Mac Pro owners having problems with Magic Mouse Bluetooth connectivity

John Brownlee ()

magicmousejaudrius

Even if Leander can’t quite figure out how to use it, the multi-touch capable Magic Mouse is quite a stride forward for Mac owners… especially given Apple’s execrable history of making decent mice. Still, no new piece of gear is without its technological problems. No surprise, then, that the Apple support forums have become the petri dish in which isolated Magic Mouse troubleshooting complaints have been allowed to multiply into a wider culture sample of product failure.

The issue seems to be widespread amongst Mac Pro owners, who simply can’t get the Magic Mouse to play nice with their machines. Pair a Magic Mouse with a Mac Pro and your experience will be rife with stuttering cursors and suddenly lost connections… a situation made even more frustrating because the device works without a problem when connected to other computers.

Unfortunately, the problem seems to be endemic to the design of the Mac Pro itself. It appears that the Mac Pro’s Bluetooth antenna is hidden on the underbelly of the machine, under a plastic cover. According to Mac site HardMac, this causes the Mac Pro to have much spottier Bluetooth reception than other computers with better placed Bluetooth antennas, and the Magic Mouse is particularly fussy about it.

The only fix? Pick up an aftermarket Bluetooth module and plug it into a USB port. That’s hardly the “It just works” solution you’d hope for in an Apple product… let alone one with the word ‘magic’ right in the name.

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[via HardMac]

(Creative Commons Image via jaudrius on Flickr)

36 comments »

About the author

John BrownleeJohn Brownlee is news editor here at Cult of Mac, and has also written about a lot of things for a lot of different places, including Wired, Playboy, Boing Boing, Popular Mechanics, Gizmodo, Kotaku, Lifehacker, AMC, Geek and the Consumerist. He lives in Cambridge with his charming inamorata and a tiny budgerigar punningly christened after Nabokov's most famous pervert. You can follow him here on Twitter.

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  • Camillo

    Hi John! Good to see you suddenly pop up here and there on the internet, always on my feed reader anyhow! :D

  • http://www.keeprunning.us Marcio Cyrillo

    I have a mac pro, I bought the magic mouse, I love it, but I am facing this issue. The mouse is really near the tower so it never loses connection but the tracking sometimes become slow. One thing I do is to use the other mouse (cabled) to turn off/on bluetooth, then it gets better. By this observation I’d dare saying the problem is software related and could be solved with a fix by Apple. Look forward to it, magic mouse is a piece of art!

  • Jared

    I have a Mac Pro as well and have the same stuttering issue. It doesn’t happen all the time, but it does do it. I find it depends on where I have the mouse on my desktop. So I am guessing it is a signal problem, maybe they can fix it with a fireware update, but I’m think a USB dongle might be a good option as it is really annoying. I love the magic mouse, but this problem needs to be fixed. I don’t want to have to go back to my Microsoft mouse :(

  • n2dcwitme

    Sure enough, same problem. Thanks for posting this. You spared me the headache of fussing with this thing.

    The mouse almost kinda works if I put it Right Up To the tower. Otherwise it’s lag city. Totally unusable. I wonder if it’s worth another antenna. I like the feel and button layout of my Logitech G5 anyway.

  • Michael

    Issues rendering an otherwise great Xmas gift idea *almost* worthless. Not bad enough to return, not good enough to say “it just works.” Pity. I won’t want to use my MS Mouse anymore, either. Don’t want to buy a dongle. WTF?

  • Guy

    I was having this problem with my Mac Pro and Magic Mouse. It appears that many mac Pros have the bluetooth antenna labelled and therefore connected incorrectly on the internal BT module. This results in degraded BT performance.

    If you swap the antenna wires over the problems disappear. Worked for me !

    See:

    http://www.thelocale.org/files/howtos/mac-pro-bluetooth-howto.pdf
    (guide)

    http://guides.macrumors.com/Adding_Bluetooth_and_Wireless_to_a_Mac_Pro
    (step 5 gives instructions and a picture.

    http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=10622130

  • http://www.dmore.co.uk Desmond Lee

    After 3 weeks of messing about with drivers and wires on my G5 and getting no where I got a cheap Belkin Mini Bluetooth Adapter Network adapter for £6
    Everything is now perfect.

  • Brian

    The swapping of the wires worked for me too!! Nice work!

  • Matt

    Hello. I got the magic mouse for christmas, and it has been working fine until today.

    Last night before I went to bed, I shut off my magic mouse to save the battery.
    In the morning, I turned it on, and set it up to connect using the bluetooth setup assistant.

    First, It said an error had occurred, so I tried again, and then it said there were no mice at all. It said “Make sure you device is discoverable.”

    I need some help with this.

  • Frank

    Got a new Mac Pro and bought a Magic Mouse. I had the same problems as Matt. My daughter removed the back cover on the mouse and it’s running great!

