re-connecting briefly and sporadically. Put it to sleep the first night. Next morning, neither bluetooth device could wake it up. Tried all the usual things; finally physically shut off Mini Mac and turned back on. Got the sign-in screen, but neither bluetooth device would respond, so couldn't sign in: stuck at the log-on page. Read all over on the internet, stuff like you folks have written: mostly intermittent disconnecting problems while using, but a couple also that couldn't log on. Talked to an Apple supervisor by phone; she was reading on it as we talked. Suggested using a USB-wired keyboard to get in. Didn't have one. She said it looks like a software glitch and will have to wait for upgrade (she was very pleasant, but obviously hypothesizing). She then made an appointment with me later that same day at the closest Apple store. Went there: prayed it wouldn't work when they hooked it up to their monitors but with my bluetooth devices. I told the guy I hoped it wouldn't work. He understood. IT WORKED! Curses! Spent a long time with them; obviously I knew as much as they did, and they said I would have to wait for an upgrade; meanwhile, maybe get a cheap USB keyboard, etc., to play it safe.
Guy at 3rd party store said I didn't need wired, just USB dongle 2.4; sold me a 2.4Ghz keyboard/mouse for $16USD (I live in Hong Kong). Plugged the dongle in and I am all set up. Works perfectly, except that it uses one of my precious ports on Mini Mac, and the mouse is a jerky wheel. The bluetooth connectivity seemed to be worsening right before I hooked up this makeshift equipment. I had a great Sony bluetooth speaker issuing gorgeous sounds (got the LG Ultrafine 4K 24" from Apple). In the couple hours before I shutdown the bluetooth devices, it was breaking up continuously. Anyway, I'm able to function at the moment (except for the shift key the size of half a Scrabble block).
Next disappointment was that my Kindle App won't work on the M1. I hate computers. They make me freeze up, feel powerless, become a grouch, want to reach for my Stihl chainsaw (yes, I have a chainsaw in Hong Kong; cut up log rounds after typhoons and make clocks out of them on my rooftop). I grew up felling 5' diameter Douglas Fir in Washington State: the two (computers and logging) just don't mix. Give me a splitting mall and some log rounds any day and I am a happy camper. Thankfully I have three daughters whom I homeschool. My 11-year old saved me within 10 minutes by introducing me to Kindle Cloud Reader! Not the best compared to the Kindle app and my Oasis, but it will get the job done while meeting with my students online.
I sure hope this is just a software/Big Sur issue. If not, Apple may have to do a re-call (do they do that for computers?)
Guy at 3rd party store said I didn't need wired, just USB dongle 2.4; sold me a 2.4Ghz keyboard/mouse for $16USD (I live in Hong Kong). Plugged the dongle in and I am all set up. Works perfectly, except that it uses one of my precious ports on Mini Mac, and the mouse is a jerky wheel. The bluetooth connectivity seemed to be worsening right before I hooked up this makeshift equipment. I had a great Sony bluetooth speaker issuing gorgeous sounds (got the LG Ultrafine 4K 24" from Apple). In the couple hours before I shutdown the bluetooth devices, it was breaking up continuously. Anyway, I'm able to function at the moment (except for the shift key the size of half a Scrabble block).
Next disappointment was that my Kindle App won't work on the M1. I hate computers. They make me freeze up, feel powerless, become a grouch, want to reach for my Stihl chainsaw (yes, I have a chainsaw in Hong Kong; cut up log rounds after typhoons and make clocks out of them on my rooftop). I grew up felling 5' diameter Douglas Fir in Washington State: the two (computers and logging) just don't mix. Give me a splitting mall and some log rounds any day and I am a happy camper. Thankfully I have three daughters whom I homeschool. My 11-year old saved me within 10 minutes by introducing me to Kindle Cloud Reader! Not the best compared to the Kindle app and my Oasis, but it will get the job done while meeting with my students online.
I sure hope this is just a software/Big Sur issue. If not, Apple may have to do a re-call (do they do that for computers?)
Mac-mini M1 & Logitech keyboard K811 with Master3 mouse. Initial poor connectivity cured by following Logitech suggestion on their site.
"Encryption turned off" result happiness. Home user so no 'mission criticsl' info stored (including banking etc.).
Might help others. The keyboard is quite old (Bluetooth 3) but still my favourite of many, many tried. Master 3 mouse just the best overused so very glad all now OK...
"Encryption turned off" result happiness. Home user so no 'mission criticsl' info stored (including banking etc.).
