TL;DR
Here is how you can resolve the Mac Bluetooth not turning on issue:
- Ensure your Mac is charged, as low battery affects Bluetooth.
- Check if Bluetooth is enabled in the Control Center.
- Keep your device within 30 feet and remove interference.
- Refresh the connection by toggling Bluetooth off and on in the Control Center.
Tried and Tested ✅: The methods and steps mentioned in this article have been tried and tested firsthand by Ojash Yadav on his MacBook Pro M3 and rechecked for errors on Hashir’s MacBook Air M2.
Is your Mac Bluetooth not turning on? I had the same issue but found fixes that worked. Here’s how you can get it working again.
Not all Bluetooth devices are fully compatible with macOS. Check the device’s manual or manufacturer’s website to confirm compatibility.
Before Troubleshooting to Fix Mac Bluetooth Not Turning On
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Before extensive troubleshooting for Mac Bluetooth, consider the following steps:
- Check the Battery Level
- Ensure Bluetooth Is Turned On
- Positioning and Interference
6 Best Ways to Fix Mac Bluetooth Not Turning On
If your Mac Bluetooth is still not turning on, you can try the following beginner-friendly methods to fix it.
1. Turn Your Bluetooth Off and On
It may sound trivial but you can refresh the Bluetooth connection by toggling Bluetooth off and back on. This can address any minor issues causing connectivity problems.
To turn Bluetooth off and back on on a Mac, follow these steps:
- Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar at the top-right corner of your Mac’s screen.
- In the drop-down menu, select Bluetooth to disable/enable Bluetooth.
- Toggle off Bluetooth.
- Wait for a few seconds and toggle on the Bluetooth again.
- It will re-enable Bluetooth. Now, check to see if the Bluetooth connectivity has restored.
2. Check Bluetooth Settings
Next, check your Bluetooth settings to see if is turned on and properly paired with your device. This will fix misconfigured settings causing your Mac Bluetooth not turning on.
Follow these steps to check your Bluetooth settings on Mac:
- Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen and select System Settings.
- Click Bluetooth.
- Ensure the Bluetooth toggle is on and your device is listed as Connected.
3. Disconnect All Bluetooth and USB Devices
If your Mac still doesn’t turn on Bluetooth, you may need to remove all devices currently paired with it.
There’s a limit to the number of connected Bluetooth devices on Mac. The maximum number is seven, but sometimes you may experience issues when exceeding three or four devices.
Follow these steps to remove Bluetooth devices from your Mac:
- Click the Apple menu and select System Settings.
- Click Bluetooth.
- Find the device causing the issue and click the Disconnect button next to it to remove it.
- Repeat this process for all Bluetooth devices currently paired with your Mac.
4. Restart Your Mac
Restarting your Mac clears the system’s cache, closes all running programs, and can fix minor software issues causing problems with Bluetooth.
Follow these steps to restart your Mac:
- Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen.
- Select Restart from the drop-down menu.
- Wait for your Mac to restart. Then, turn on your Bluetooth to see if it connects.
5. Update Your macOS
Outdated macOS, apps, or drivers can also cause Bluetooth connectivity issues on your Mac.
⚠️ Before updating macOS, make sure to back up your data to prevent any potential data loss.
Here’s how to update your macOS to fix the Bluetooth connectivity issue:
- Click the Apple menu and select System Settings.
- In the System Settings window, click General in the left sidebar.
- Click Software Update in the right pane.
- In the Software Update settings, you’ll see information about the current macOS version installed on your Mac and any available updates.
- If an update is available, click the Update Now button to start the download process. The macOS update files will start downloading to your Mac.
- Once the download is complete, the macOS installer will automatically launch.
- Your Mac may restart multiple times during the installation.
- Once the installation is complete, your Mac will restart with the latest macOS version.
🚫 Caution: Interrupting the update process can lead to system issues or incomplete installation. Keep your Mac connected to power and avoid shutting it down during the update.
6. Reset Bluetooth Module
This is especially effective if there are software conflicts or corrupted files. It forces your Mac to start the Bluetooth process from scratch, resolving issues causing Bluetooth to malfunction.
In macOS Monterey and Ventura, the Shift ⇧ + Option ⌥ + click on the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar no longer displays a Bluetooth reset option. So, to reset Bluetooth, you will need to execute a command in the Terminal.
Here’s how to reset Bluetooth module on Mac:
- Open Terminal on your Mac by going to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
- Type the following command and press Enter:
sudo pkill bluetoothd
- Type your password and press Enter to execute the command.
- Exit Terminal and restart your Mac.
- Your Bluetooth should work properly now.
Reasons for Mac Bluetooth Not Turning On
Your Mac Bluetooth may not turn on due to a number of reasons. Some of the most common reasons include the following:
- 💻 Hardware Issues: If your Mac has a damaged Bluetooth module, it may be unable to turn on Bluetooth.
- 🔍 Software Conflicts: Some third-party applications or extensions may interfere with Bluetooth.
- 📱 Outdated macOS: An outdated operating system may have compatibility issues with Bluetooth devices. Bugs in macOS can also affect Bluetooth functionality.
- 🗃️ Corrupted System Files: Corrupted system files can prevent Bluetooth from turning on.
- 🔋 Battery Drain: If your Mac’s battery is low or drained, Bluetooth may not turn on.
- 📶 Interference: Bluetooth connectivity can be affected by interference from other wireless devices or even physical objects.
Connect Your Devices With Mac Bluetooth
Now you know how to fix the turning on issue of your Mac Bluetooth. But if you have other connectivity issues with your Bluetooth or other devices, try the following tips:
- Delete .plist files, re-pair devices, or reset settings to fix Bluetooth not available errors.
- Before troubleshooting ensure devices are visible if unable to AirDrop from iPhone to Mac.
- Check batteries, settings, and sensors if your Apple Mouse isn’t working.
