If a Bluetooth mouse, keyboard, headphones, or other accessory will not connect properly, remove it from your Mac and pair it again. To do this, open System Settings, select Bluetooth, find the device, click the Info button, choose Forget This Device, and confirm. Then put the accessory into pairing mode and connect it again from the same Bluetooth screen.
Quick Answer
- Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
- Select Bluetooth in the sidebar.
- Find the device under My Devices.
- Click the Info button next to it, choose Forget This Device, and confirm.
- Put the accessory in pairing mode.
- Select it under Nearby Devices, then click Connect.
For older versions of macOS, open System Preferences, select Bluetooth, click the X beside the device, and confirm that you want to remove it.
Before You Remove the Bluetooth Device
Removing a device deletes its saved pairing information from the Mac. It does not normally erase the device itself, delete files, or reset its settings. However, the accessory will stop working until you pair it again.
Before starting:
- Keep the accessory close to your Mac.
- Make sure it is turned on and charged.
- Find its pairing button or pairing instructions.
- If you are removing a Bluetooth keyboard or mouse, connect a wired replacement or keep your Mac’s built-in input devices available.
- Save your work before restarting the Mac or any app.
Some accessories enter pairing mode automatically after being removed. Others require you to hold a button for several seconds. Check the accessory’s instructions if you are unsure.
Method 1: Remove and Re-Pair the Device in System Settings
This is the standard method on current macOS versions.
Remove the saved Bluetooth connection
- Click the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of the screen.
- Select System Settings.
- Click Bluetooth in the sidebar.
- Locate the accessory under My Devices.
- Click the Info button next to the device. The button may appear as an i inside a circle.
- Choose Forget This Device.
- Click Forget Device to confirm.
The device should disappear from your list of saved Bluetooth accessories. If it remains listed briefly, wait a few seconds or close and reopen System Settings.
Warning: Forgetting the device disconnects it immediately. If it is your only Bluetooth keyboard or mouse, make sure you can control the Mac another way before continuing.
Put the accessory into pairing mode
After removing the old connection, prepare the accessory for a new pairing:
- Turn the device off.
- Wait a few seconds.
- Turn it on again.
- Press and hold its pairing or Bluetooth button until an indicator light flashes or the device announces that it is ready to pair.
The exact procedure varies. A mouse may have a dedicated pairing button, while headphones may require holding the power button or a multifunction button. If the device is still connected to an iPhone, iPad, Windows PC, or another nearby Mac, disconnect it there or turn Bluetooth off on that device temporarily.
Pair the device again
- Return to System Settings > Bluetooth.
- Wait for the accessory to appear under Nearby Devices.
- Click Connect next to its name.
- Follow any on-screen instructions.
Some accessories display a verification code. If the code shown on the Mac matches the code shown on the device, confirm the pairing. A keyboard may ask you to type a number and press Return.
When pairing is complete, the device should move to My Devices and show a connected status.
Method 2: Remove the Device from the Bluetooth Menu
The Bluetooth menu in the macOS menu bar can be useful for checking the connection, but it may not provide the complete removal controls on every Mac or macOS release.
- Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar.
- Select Bluetooth.
- Find the accessory in the list.
- If available, click its details button and open its Bluetooth settings.
- Use System Settings > Bluetooth to choose Forget This Device.
On some older macOS versions, a Bluetooth icon appears directly in the menu bar. You may be able to click the device and select Disconnect, but disconnecting is not the same as removing it. To delete the saved pairing, use the Bluetooth settings in System Preferences or System Settings.
Method 3: Remove a Device on Older macOS Versions
The names and layout differ on older releases of macOS.
- Click the Apple menu.
- Select System Preferences.
- Click Bluetooth.
- Select the device you want to remove.
- Click the X next to the device, or click the Actions menu and choose Remove.
- Confirm the removal.
- Put the accessory into pairing mode.
- Select it in the Bluetooth window and click Connect.
If you do not see an X, control-click the device or look for a small menu beside its name. The available control depends on the macOS version and the type of device.
If the Device Does Not Appear After Removal
A removed accessory must be discoverable before your Mac can pair with it again. Try these steps in order:
- Check the battery. Charge the accessory or replace its batteries.
- Move it closer. Keep it within a few feet of the Mac during pairing.
- Turn it off and on. This can clear a temporary state in the accessory.
- Enter pairing mode again. A flashing light usually indicates discoverability, but consult the device instructions.
- Disconnect it from other devices. Bluetooth accessories often reconnect automatically to the last device they used.
- Toggle Bluetooth. In System Settings > Bluetooth, turn Bluetooth off, wait several seconds, and turn it on again.
- Restart the Mac. Save your work first, then choose Restart from the Apple menu.
- Return to System Settings > Bluetooth and look under Nearby Devices.
If you are pairing headphones or speakers, make sure they are not already connected to a phone, tablet, television, or another computer nearby.
