How do I “unpair†a Bluetooth mouse from my Mac?
Bluetooth, a wireless technology often used to replace USB cable connections, requires that the two compatible devices be “paired†before they can communicate with each other. This pairing creates a secure connection and typically involves running a setup program or typing in a code when you get the new hardware.
Once you pair two Bluetooth-enabled devices, they stay paired until you break them up. When you want to dissolve the connection, open the Mac's Bluetooth settings. In Mac OS X 10.8, one way to get there is to click the System Preferences icon in the dock and then click on the Bluetooth icon. You may also see a small Bluetooth icon (which resembles the letter B in a runic typeface) on the right side of the Mac's menu bar. Clicking it reveals a menu with an option for opening the Bluetooth preferences.
Once you have the Bluetooth preferences box open, you should see a list of paired devices on the left. Select the mouse you wish to unhitch from the Mac and click the minus sign (-) underneath to remove the device. If you ever wish to use the same mouse with the Mac again, you will need to re-pair them.
The Bluetooth preferences box also displays information about each paired device and includes a check box for turning on the Bluetooth menu bar icon if your Mac does not already display it. The Bluetooth menu bar icon itself has some useful commands for quickly sending files from the Mac to connected devices like phones or other computers, and information like battery-charge levels. Apple's site has more information on using Bluetooth with OS X.
A version of this article appeared in print on 05/02/2013, on page B11 of the NewYork edition with the headline: Breaking A Bluetooth Bond.