Mac Mini (2018) Big Sur 11.2.3 Bluetooth going in and out

Question

Level 1

22 points

Mac Mini (2018) Big Sur 11.2.3 Bluetooth going in and out

I got my mini last year with 3.2 GHz 6-Core Intel Core i7 and keep it up to date but I'm still having the Bluetooth issue where the keyboard lags, the headphones go out and back on quickly, and the mouse jumps when it catches up.

Others have said that the Big Sur update would fix this, it hasn't. Resetting the Bluetooth module slightly improves things. I've moved my USB devices away from the mini and am trying to stay on the USB a, but my external hard drive is on USB c.

I have a keyboard, printer, mic, and camera on the USB a, connected on a single anker USB hub.

Is there anything else I should be doing to keep my Airpods from going out and on and the magic mouse 2 from stumbling?

Mac mini, macOS 11.2

Posted on Mar 31, 2021 7:15 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

hcsitas

Level 6

12,902 points

Mar 31, 2021 9:00 AM in response to Loretta5ue

You can skip the 2 adapter and buy cables with C on one end and A on the other. So to reconfigure & recap:

Mini’s USB-A to Apple kB/mouse
Mini’s USB-A to camera
Mini’s TB1 to printer using C-to-whatever-the-Printer-has cable
Mini’s TB2 to using adapter or cable if it is separable from Mic
Mini’s TB3 to LaCie
Don’t know about the mouse because the 380 shows up as Bluetooth only...but you still have a free port if it needs one

That said, you may still have problems because there’s too many Bluetooth devices competing for attention. But it won’t cost you much to find out. Give it a shot?

Reply

Answer 2

hcsitas

Level 6

12,902 points

Mar 31, 2021 7:39 AM in response to Loretta5ue

Remove the Anker and connect:

Mini’s USB-A to printer, or replace printer with wireless
Mini’s USB-A to camera
Mini’s headphone port to Mic using a TRSS adapter (note that it has 3 rings not two)
TB1 to keyboard using USB-C to A adapter. Consider replacing with new Apple if it isn’t Magic 2
TB2 to external drive using adapter
Consider replacing mouse with Magic 2 trackpad, and have it share the same port as keyboard for charging

Good luck!

Reply

Answer 3

hcsitas

Level 6

12,902 points

Apr 2, 2021 7:05 AM in response to Loretta5ue

Sorry to know. If possible/applicable, switch to 5 GHz WiFi or Ethernet. If not, you’ll have to eliminate the faulty Bluetooth device(s) by disconnecting them in sequence:

Skullcandies
Skulls & AirPods
(2) & camera
(3) & printer
Logitech kb (replace with wired)

and reconnect based on results.

Reply

Answer 4

Loretta5ue Author

Level 1

22 points

Mar 31, 2021 8:07 AM in response to hcsitas

That seems like alot of extra adapters when most of the solutions I've read online say to have less things connected directly to the mini and to move them away.

These are the devices I currently have:

Bluetooth:

Magic Mouse 2

Original Track Pad (not connected) I don't like using a trackpad for the engineering work I do it doesn't work well remoting into a Windows device

Airpod 2 / Skullcandy Venue headphones / Skullcandy Push Ulta Earbuds

Logitech K380 keyboard

USB a (all connected via Anker hub, mouse is connected using the keyboard's USB)

HP photosmart printer (wifi is tempermental - loses the password)

Apple keyboard

Logitech wireless mouse (no Bluetooth)

Elegtant mic (USB only)

Nexigo Webcam (USB only)

Usb c

Lacie external harddrive

Shouldn't this work without having to buy more things?

Reply

Answer 5

Loretta5ue Author

Level 1

22 points

Mar 31, 2021 9:17 AM in response to hcsitas

ok switched them around, we'll see how it goes. Just short the 1 adapter so the camera isn't connected at the moment which is fine because I'm not recording video for work, just voiceover. (My remote computer doesn't have a camera either.)

Thanks

Reply

Answer 6

Loretta5ue Author

Level 1

22 points

Apr 2, 2021 7:22 AM in response to hcsitas

I am on ethernet, 5G is used when I sidecar. I don't keep my headphones connected, only the Magic Mouse 2 and Logitech keyboard.

I hear the quick disconnections on the AirPods. I'm not fond of a wired keyboard, I currently keep mine in a tray and use it when I'm writing longer things because my shoulders are in a better position with it..

Eventually, I'll be back in an office so this won't matter.

Reply

Answer 7

hcsitas

Level 6

12,902 points

Apr 2, 2021 7:27 AM in response to Loretta5ue

FWIW I can recommend the Magic 2 keyboard - operates both wired and wireless and switches automatically. And another one, no-fuss wired headphones/headset. The mini’s headphone port is top class, you’ll notice a big change in quality (and may stick with it).

Reply