    I’m not sure why this works, but this is a quick and simple fix which doesn’t require changing anything inside your box.

    BTW I’m not having any issues with the keyboard battery drain (89%) or mouse battery (81%) and I leave them on all the time. Keyboard wakes the computer every time, just push the space bar. Also, I’ve turned off discovery in System Preferences as I’m no longer loosing BT comm.

    Good luck!

  • Parker Page

    Ok… I got the magic mouse, and the macbook pro yesterday at the same time. I got home and my magic mouse will NOT work. It clicks, but it won’t do ANY of the multifinger gestures. I can’t scroll, swipe, or do anything like that. If you have any ideas, please help… My brother also got it yesterday, and his did the same thing, but after a while, it just started working and he didn’t do anything.

  • Muschology

    Make sure you have the Magic Mouse software update installed via Software Update under the Apple menu. That could be why his just “starting working” one day, potentially after updating the software.

    If you go into to System Preferences and don’t have any of the fancy videos or options under the “Mouse” preference pane, you probably don’t have the software installed to take advantage of the features of the Magic Mouse.

  • bob

    I just bought a imac with wireless keyboard and magic mouse.I have had connectivity problems with the mouse since day one. Talked to support, and problem persist. Finally they replaced the mouse and I am experiencing the same problem. I spoke to a senior advisor and he is going to send another mouse which I am waiting for now. If this one doesn’t work correctly then I would have to believe it is a software or blue tooth problem which apple seems reluctant to admit. I like the wireless feature and don’t want a plug in or after market mouse.

  • Guy

    Just installed the ultimate solution to Mac Pro Bluetooth problems …

    I ran a 300mm “U.fl to RP-SMA Bulkhead pigtail cable” from the Bluetooth module to the back of the Mac pro, and installed the SMA connector through a hole I drilled in a spare PCI blanking plate. I then put a small 2.4GHz WiFi antenna on it.

    Now my Magic Mouse works perfectly from 5m away – beyond which I can’t see the screen.

    Guy

  • Michael

    I have been using a magic mouse iwth my 24″ imac for a couple months now – and just a few days ago this problem developed – not sure why – since it was not an issue before – but it drops connection all the time – or will be fine for 5-10 minutes – then will loose connection once or twice per minute.

    I wonder if that update they pushed out to increase battery life in their wireless devices has caused this problme?? I’m taking it back to the Apple store on Friday.

  • Lutz

    Hi all, I have the sameproblem with my Apple Pro G5 2×2,0 Gh.
    Well, I would be happy, if Apple developed a solution one day.
    69 Euros is not small money when I compare to Microsoft Mice!

    Best, Lutz

  • dan

    Thank God I’m not alone!!

    I have been having this issue for a while now. I honestly want to say it was more noticeable when I upgraded to 10.6.3. I have my MBP to the right , closed and connection to the Cinema Display with a keyboard and the magic mouse. I have had this issue with the tracking and the only way I know to fix it is to restart my entire computer, but this only last a few hours. I’m hoping the new 10.6.4 addresses the issue.

  • Ginny

    I’ve been having mouse issues for a number of months with both the Mighty Mouse and Magic Mouse, and in various versions of both 10.5 & 10.6 OS. My problem is a little different however. I’m a graphic designer, working frequently in Adobe InDesign. It’s very precise work that requires a lot of mousing. The most bizarre thing started happening: I’ll start to click in a very specific place (between letters in text, on a specific small image, etc.) and suddenly my whole document leaps across the screen. Not the cursor/arrow but the entire layout. Drives me absolutely bonkers. It gets to the point where I have to laugh because before clicking now, I find myself almost holding my breath and peering closely at the display trying to make sure my document doesn’t get away when I click. How dumb is that???

    I’ve rebooted, changed mice, reinstalled software — everything I can think of. I have an Intel 2.8 GHz quad-core Mac Pro with 6 GB of ram. Display is a 24″ Dell flat panel. I read online somewhere about a guy who was convinced his mouse issues were due to using a 3rd party monitor. My IT pro says that doesn’t make sense.

    If anyone could solve this problem I would be eternally grateful!!!

  • Bill

    Removing the back cover on the mouse worked for me. A cheap and effective solution.

  • Aaron

    Same here, all I had to do was remove the battery cover!

    Works better than ever.

  • http://www.suckerpunch-studios.com Brad Weaver

    Removing the back cover seems to work, and I downloaded Mouse Zoom and that helped as well. Sad that Apple can’t sort this out, Mac Pro users are their biggest customers.

  • Dave

    My main issue with the mouse is I knock it against the stand that holds my laptop and the mouse looses the connection.

    Is this a faulty mouse?