Might help others. The keyboard is quite old (Bluetooth 3) but still my favourite of many, many tried. Master 3 mouse just the best overused so very glad all now OK...
I hate all the 'workarounds'. Mine didn't work so I sent it back, it's not acceptable, I'm back using my 2015 MBP with no issues, I miss the speed of the M1, but that does not outweigh the annoyance of a mouse that doesn't work all the time.
Wrapping cables in copper, turning off wifi??, balancing on a bit of cardboard, not using ports, buying bluetooth adapters. It's not how it should be, when it works I'll buy again, if Apple doesn't fix it, I won't.
Wrapping cables in copper, turning off wifi??, balancing on a bit of cardboard, not using ports, buying bluetooth adapters. It's not how it should be, when it works I'll buy again, if Apple doesn't fix it, I won't.
Problem is that we the general public do not know where a problem like this is centred. Apple or Third party??
During the "it just works" days my HP printer didn't. Later my Epson scanner didn't; subsequently routers/switches/modems metal have all at one time or anther 'not worked'. Who Ya Gonna Call? In the passed 15 years with Apple there have been and continue to be bits that just don't work(at the time) but believe me solutions arrive (sometimes without warning) and one way or another the waters smooth over until the next time I decide to fix something that isn't there.
My 'workaround' is beyond my technical knowledge but it works and even if it had not something else would have. The M1 mini is a beautiful machine elegant, functional, cool and silent. Funnily enough all the things that the old mini is accused of NOT being. Swings and roundabouts.
It’s Apple products not working with Apple products. My MBP works fine in the same environment. I tried several workarounds, even just used the Magic Mouse with nothing else connected or near, all wifi off. Still lost connection.
A number of M1 Mac owners are reporting problems with Bluetooth connectivity on the new machines, ranging from intermittent disconnects of wireless peripherals to completely non-functional Bluetooth connections.
Some users with M1 MacBook Air, M1 MacBook Pro 13-inch, and M1 Mac mini models are variously seeing problems with both third-party accessories like Bluetooth mice, keyboards, and headphones, as well as Apple products such as AirPods, Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard.
M1 owners have taken to the MacRumors forums and Reddit to discuss the glitches, and Mac mini owners appear to be worst affected, with the problems compounded by the fact that many rely on wireless peripherals to interact with their Mac in order to free up available ports.
One user reported identical issues after receiving a replacement unit from Apple, while another user was able to successfully connect their Logitech accessory using the included Unifying Receiver Bluetooth dongle. However, there's still no consensus on whether it's a software problem or something more deep-seated.
It's not clear how widespread the problems are, but Bluetooth issues certainly aren't unheard of on Macs. Nevertheless, the news will be disconcerting for anyone who relies heavily on Bluetooth connectivity and is waiting on a new M1 Mac. Apple has yet to respond to the issues, but we will update this article if we hear anything soon.
Article Link: Some Apple M1 Mac Owners Reporting Bluetooth Connectivity Issues
How to turn off the encryption then?
M1 mini, Apple mouse and keyboard
NO
Before 11.1 (for 1 week) no issues at all and very happy.
After 11.1 mouse connection often bad, headphone (WH-H900N) awful, not happy anymore.
Would you mind sharing what feature you were asked to turn off? How long is a “short term fix”? Appreciate any details!
I can't find the thread where I got the solution from. Basically go to
System Prefs>Security & Privacy>Location Services>System Services>Details
and un-check Wifi Networking. My cheap BT Keyboard and Mouse are now reliable. It's like night and day from when I first started using them. I typed this post with the BT Keyboard and no lag or delay. Thank you to whoever posted that. Hope it works for everyone. I have a base M1 Mac mini and it's connected wirelessly on my network.
System Prefs>Security & Privacy>Location Services>System Services>Details
and un-check Wifi Networking. My cheap BT Keyboard and Mouse are now reliable. It's like night and day from when I first started using them. I typed this post with the BT Keyboard and no lag or delay. Thank you to whoever posted that. Hope it works for everyone. I have a base M1 Mac mini and it's connected wirelessly on my network.
I’m thinking to buy a M1 mini and I’ll use wireless keyboard and mouse from Apple. If this trick is a working one, specially with Apple peripherals, I think I’ll take the new Mini. If not, I’ll stick with my old Mini late 2014 until the next generation or at least when Apple will issue a fix.
So there are others with the BT fixed using this trick?