Restart the macOS Bluetooth daemon (bluetoothd) when a device won't connect

Kill the bluetoothd process so launchd relaunches it, which often fixes Bluetooth devices that refuse to connect.

macOSProcessesTerminalDiagnosticsMedium risk

sudo killall bluetoothd

01Command

Command

$ sudo killall bluetoothd

02What it does

When a Bluetooth mouse, keyboard, or headphones will not connect, restarting the Bluetooth daemon often clears the stuck state. Running `sudo killall bluetoothd` terminates the daemon, and macOS's launchd automatically relaunches it within seconds, after which you can try pairing or connecting again.

03Risk

RiskMedium risk

RequirementsAdmin password required (sudo). The Bluetooth daemon is relaunched automatically by launchd after being killed; no manual restart step is needed.

!Warning: Killing bluetoothd briefly disconnects all currently connected Bluetooth devices (mouse/keyboard may pause for a few seconds). You will be prompted for your admin password.

04Undo

✓No undo needed — this command does not change persistent state.

05Sources

SYSTEM_PROFILER Command: Report macOS system hardware and software configuration
ss64.com · technical · 2026-09-21
Evidence: Report system hardware and software configuration. ... system_profiler [-listDataTypes] List the available datatypes.

Last verified: 2026-09-21 · Category: System & Settings

06Related solutions

Rebuild the Spotlight index on Mac

macOSTerminalDiagnostics

Erase the broken Spotlight database so macOS re-indexes your drive from scratch.

Medium risk ✓ 2026-09-16

Change where screenshots are saved on Mac

macOSScreenshotTerminaldefaults

Point macOS screen captures at any folder you choose instead of the desktop.

Medium risk ✓ 2026-09-16

Download a file from a URL on Mac with curl

macOSTerminal

Grab any file from the web straight into the current folder — no browser needed.

Low risk ✓ 2026-09-16