Imac Mouse disconnecting

[Chrisman]

Dear Forum, Please let me know if Im either in the wrong forum or if iMac hardware problems are not relevant to your 'theme' But to the problem: my mouse keeps showing "not connected'' then will spontaneously show "connected'' I changed the batteries but it didnt help. When I look at the mouse underside, when it is in "not connected mode'' the green sensor lite seems to be blinking (not on continuously) Any suggestions ? Is the mouse likely crapping out or might it be a more systemic 'communication' matter? Thanks for you help Chrisman

 

[cjmnews]

This is a bit out of my range, as I don't have this hardware, but I'll try anyway.

The light can flash in a code to indicate that it is ready to connect via Bluetooth, the code is: flash twice in succession, pause, then repeats (blink-blink-pause, blink-blink-pause). If this is what your mouse is doing, then I suspect that the Bluetooth on your iMac is randomly disconnecting.

There is apparently a bug in the macOS High Sierra 10.13.2 that's causing this, and resetting the iMac Bluetooth may resolve it.

I am assuming you can see the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar on the top right hand side.
Here is how you can see it:
Apple logo → System Preferences → Dock and Menu → Select the Bluetooth from the sidebar and select Show in Menu Bar.

From the OS X desktop, hold down the Shift+Option keys and then click on the Bluetooth menu item to reveal the hidden Debug menu.
Select Reset the Bluetooth module. Note: If using macOS Catalina, click Debug and reset the Bluetooth module.

Once the reset is complete, it may start working properly again.

Other alternatives are:

• Disable and reenable Bluetooth on the iMac
• Removing the mouse and adding it back in from the Bluetooth devices.
• Resetting devices to factory state, which will remove the device from the iMac, and reset the mouse to factory defaults. You'll need to set it up as if it was brand new. May need a wired mouse to accomplish this.
• Replace the mouse with a USB dongle mouse to get away from Bluetooth and still be wireless
• Replace the mouse with a USB wired mouse

 

[Chrisman]

Dear cjmnews, Wow, youve covered alot of ground. For the record, Im usisng OSX is El Capitan 10.11.6 Ive tried following your guide--yes, I have the bluetooth icon in the upper right. But in both 'bluetooth preferences and 'mouse preferences It reads 'connected' which it is at the moment, and concurrently, the mouse 'green light ' is on continuously. It now seems to be working. But do tell me, 1) whether you think a new 'apple wireless ' mouse would be in order (this one dates to 2013) and/or 2) if it is bluetooth crapping out would a 'plug in' mouse ignore need for bluetooth connection? Oh yes, and do you know why Ive not gotten email notice of your response to my post ? I had to log into iLounge to see it Thanks again for your help Chrisman

 

[cjmnews]

The mouse would have to be disconnected to see the code, if everything is working the code will not show.

The reset and the first 3 alternatives are things that should fix the disconnection problem. They may fix it permanently.

1) I can’t determine if the mouse is bad or not yet. Usually it is the Mac that has the issues. The third alternative is the one to use if you think the mouse has the problem. If you had Bluetooth headphones connected to the Mac when the mouse disconnects and the headphones stay connected, then the mouse is probably the issue. If the headphones also disconnect at the same time, then it is the Mac.

2) I can’t determine if the Mac Bluetooth module is bad or not. The Reset the Bluetooth Module process is the one to use if you think the Mac has the problem.

As for email notifications, you must not be watching the thread. You can tap Watch at the top right of the thread to watch this one.

If you want to watch all threads, tap on your avatar at the top of the page, tap Preferences, then under Email Options, check “Receive email when a new conversation message is received” then tap the Save button at the bottom.