Bluetooth bug in macOS 12.2 Monterey: Apple’s latest update can apparently lead to problems with some Bluetooth input devices and accessories that affect the sleep mode. As a result, Macs may not reliably go to sleep or are constantly woken up by wireless connections, as users report. With desktop Macs, the screen usually turns off in this case, but the sleep mode doesn’t seem to kick in properly, so external storage media start up audibly again.
MacBook battery drains overnight
However, the problem is particularly annoying with MacBooks that are not connected to the power supply unit: The battery can be completely drained overnight as a result, instead of only displaying a slightly lower charge level as usual. The next morning the MacBook was then empty instead of being ready for use.
Affected users report in the Macrumors forum, among other things, that the log files of the power management tool pmset show indications of the constant Bluetooth connections, including “DarkWake from Deep Idle” or “DarkWake from Normal Sleep”. So far, there is no clear trigger, and owners of Apple accessories such as Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad have also reported the problem since installing macOS 12.2, which was just a few days old. It can apparently show up on Intel Macs as well as newer M1 Macs. The error has already been reported to Apple as a bug report.
Workaround: Turn off Bluetooth
Turning off Bluetooth before the Mac is sent to sleep is a workaround, but users then have to keep thinking about it or automate the process first. Also, the Mac can no longer be woken up using a Bluetooth device. Alternatively, a complete shutdown is of course also possible, but also not very convenient. Since the release of macOS 12 Monterey, users have reported that Bluetooth accessories wake up their Macs unintentionally. An advanced setting in macOS that can be used to disable waking up of the operating system by Bluetooth devices is no longer available in version 12.
(lbe)