I have lost track of the number of times that I have had to reconnect Bluetooth devices to my various electronic gadgets.
I’ve spent far too much time configuring the Bluetooth connection of new items, from the numerous Bluetooth accessories that I’ve accumulated, such as Bluetooth speakers and headphones, to the multiplicity of other Bluetooth accessories.
My experience has taught me how to manage the ins and outs of Bluetooth connections, as well as the potential issues that may arise.
Although this is not a comprehensive guide to resolving all of your Bluetooth issues, it is a good place to start.
After my Mac has forgotten about my Bluetooth devices, how can I re-connect them so that they may be used?
The chip in a Bluetooth device should automatically switch to its searching to pair mode as soon as it is no longer able to receive signals from your computer. After that, fixing the device should be as easy as locating it on your list of Bluetooth devices on your Mac and doing the same thing you did the first time you made the connection to it.
Resetting your Bluetooth device to factory settings is a safe option to take if you are unsure whether or not it is now in pairing mode. This will turn it back on in pairing mode and clear any onboard pairing memory that it may have had.
The procedure differs depending on the type of gadget being used.
The behavior of an LED light that is situated close to the controls of your device can typically provide you with information regarding the mode that it is now operating in.
For instance, the Magic Keyboard that is included with more recent iMacs provides a straightforward procedure for resetting its settings.
Find the little power switch that’s tucked away in the top right corner of the back of the keyboard.
Rotate the knob of the small switch so that the color red is displayed. It should now be fully inoperable when you do this. Now, simply turn the switch around so that the green light is illuminated.
It ought to start working again.
When it is in pairing mode, the LED will blink to indicate this status.
Simply look for your keyboard on the accessible devices list inside the Bluetooth settings of your iMac or Macbook.
Additionally, you can command the Bluetooth connections on your Mac from the desktop of your computer.
There is a Bluetooth menu item on the bar if all you want to do is turn the Bluetooth module on or off.
Simply make your selection to turn Bluetooth on or off.
You can also access the Bluetooth settings by going to the Apple menu if for some reason this menu button is disabled on your device.
Launch the menu, then navigate to System Preferences and pick Bluetooth from the list there.
When a computer “forgets” a device, what exactly does this mean?
Data is stored on your Mac so that it can properly identify the wired and wireless peripherals to which it is connected.
This information is used to determine how compatible the device is with your Mac and make any necessary adjustments.
It does this by sending signals in both directions, which enables your speakers to make sound and keep themselves up to date, as well as your keyboard strokes to be translated onto the screen.
The vast majority of the functional information is saved on the device itself, whereas drivers are kept on the actual computer.
If you tell your Mac to forget a device that it had previously paired with, it will erase the memory of the device as well as any settings that were linked with it.
Devices that run on Apple’s macOS don’t have to worry as much about the possibility of losing their drivers, thankfully.
Because of this, forgotten devices will not connect automatically and will need to be fixed.
It is not a cause for alarm even if you find that you have forgotten your computer’s mouse or keyboard.
You will still have the ability to re-establish a connection with it without too much difficulty.
When it comes to gadgets such as Bluetooth speakers, there is no repercussion for removing the speaker from the memory of your computer.
It is possible to repair it and put it to use with very little to no effort at all.
People who take their Bluetooth speakers with them when they travel will find this to be very encouraging news.
You are free to forget about and unplug Bluetooth devices at any time you see fit.
It is recommended that you tell your Mac to forget about any devices that you’ve linked with it even if they don’t belong to you.
Configuration and Preferences of the Device
Certain Bluetooth keyboards and mice include particular drivers that govern specialized features. These drivers can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website.
The majority of the time, it consists of additional keys for the creation of custom macros and RGB lights.
If you forget a Bluetooth device that has specialist software drivers, it may be difficult to reconnect the item such that it is in good working order. This can be the case in various situations.
If you are lucky, the only thing you will have to do in the window for pairing the Bluetooth device clicks on the device.
On the other hand, if your device can reconnect to Bluetooth but does not function appropriately, you may need to delete the driver management software and then reinstall it.
When Is the Appropriate Time to Tell My Mac to Forget About a Bluetooth Device?
When a wireless device has too many connections, it can become confused about which device it is speaking to and start talking to the wrong one.
This frequently results in the speakers failing to play music.
It is unable to determine which of the devices it should listen to.
Turning off the Bluetooth module on your Mac is a potential solution to this problem that you may encounter.
