JRT59

Q: Apple Wireless Keyboard won't power up

I have a Model A1016 Apple Wireless KB. It stopped working and it will not power up (and therefore won't pair with my Macbook Pro). Tried many batteries - no luck.

MacBook Pro 15", Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Nov 20, 2008 2:41 PM

Close

Q: Apple Wireless Keyboard won't power up

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

first Previous Page 3 of 9 last Next
  • by PopArtS9,

    PopArtS9 PopArtS9 Oct 27, 2009 8:30 AM in response to JRT59
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 27, 2009 8:30 AM in response to JRT59
    Wow, I was so dreading having to call Apple Support, or worse yet to have to travel an hour & a half to the nearest Apple store. Fortunately I found this thread, and the aluminum foil worked perfectly! Just to reiterate what's already been said:

    - upon changing batteries, the keyboard was dead (no green light at all)
    - cut a 1 inch square of aluminum foil
    - rolled it into a ball, squashed it into a disk
    - dropped it down the battery compartment
    - replaced batteries & it works now!

    This is on the pre-2009 version wireless aluminum keyboard (requires 3 batteries). Hopefully they've fixed this on the 2009 version, which I'll be getting soon too. They should at least educate their support staff on how to fix this.
  • by taggetig,

    taggetig taggetig Nov 4, 2009 10:41 AM in response to PopArtS9
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 4, 2009 10:41 AM in response to PopArtS9
    I have exactly the same issues you guys all have but the alu ball fix isn't working for me. My keyboard connects for a microsecond and then disconnects again. Ball or no ball, same behaviour every time...

    Everything worked fine until I removed all bluetooth devices. (Had some lag on my new Magic Mouse). So frustrating!
  • by hypnowheel,

    hypnowheel hypnowheel Nov 21, 2009 8:08 PM in response to JRT59
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 21, 2009 8:08 PM in response to JRT59
    I just tried the foil ball trick and it works! I actually shouted "woo-hoo!"

    That said, I can't believe it actually works like that. What the heck kind of manufacturing flaw would require the use of candy wrapper foil to work?

    Apple? You guys need to step up to the plate and answer for this...
  • by Thunder K,

    Thunder K Thunder K Nov 23, 2009 1:24 PM in response to David Miller6
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 23, 2009 1:24 PM in response to David Miller6
    Green light does not stay on - blinks when pairing and when first turned on,
  • by BWCampbell,

    BWCampbell BWCampbell Nov 30, 2009 7:31 AM in response to hypnowheel
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 30, 2009 7:31 AM in response to hypnowheel
    Wow! Foil rules! My pre-2009 aluminum keyboard was not turning on this AM and found this thread ... presto, keyboard working again.

    Thank you to the genius that thought of squishing foil into a ball, flattening it, and putting it into the keyboard.
  • by lebrits,

    lebrits lebrits Nov 30, 2009 12:34 PM in response to PopArtS9
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 30, 2009 12:34 PM in response to PopArtS9
    Thanks for the tip. My pre-2009 wireless aluminum keyboard gave up the ghost today when I put in new batteries. No matter what I did it just would not come back to life. Then I saw this thread and tried the aluminum foil trick and it is now working perfectly. Best use of foil since roasting the Thanksgiving turkey!!
  • by MirceaBotez,

    MirceaBotez MirceaBotez Dec 21, 2009 10:42 AM in response to lebrits
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 21, 2009 10:42 AM in response to lebrits
    Thank you guys!
    This is indeed a very funny situation (after you fix it, that is).
    I got my aluminium wireless keyboard in may 2009, present from my girlfriend.

    After a couple months of good use, the batteries ran out and I didn't replace them right away. So I bought some new ones. They didn't work, so I supposed they were bad. Some more time passed (I have a laptop so keyboard wasn't mandatory) and I bought another, larger set of batteries. None worked, so, again, I swore off my habit of buying dead batteries.

    Now, I applied some chocolate wrapper to the keyboard and it works excellently! And on the plus side, I probably have enough batteries to last me a year or so

    PS: make sure you re-synchronize-it after the procedure.

    Message was edited by: MirceaBotez
  • by Maria Taylor,

    Maria Taylor Maria Taylor Jan 6, 2010 3:22 AM in response to JRT59
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 6, 2010 3:22 AM in response to JRT59
    Thank you so much Kerni1976 and chadhouk for your brilliant remedies to this, all too common, problem.

    I tried the aluminium foil trick this morning when my keyboard died after replacing the batteries and the keyboard now works like a dream.

    Genius!
  • by AsianTom,

    AsianTom AsianTom Jan 10, 2010 11:13 AM in response to JRT59
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 10, 2010 11:13 AM in response to JRT59
    I have the exact same problem. I went to the Apple Store yesterday and the guy at the genius bar just tried to switch the battery and powered it up. Of course, it didn't work. Then when he found out that it's out of warranty, he simply said nothing he can do and I have to buy a new one. I inquired about what the problem was but he said he doesn't know what caused it. So I bought a new one and ready to tear it apart to see what the problem was. Luckily, I found this thread first and problem solved now. Kudos guys!!

    Today, I went back to Apple Store and returned a new keyboard I just bought (still sealed). I talked to the same Genius guy letting him know the solution and showing him this thread. He apologized and said he would spread the news about this.

    Anyhow, I don't think this is the right way of fixing the problem. It looks like a flaw in design. Who knows how many people out there having the same problem but not tech savy enough. They probably just buy a new keyboard...
  • by huhmas,

    huhmas huhmas Jan 11, 2010 10:12 PM in response to JRT59
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 11, 2010 10:12 PM in response to JRT59
    what a friend we have with foil!
    my apple wireless keyboard has been revived

    thanks fellas.
  • by rockstarg,

    rockstarg rockstarg Jan 12, 2010 11:32 AM in response to huhmas
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 12, 2010 11:32 AM in response to huhmas
    Absolutely incredible. My keyboard is fixed.

    Thank you for your discovery!
  • by DP812,

    DP812 DP812 Jan 19, 2010 2:29 AM in response to JRT59
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 19, 2010 2:29 AM in response to JRT59
    The foil solution is absolute genius and worked like a charm.

    For those it hasn't worked for, maybe you don't have enough foil to make the connection? Try making the ball a little bigger.
  • by stapo,

    stapo stapo Jan 20, 2010 12:09 PM in response to chadhouck
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 20, 2010 12:09 PM in response to chadhouck
    Thanks for the brilliant idea about the foil! I had a wireless keyboard that would not power up despite new batteries until I added the magical ball of aluminum foil!
  • by dianen320,

    dianen320 dianen320 Jan 25, 2010 5:12 PM in response to Kerni1976
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 25, 2010 5:12 PM in response to Kerni1976
    THANK YOU so much, the steel wool solution was a life saver. Worked like a charm, thanks again.
  • by chamberman,

    chamberman chamberman Jan 25, 2010 6:12 PM in response to davidjay
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 25, 2010 6:12 PM in response to davidjay
    Oops, the exact same problem with the plastic cupped ring. I assume it went in backwards and now is jambed in blocking the batteries from making contact. Did you ever find a way to get it out? How?
    A piece of double sticky tape on the end of a straw did not work. I might try alligator forceps at my ENT doctors office. Lastly I might cut through the alu housing.
first Previous Page 3 of 9 last Next