If the Device Reconnects but Does Not Work
A device can show as connected while still failing to perform its normal function. The cause may be the accessory, the app using it, or a system setting.
For a mouse or trackpad
- Move the pointer and test the buttons.
- Check whether the device has a physical power switch.
- Replace or charge the battery.
- Disconnect other pointing devices temporarily.
- Open System Settings > Mouse or System Settings > Trackpad and check the available settings.
If a mouse disconnects repeatedly after re-pairing, see How to Fix a Bluetooth Mouse That Keeps Disconnecting from a Mac.
For a keyboard
- Confirm that the keyboard is charged or has fresh batteries.
- If macOS displays a pairing code, type it on the Bluetooth keyboard and press Return.
- Test the keyboard in a simple app such as TextEdit.
- Remove nearby keyboards that you no longer use if macOS keeps selecting the wrong device.
For headphones or speakers
- Open Control Center and select Sound.
- Choose the Bluetooth headphones or speaker as the output device.
- Check the volume on both the Mac and the accessory.
- Quit and reopen the app that is playing audio.
- Disconnect the accessory from other devices.
If Bluetooth itself appears unavailable or several Bluetooth devices fail at once, follow a broader guide to fixing Bluetooth not working on a Mac.
If “Forget This Device” Is Missing
The removal option may be unavailable when:
- The accessory is not currently listed as a saved device.
- You are viewing the device through Control Center instead of the full Bluetooth settings.
- The device is managed by a work or school configuration.
- The Mac is showing a temporary Bluetooth status issue.
Open System Settings > Bluetooth and click the Info button next to the device. If it is listed only under Nearby Devices, it has not been paired with the Mac yet, so there is nothing to forget. If the device is under My Devices but the option is still missing, restart the Mac and check again.
If Pairing Fails Repeatedly
Repeated pairing failures usually result from a low battery, pairing mode not being enabled, another device taking the connection, or corrupted saved information.
Try this sequence:
- Forget the accessory in System Settings > Bluetooth.
- Turn off Bluetooth on nearby phones, tablets, and computers.
- Turn the accessory off.
- Restart the Mac.
- Turn the accessory on and place it in pairing mode.
- Open System Settings > Bluetooth.
- Select the accessory under Nearby Devices.
- Click Connect.
If the device still will not pair, reset the accessory according to its manufacturer’s instructions. A hardware reset may erase its list of previously paired devices, so use it only when ordinary removal and re-pairing do not help.
Also test another Bluetooth accessory with the Mac. If only one device fails, the problem is more likely to be that accessory. If several devices fail, the Mac’s Bluetooth service or hardware may need further troubleshooting.
When to Check for Interference
Bluetooth uses short-range wireless communication, so nearby wireless equipment can sometimes affect reliability. During troubleshooting:
- Keep the accessory close to the Mac.
- Move away from large metal objects and crowded wireless equipment.
- Disconnect unnecessary USB devices temporarily, especially hubs and adapters.
- Avoid placing the accessory behind a monitor, inside a drawer, or under a desk.
- Test the connection with other wireless accessories turned off.
These steps are most useful when the device pairs successfully but drops its connection or behaves intermittently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does removing a Bluetooth device delete anything from the accessory?
Usually, no. Forgetting a device on the Mac removes the saved pairing information from the Mac. It does not normally erase files or reset the accessory. A separate hardware reset may erase the accessory’s stored connections.
Will I lose my settings if I forget a Bluetooth device?
You may need to choose settings again after pairing, such as audio output, mouse preferences, or keyboard behavior. The accessory’s saved settings may remain, but this depends on the device and its software.
Can I remove a Bluetooth device that is not connected?
Yes. If it appears under My Devices, you can usually open its details and choose Forget This Device, even when it is currently disconnected.
Why does my accessory keep reconnecting to another device?
Many Bluetooth accessories remember several devices but automatically reconnect to the most recent one. Turn off Bluetooth on nearby devices or remove the accessory from their Bluetooth settings before pairing it with the Mac.
Do I need to reset the accessory before pairing it again?
Not usually. Forget the device on the Mac, put it into pairing mode, and connect it again. Reset the accessory only if it will not enter pairing mode, remains connected to another device, or repeatedly fails to pair.
What if I cannot use my keyboard or mouse after removing it?
Use a built-in keyboard or trackpad if your Mac has one, connect a wired input device, or connect the accessory with a cable if it supports wired operation. Removing the only active input device can make the next steps difficult.
Final Thoughts
The most reliable way to fix a troublesome Bluetooth connection is to forget the accessory in System Settings > Bluetooth, put it back into pairing mode, and connect it as a new device. Check its battery, keep other devices from competing for the connection, and restart the Mac if pairing still fails. If multiple Bluetooth accessories are affected, continue with broader Bluetooth troubleshooting rather than repeatedly pairing the same device.