It’s possible that you won’t be able to use this option if your Mac is still making frequent use of its Bluetooth connections for other tasks.
To fix this issue, all you need to do is temporarily delete the speaker from the list of known Bluetooth devices associated with your Mac.
It is simple to reconnect at a later time, and doing so makes your speaker available for usage in other locations.
There are other scenarios in which you might require your Mac to forget a Bluetooth device besides this one.
Connectivity issues with Bluetooth: Troubleshooting
You should expect to have issues with the responsiveness of the gadget every once in a while.
After installing an update, your keyboard’s response time may become slower.
The mouse clicks can grow less sensitive over time.
Headphones and speakers can develop poor connections and experience disturbances in the playing of music.
You will need to proceed through the procedures to determine what exactly is wrong with your hardware. This is true regardless of the nature of the issue.
You’ve probably heard the expression, “have you tried turning it off and then turning it back on again?” This will require turning off any Bluetooth devices you have as well as resetting any connections you have established with them.
To unplug the device from your Mac completely, you will need to force it to forget about the connection.
Utilizing a Fresh Method
Sometimes getting rid of a Bluetooth connection isn’t about finding a solution to an issue at all.
When the sun is shining brightly, you’ll need to connect new toys to your Mac so that you may utilize them.
Even though your computer can manage several Bluetooth connections at once, there are sometimes issues that arise when connecting many devices that are the same kind.
It’s time to put away your outdated equipment and give your Mac some space to breathe.
Data Security
Sharing images, movies, or speakers might be among the many activities that can be completed noticeably more quickly by utilizing Bluetooth connectivity.
Because of the speed with which data can be transferred, taking precautions is necessary.
Some devices are not user-friendly.
If you make the mistake of connecting to a potentially dangerous device, you will want to ensure that your Mac deletes any traces of its previous interaction with the device.
First, you should run diagnostic software, then you should remove any malware that may have been installed, and last, you should disconnect your Mac from the infected device.
Where exactly can I find the Bluetooth settings for my Mac?
System Preferences is where macOS stores all of your computer’s settings and controls in an organized fashion for you to access.
System Preferences can be accessed via the Apple menu on your computer.
It’s also possible that it’s already positioned in your program dock, which is located at the bottom of the screen.
When you first launch System Preferences, you will see a window that contains four rows of different settings to choose from.
Choose the Bluetooth icon from the menu.
Adjustable Parameters
Through the settings window for Bluetooth, you will have access to the controls and connections for your Bluetooth device.
You’ll notice a switch labeled “on/off” that allows you to turn the Bluetooth module of your Mac on and off.
You will also be shown a list of devices that are compatible with Bluetooth.
At the top of the list are all of the known or previously paired devices, together with the current status of their connections.
You can locate additional Bluetooth devices that are within the pairing range below them.
If you go to the settings options and pick the box labeled “advanced,” you’ll have three choices at your disposal:
- Launch the Bluetooth Setup Assistant upon system startup if there is no identified keyboard;
- Launch the Bluetooth Setup Assistant during startup if the computer does not identify a mouse or trackpad; and
- Allow connections made using Bluetooth to wake the computer (e.g. mouse movement, or pressing a key).
What Kinds of Electronic Gadgets Are Compatible with Bluetooth?
You should now be aware that the Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse that came along with your iMac when you bought it are both Bluetooth accessories.
On the other hand, Bluetooth is used for a lot of different things besides only making wireless input connections quickly.
The most typical use for it is to connect wireless speakers.
The number of available Bluetooth devices is always expanding.
You can take advantage of the Bluetooth technology in a wide variety of different settings and configurations.
The following is a list of some of the Bluetooth devices that are currently available on the market today:
- Speakers
- \sKeyboards
- \sMice
- Accessories such as headphones, headsets, and earbuds
- Gamepads
- \sPrinters
- Webcams and other types of cameras
- Smartphones
- \sTablets
- Monitors
- GPS \s
- Hard-drives
A Few Parting Thoughts
This advice should have helped resolve any issues you were experiencing with Bluetooth.
After re-establishing the connection between your Bluetooth device and your Mac, you are free to resume your previous activities, including working or playing on your computer.
If you control your device’s Bluetooth module through the intuitive and user-friendly interface that comes standard on a Mac, you should have no trouble connecting it and ensuring that it functions normally.
It is important to keep in mind that you can restart the Bluetooth device directly if simply utilizing the software controls on the computer does not solve the problem. You are capable of accomplishing this.