  • Bryan

    Had my imac and Mighty Mouse for 2 years and never, ever a problem with connectivity. Was lent a Magic Mouse by a friend which worked for a couple of days and was then nothing but trouble. When the imac was switched on it “recognised” the mouse insofar as I could move the cursor around the screen but then the “buttons” didn’t work; wouldn’t display the Dock or do anything at all. Problem now of course is that I can’t access any of the Bluetooth settings so resorted to using a wired mouse to re-establish Bluetooth settings. Magic Mouse still refuses to operate properly! Resumed using the Mighty Mouse and all is fine again. Faulty mouse????

  • Mike

    I am also having problems with the mouse disconnecting. I am reading here that people are just removing the battery cover and it seems to help. Does that mean keep the cover off or remove and replace?

    (sorry, you need Javascript to see this e-mail address)

  • andy

    my problem is kind the same.

    i bought a mid 2010 imac 21.5″ with magic mouse and allominium keyboard, i also bought a logitec mx518 gaming mouse for SC2 :).
    after plugging in my mx518, the magic mouse setting uder system preferences has gone basic, i no longer have the video, or the options for multi touch or even just a scroll wheel function. its as if my imac has reset the mouse preferences to a very, very early version of the preferences, before magic mouse was brought out.

    any help would be great

    andy

  • Kelley

    Just got my magic mouse today. It connects just fine. Scrolls properly but the cursor won’t move. Seems either stuck or something. Rebooting doesn’t work. Removing the bluetooth device and reinstalling doesn’t work. Replacing batteries doesn’t work. HELP! Am I the only one with this problem?

  • Rossc

    Hey people,
    Not that I’ve found a remedy for this issue, but I’d like to share my observation regarding this stuttering cursors matter. Due to some needful replacements in my studio, I’ve install some shelves which were just above the computer and appeared to be under the mouse. Since then, the mouse started to behave really bad. I have to add that those shelves had a big constructive part out of metal. So, considering some chances, today, I’ve removed the shelves and right after that the magic mouse granted me its magic.
    So, I think, in my case, at least, that was an metal screen issue, through which the bluetooth connection didn’t work.

  • Ross

    it was all hopeless, after awhile the mouse began this stuttering behavior again. Sorry, wrong lead…

  • Ross

    Solved. I’ve removed the bunch of cables (Black Magic Card) from behind, opening the antenna. The mouse moves really smoothly. Cool.

  • Oldredboots

    I just moved my MacPro ten feet into the machine room. I had a Bluetooth module sitting around from the old days. Thanks for providing the fix! Fabulous.

    • Troy

      I had the opposite problem – I had a USB bluetooth module plugged into my keyboard that I used to use with a Mac Pro – the Magic Mouse (or the MacBook {Pro) must have been confused with both Bluetooth devices.  When I unplugged the old USB bluetooth module everything started working.

  • Anonymous

    I am having the same problem with a jumpy magic mouse. Just spoke to Applecare and they are going to replace it- sounds like there may be an issue.

  • http://www.facebook.com/aborzoni Aldo Borzoni

    I did what you suggest. I purchased a USB micro adapter at OWC. Plugged it in a USB on the side of the keyboard and 2 things happened: I got a warning that the device required more power and my Magic Mouse died. The poor rodent couldn’t be resuscitated until i restarted my mac pro. Then I plugged the adapter directly into one of the computer’s USB ports. Nope. Could kinda be detected but not put to work (and the second I plugged the adapter in the mouse died again, of course). Mine is an original Mac Pro from 2006. I recently upgraded to Lion. And I waited until Lion was released to get the Magic Mouse because it was to be mi wonderful intro to the world of “gestures”. So, no. It didn’t work and I have a nice looking useless new module. Any ideas?

  • http://www.facebook.com/aborzoni Aldo Borzoni

    I did what you suggest. I purchased a USB micro adapter at OWC. Plugged it in a USB on the side of the keyboard and 2 things happened: I got a warning that the device required more power and my Magic Mouse died. The poor rodent couldn’t be resuscitated until i restarted my mac pro. Then I plugged the adapter directly into one of the computer’s USB ports. Nope. Could kinda be detected but not put to work (and the second I plugged the adapter in the mouse died again, of course). Mine is an original Mac Pro from 2006. I recently upgraded to Lion. And I waited until Lion was released to get the Magic Mouse because it was to be mi wonderful intro to the world of “gestures”. So, no. It didn’t work and I have a nice looking useless new module. Any ideas?

  • http://tristantom.com Tristan

    While a USB Bluetooth Mini adapter works, you have to re-pair every time you wake your Mac up from sleep or restart it, which requires a wired mouse. Hardly a real solution unless you never turn  off your sleep your Mac…

  • http://twitter.com/harkinator Alex Harker

    I have a very large desk at work so I moved the Mac Pro tower up onto the desk surface against the wall and behind the monitor. It’s better to be sure, but still has bad days with a lot of cursor stutter. It’s sad, I will need to find a better solution because I’m not about to dust off one of the old Dell mice lying around here.