Tech Friday: A Lifewire tip for Apple’s Bluetooth Magic Mouse

Posted By on November 13, 2020

AppleMagicMouseRecently I have been having problems with the Magic Mouse on my aging Apple iMac. The Bluetooth mouse once steadily held it’s connection until the AA batteries were getting weaker. I’ve cleaned the contacts with electrical cleaner and a Scotch-Brite pad but continue to have issue. A quick check on the Internet indicated that I’m not alone.

So it is time to try a new “wedge” approach to tightening up the distance and wiggle room of the battery in the mouse. See Lifewire tip:

Fix First-Generation Magic Mouse Bluetooth Disconnects

There can be several reasons for a Magic Mouse to drop the Bluetooth connection, but the most common reason is a loose battery terminal contact inside the Magic Mouse.

fix-magic-mouse-disconnect-problems-ani

Lifewire / Tim Liedtke

The Magic Mouse’s battery compartment has what appears to be a weak design for the battery contacts. It’s possible for a small jolt, such as lifting the mouse to reposition it, to momentarily cause a disconnect between the battery and battery terminal in the Magic Mouse, thus breaking the electrical connection. No power means no Bluetooth connectivity.

The disconnect may be the result of a weak spring in the contacts or a poor contact design. Either way, this low-tech fix can help:

  1. Turn off the mouse, push down the battery cover tab and pull the cover off the mouse. Remove the batteries from the Magic Mouse.

  2. Cut two small pieces of aluminum foil about a half-inch square in size.

  3. Wrap one aluminum square around the negative terminal (the flat end) of each battery.

  4. Reinsert the batteries into the Magic Mouse and replace the cover.

The extra thickness of the aluminum foil produces additional force wedged between the battery and the contact. This makes the battery less likely to be jarred away from the contact when you move the Magic Mouse around.

This may be enough to fix most Bluetooth disconnect problems, but if your Magic Mouse still experiences an occasional disconnect, there’s one more modification you can try.

  1. Turn off the Magic Mouse and remove the battery cover.

  2. Cut a piece of paper into a rectangle about 1 inch by 1.5 inches.

  3. Place the paper on top of the batteries, roughly centered. Tuck any excess paper around the edge of the batteries.

  4. Replace the Magic Mouse battery cover.

The extra paper acts as a wedge between the batteries and the battery cover to help hold the batteries in place.

Comments

Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee

  1. lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
  2. digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.
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