Apple Mac Mini auf einem Holztisch mit bunter Beleuchtung.

Bluetooth Issues with the Mac Mini M4 2024 – an Annoying Start

ByMichael

Sometimes things just don’t go smoothly – like with my new Mac Mini 2024. Since the setup, I’ve been experiencing massive issues with the Bluetooth connection, which honestly frustrate me quite a bit.

The Problem: Dropping Bluetooth Connections

I use three Apple peripherals: Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad. In theory, this setup should be perfect for the Mac Mini. However, reality looks different:

  • The Bluetooth connection drops intermittently – sometimes only one device loses connection, other times all three at once.
  • The intervals between the breaks range from 30 seconds to 10 minutes.
  • Very rarely, one of the two displays connected via Thunderbolt may go black for a few seconds.

Attempts at Solutions: None

Of course, I immediately searched the internet for possible solutions. Here are the measures I am trying out:

  1. Disable interference signals: I turn off all other Bluetooth transmitters in the vicinity.
  2. Turn off Wi-Fi: To avoid potential interference with the 2.4 GHz band, I am testing the Mac Mini without Wi-Fi. Fortunately, there is a network port available.
  3. Safe Mode: As recommended by Apple Support, I will start the Mac Mini in safe mode to rule out software issues.

How to Start the Mac Mini in Safe Mode

If you are experiencing similar issues, you can test the safe mode as follows:

  1. Shut down the Mac Mini.
  2. Press the power button until the boot menu appears.
  3. Click on the hard drive where macOS is installed.
  4. Hold down the Shift key until the option “Start in Safe Mode” appears under the hard drive.
  5. Click this button to start the safe mode.

Unfortunately, this step hasn’t brought any improvement for me either. Since I hadn’t installed any programs except for xCode and Lightroom, this wasn’t really expected.

Apple Support Recommendation: Exchange

After contacting Apple Support, I was advised to exchange the device. Since I am still within the return period, the friendly representative suggested that I return the device directly, as the warranty process would be more complicated for me.

  • The support assumes a possible hardware failure.
  • I should make use of my right of exchange, as the usual measures will likely not provide a remedy.

Annoying Returns

The biggest problem: The Mac Mini is currently unavailable anywhere. This makes the return even more frustrating, as I would have actually liked to continue working with the device.

And: I have to set up the device completely from scratch if I can’t transfer my data directly from the old to the new Mac Mini.

Conclusion

The Bluetooth issues make it impossible for me to use the Mac Mini effectively. Although the device has a lot of potential in terms of performance and design, my unit is only usable with a lot of patience. A situation that would not be sustainable in the long run.

I hope that my Mac Mini remains an exception and that the Bluetooth connection drops are not a general issue. Online, you can find that problems of this kind have been reported across several model generations.

If you have similar issues, feel free to let me know in the comments – maybe we can find a solution together!

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