Bluetooth Quick Assist

What do you need help with?

• Tell me how to sync my Bluetooth device with my computer
• I'm having trouble getting my device to sync with my computer

Syncing Bluetooth Devices with Your Mac

1) Make Sure That Your Computer Has Bluetooth
If you didn't physically connect a Bluetooth adapter to your computer, make sure that your computer has a Bluetooth module installed. In Mac OS X 10.3 and later, open System Preferences (from the Apple menu, choose System Preferences) and verify that “Bluetooth” appears in the Hardware section of the window.

2) Turn On Bluetooth
In System Preferences, click Bluetooth and then click the Settings tab. If you don't see “Bluetooth Power: On,” click the “Turn Bluetooth On” button. Make sure that you also enable Bluetooth on your device too, please refer to your device's documentation for instructions.

3) Set Up a New Device
To set up a Bluetooth phone or PDA, click the Devices tab in Bluetooth preferences and then click “Set Up New Device” to open the Bluetooth Setup Assistant. Follow the onscreen instructions to set up your device. To set up an Apple Wireless Keyboard and Mouse, open System Preferences, click Keyboard & Mouse, click the Bluetooth tab, and then click “Set Up New Device” to open the Bluetooth Setup Assistant. Follow the onscreen instructions to set up your keyboard and mouse.

Additional Bluetooth How-To Help
All Apple computers come with built-in Mac Help that provides step-by-step instructions to do many activities on your computer. For additional Bluetooth help, in the Finder choose Mac Help from the Help menu and then type Bluetooth in the search field in the upper-right corner.

Top 10 Troubleshooting Tips

1) Make Sure That You Have Bluetooth
If you didn't physically connect a Bluetooth adapter to your computer, find out if you actually have a Bluetooth module installed in your computer. In Mac OS X 10.3 and later, open System Preferences and verify that “Bluetooth” appears in the Hardware section. If you're using a USB Bluetooth adapter, make sure that you connect it directly to a USB port on your computer—not to a port on your keyboard, display, or USB hub.

2) Check Your Device's System Requirements
Make sure that your computer meets your Bluetooth device's system requirements—visit the device manufacturer's website for details. This also applies to a USB Bluetooth adapter too, if that's what you're using to get Bluetooth capability.

3) Make Sure That Bluetooth and Your Device are Turned On
To check your computer's Bluetooth status, choose System Preferences from the Apple menu, then click Bluetooth. In the resulting Bluetooth preference pane, click the Settings tab. If the pane shows that Bluetooth Power is “Off,” click the corresponding Turn Bluetooth On button to turn on Bluetooth. Then check your device to make sure that it's also powered on. If you're trying to pair a Bluetooth phone or PDA, make sure that Bluetooth is active and that the device is “discoverable” (consult your product manual if you're unsure about how to change these settings on your device).

4) Verify That You've Set Up Your Device with Your Computer
If you're trying to pair a phone or handheld device with your computer, open System Preferences, click Bluetooth, and click the Devices tab. You should see your device listed. If not, follow the instructions for “Syncing Bluetooth Devices with Your Mac,” above. If you're trying to pair an Apple Wireless Keyboard and Mouse, open System Preferences, click Keyboard & Mouse, click the Bluetooth tab, and make sure that your keyboard and mouse appear in the pane. If not, click “Set Up New Device” to open the Bluetooth Setup Assistant. For older versions of Mac OS X, you can access the Bluetooth Setup Assistant in the Utilities folder (/Applications/Utilities) to help with pairing issues.

5) Recharge or Replace Your Bluetooth Device's Battery
If your Bluetooth device's battery is low, you may experience connection issues. Try charging your battery (if your device has a rechargeable battery), or replacing disposable batteries with fresh ones if that's the case.

6) Download and Install the Latest Software for the Device
Some Bluetooth devices (mainly Palm OS devices) require you to install software before you can use them with your Mac. Make sure that you did, and that you're using the latest software available for it on your computer. Check the device manufacturer's website for the latest updates and more information. For additional help with syncing a Palm OS device with your Mac over Bluetooth, see this article.

7) Check for a Bluetooth Update
To check for new software, choose Software Update from the Apple menu (make sure that your computer is connected to the Internet). If newer Apple Bluetooth software exists, Software Update will find it. To install an update, select the checkbox next to the software name and then click Install.

8) Check for Signal Spoilers
Because Bluetooth works by transmitting signals through the air, some things can interfere with connections. Avoid situations in which metal objects come between your device and computer. Don't put your computer under a metal desk or locked away behind a metal cabinet. Keep cordless phone base stations, microwave ovens, and other electrical devices that operate on a 2.4 GHz bandwidth away. And make sure that your device and computer aren't more than 30 feet apart from each other.

9) Restart Your Computer
Sometimes a simple restart—or two—is all it takes to get things running smoothly again. Try restarting your computer to see if that clears up the issue. If not, try shutting down your computer, waiting a minute, and then starting it back up again. You may also want to try resetting your computer's PRAM and NVRAM.

10) Reset Your Bluetooth Device
First try turning your device off and then on again. If that doesn't work, see if you can reset your device—please refer to the documentation that came with your device for instructions.