How to Reset Bluetooth on macOS and Reconnect Devices

To reset Bluetooth on macOS, turn Bluetooth off and back on in System Settings, then restart your Mac. If the problem affects just one accessory, forget that device and pair it again. These steps refresh the connection without deleting system preference files. Keep a wired mouse or keyboard handy before toggling Bluetooth on a desktop Mac.

Before you reset Bluetooth

Save any work and make sure you can still control your Mac if Bluetooth accessories disconnect. Apple notes that a desktop Mac won’t let you turn Bluetooth off when its only mouse, keyboard, or trackpad is connected through Bluetooth. Use a wired input device or another available way to control the Mac first.

The steps below use current macOS settings. Older web instructions may tell you to remove Bluetooth preference files or open a hidden Debug menu. Those steps are not part of Apple’s current Mac help for Bluetooth connection problems; start with the built-in controls and target only the accessory that is failing.

Reset Bluetooth on macOS

1. Turn Bluetooth off and on

Choose Apple menu  > System Settings, then select Bluetooth in the sidebar. Switch Bluetooth off, wait a few seconds, and switch it back on. You can also use the Bluetooth control in Control Center. This refreshes the Mac’s Bluetooth connection; it may also interrupt Continuity, Handoff, or Instant Hotspot while Bluetooth is off.

2. Restart the Mac

If the switch does not clear the problem, choose Apple menu  > Restart. Let macOS finish starting, then try the accessory again. A normal restart is enough for this step; don’t force the Mac to shut down unless it has stopped responding.

3. Forget only the accessory that is failing

If your other Bluetooth devices work, remove the pairing for the one that does not. Open System Settings > Bluetooth, Control-click the accessory’s name, and choose Forget or Forget This Device. In some versions, the same command is inside the accessory’s details menu. Forgetting it removes that pairing from the Mac, so the accessory will need to be connected again.

4. Pair the accessory again

Turn the accessory on, charge it if needed, and put it in pairing or discovery mode using its manufacturer’s instructions. Keep it close to the Mac. In System Settings > Bluetooth, look under Nearby Devices and click Connect beside the accessory. Accept a prompt or enter a pairing code if macOS asks.

If Bluetooth still does not work

• Check the accessory: Confirm it is powered on and charged, then switch it off and on. If it is paired to a phone, tablet, or another computer, disconnect it there if the accessory supports only one active connection.
• Check range and interference: Move the accessory closer to the Mac and test in another spot if the connection is choppy. Nearby wireless equipment or physical obstacles can weaken Bluetooth; Apple’s wireless interference guide lists ways to reduce that interference.
• Install available macOS updates: Open System Settings > General > Software Update and install an update compatible with your Mac. Apple explains the update process in its macOS update guide.
• Test another accessory: If only one device fails, the accessory, its battery, or its pairing mode may be the cause. If several known-good devices fail, the issue may be with the Mac. That pattern is a troubleshooting clue, not a diagnosis.

If Bluetooth is missing, unavailable, or still will not turn on after a restart and update, contact Apple Support. If you suspect a hardware problem, Apple Diagnostics can help identify which Mac hardware component may be at fault. For a Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, or Magic Trackpad, Apple also provides device-specific connection steps.

What a Bluetooth reset changes

Turning Bluetooth off and on or restarting the Mac does not ask macOS to forget every accessory. The Forget command is different: it removes the selected accessory’s pairing, and you must connect it again before using it. If you only have trouble with one mouse, speaker, keyboard, or headset, use the per-device step first rather than trying to reset every connection.

For Apple’s current instructions, see how to turn Bluetooth on or off on Mac and how to connect or forget a Bluetooth device.