Unplugged USB-A and no more bluetooth dropping issues

[mykidisluke]

So I began to have bluetooth devices dropping out intermittently which is very irritating on my 2018 Mac mini i3 model. The bluetooth devices are a Magic Trackpad and Magic Mouse. I seem to have achieved stability by unplugging all USB-A devices from the back of the mini. Since I have plenty of USB-A devices, I am using USB-C to USB-A adapters to connect these, including a USB hub built into one of my monitors to connect more.

I wanted to compare notes on this issue. I'm fully patched up to current on MacOS. I believe this is a known issue - but I wanted to hear if anyone has any thoughts! (beyond this seems like something Apple definitely should fix - maybe some inadequate shielding or something?)

What do you think!

 

[nicho]

25 pages of the notes you're looking to compare right here:

25

 

[Boyd01]

Using a wired mouse on my USB-A port with occasional other peripherals. I have two USB SSD's and my monitor connected to the USB-C ports. Never had any problems with my Apple Magic Keyboard over bluetooth in over two months of heavy use. I also have a bluetooth Magic Mouse that works fine, but I never use it because the lack of a middle button and physical scroll wheel are problematic for the legacy Windows app that I use heavily.

But those are the only bluetooth devices I ever use with my 2018 Mini.

 

[neilr_]

I haven't looked through that 25 page thread, but I will.

I recently connected a Plugable USB 3.0 hub to my 2018 Mac mini (via a USB-A port) and immediately started having bluetooth issues. I have a Matias bluetooth keyboard and an Apple Magic Trackpad 2. I was experiencing a lot of lag with both devices, as well as strings of disconnects/reconnects. When I powered off the hub (it has its own power switch), but didn't disconnect the cables, these problems went away.

Previously, I had a Logitech webcam and a Fujitsu ScanSnap (both USB 2.0 devices) connected to the USB-A ports and did not experience bluetooth issues.

 

[steve217]

I haven't looked through that 25 page thread, but I will.

That thread is a long slog - a painful tale of superstition and frustration - the symptoms are all the same but the solutions vary; new hubs, different devices, moving hubs and devices to different parts of the desk.

Apple will never fix the problem so find a happy setup where your mouse and keyboard work reliably and then put the problem out of your mind.

Many have found a peace by simply writing off the two USB-A ports on the back of the machine and getting on with their lives.

 

[Boyd01]

My setup is still happy, no bluetooth problems here.

 

[deksawyer]

If my old Imac is switched on, the BT drops frequently, when not on, it drops occasionaly. Well the KB does, the mouse seems to be fine....nothing in my USB A ports either....

 

[neilr_]

Apple will never fix the problem

As I understand it, this isn't Apple's problem to fix. I worked with someone who was far too entangled in USB 3.0 certification for his own good. He told me horror stories about what a mess USB 3.0 was from the beginning and it never got better. Interference in the 2.4GHz range was just one of the plagues… :-(