How to fix Bluetooth Not Turning on for Mac?

How to fix Bluetooth Not Turning on for Mac?.

Are you having trouble turning on Bluetooth on your Mac? Various reasons such as a faulty Bluetooth module or a corrupted configuration often cause this. Work through these fixes to enable Bluetooth on Mac.

Bluetooth is an essential feature on any Mac, allowing keyboards, trackpads, headsets, and various other peripherals to connect to your macOS device wirelessly. It also supports Continuity features like Handoff and Universal Control if you have an iPhone or iPad.

If the Bluetooth status icon is disabled in your Mac’s Control Center or menu bar and you can’t turn Bluetooth on, you should fix it as soon as possible. Read on to find out how to fix Bluetooth not turning on on Mac.

1. Restart Your Mac

Have you tried restarting your Mac? Restarting the system is usually enough to resolve random errors and conflicts that prevent Bluetooth from working.

To restart your Mac, open the Apple menu and choose Restart. For best results, uncheck “Reopen windows” when logging back in and select “Restart” again to confirm.

2. Reset the Macâ€™s Bluetooth Module

If you’re still having problems turning Bluetooth on or seeing the “Bluetooth is not available” error, you should reset your Mac’s Bluetooth module. Follow these steps for your version of macOS on your Mac.

macOS Monterey and later

1. Open the launchpad and select Other > Terminal to open the Terminal.

2 Type the following command and press Enter:

sudo pkill bluetoothd

3. Enter your Mac’s administrator password and press Enter again to execute the command.

macOS Big Sur

1. Open the Control Center.

2. Hold down the Shift + Option (Alt) keys and expand the Bluetooth icon (select the arrow icon next to it).

3. Select Reset Bluetooth.

macOS Catalina and earlier

1. Hold down the Shift + Option key.

2. Select the Bluetooth icon from the menu bar.

2. Select Debug and select Reset Bluetooth Module.

3. Delete the Bluetooth Preferences

If resetting the Bluetooth module did not help, you need to delete the Bluetooth settings file in macOS. This forces the operating system to recreate the Bluetooth configuration and takes corruption issues out of the equation.

1. Open Finder and select Go > Go to folder in the menu bar.

2. Copy and paste the following path and press Enter:

/Library/Settings

3. Locate and move the following PLIST file to your Mac Trash:

com.apple.bluetooth.plist

4. Restart your Mac.

5. Try to activate Bluetooth on your Mac again.

Note: Restore the PLIST file from the trash if you encounter any other problems or errors after uploading to the desktop area.

4. Avoid USB Interference

In rare cases, wired USB devices can cause interference and interfere with the Bluetooth functionality on your Mac. Unplug all wired peripherals except keyboard and mouse and see if that makes a difference.

If it helps, here’s what you should do to avoid Bluetooth connection problems in the future:

Use good quality shielded USB cables to connect your devices. Move your USB devices away from your Mac. Turn off any USB devices that are not in use.

5. Reset NVRAM or PRAM

If your Mac’s Bluetooth issues persist, you can reset the NVRAM (or PRAM). NVRAM (short for Non-Volatile Random Access Memory) contains various configurations of system functions, so resetting it can resolve potential data corruption issues.

Note. You cannot reset NVRAM on silicon Apple Macs.

1. Turn off your Mac.

2. Turn it back on by holding down the Option, Command, P, and R keys.

3. Continue holding until you hear the Mac double beep. If your Mac is using the Apple T2 security chip, wait until the Apple logo appears a second time.

6. Reset the SMC

If resetting the NVRAM didn’t help, you need to continue troubleshooting by resetting the SMC (System Management Controller). This is the component that controls various low-level hardware settings on your Mac.

Note: Again, SMC reset is not possible on silicon Apple Macs.

Resetting SMC on iMac and Mac mini is pretty easy. Simply turn off the device, unplug the power cable, and wait at least 15 seconds before plugging it back in.

However, if you’re using a MacBook Pro or Air, you must rely on certain key combinations and presses that change depending on whether the device comes with the Apple T2 security chip.

MacBook without T2 security chip

1. Turn off your Mac and unplug the charging cable.

2. Press and hold the Shift, Control, and Option keys. Then hold down the power button without releasing the other keys.

3. Release all four keys after 10 seconds and press the Power button to turn on your Mac.

MacBook with T2 security chip

1. Turn off your Mac.

2 Hold down the Control, Option, and Shift keys simultaneously for seven seconds.

3. Hold down the power button without releasing the other keys for another seven seconds.

4. Release all four keys.

5. Press the power button to turn on your Mac.

7. Update macOS

macOS updates contain bug fixes and new hardware drivers that can fix persistent Bluetooth issues on your Mac. To check for pending system software updates and install them:

1. Open the Apple menu and select About This Mac.

2. Select Software Update.

3. Select Update Now.

Note. If you run into problems during installation, learn what you can do to fix stuck macOS updates.

8. Factory Reset macOS

Resetting macOS to factory defaults can fix any underlying software-related issues causing Bluetooth problems on your Mac. Set up Time Machine ahead of time so you can quickly restore your data later.

If you’re using macOS Monterey or later, resetting macOS is pretty easy.

1. Open the System Preferences app on your Mac.

2. Select System Preferences > Erase All Content and Settings from the menu bar.

3. Enter your Mac’s administrator password and follow all on-screen instructions to restart your Mac.

If you’re using macOS Big Sur or earlier, you can only factory reset your Mac using macOS Restore. Check out the full guide on how to reset macOS for more details.

9. Visit a Genius Bar

If none of the fixes above worked, try troubleshooting your Mac in Safe Mode. If that doesn’t work either, you may be dealing with a faulty Bluetooth module. Make an appointment at your nearest Apple Store and see your Mac like an Apple Genius.