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

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Q: Apple Wireless Keyboard won't power up

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  • by Wyk,

    Wyk Wyk Sep 12, 2010 9:25 PM in response to JRT59
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 12, 2010 9:25 PM in response to JRT59
    Aluminum foil worked a charm for me. This keyboard is a "bad apple" - I'm shocked they could mess up something as simple as a standard battery compartment !
  • by Knold,

    Knold Knold Sep 18, 2010 12:34 AM in response to JRT59
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 18, 2010 12:34 AM in response to JRT59
    What I noticed is that a small build up of acid deposits from older batteries on the positive contact surface of the keyboard will prevent it from working.

    I took a long flat screw driver and gently scraped the deposits of the positive pole of the keyboard.
    After that, it worked a treat again.

    BTW, I'm not convinced that putting scotch brite, steel wool or similar in there to make the connection is a really good solution. These materials usually have very high resistance causing high temperatures and loss of energy. You could actually start fires that way.
  • by larrydai,

    larrydai larrydai Sep 20, 2010 7:10 PM in response to JRT59
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 20, 2010 7:10 PM in response to JRT59
    You'll find this further down in the thread.

    There is an apparent flaw with the aluminum Bluetooth keyboard's positive contact.

    Take a square -- approximately 1" -- of aluminum foil. Roll it into a ball. Drop the ball into the battery compartment. then install the batteries.

    Power up. It should work.

    APPLE: Please fix this keyboard flaw!
  • by Sassy12345,

    Sassy12345 Sassy12345 Oct 21, 2010 6:27 AM in response to larrydai
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 21, 2010 6:27 AM in response to larrydai
    Just wanted to thank all those who've posted in this thread. I've spent all morning trying to get this keyboard to work then I found this and... guess what?!... two small balls of tin foil placed between the positive connection points in the battery compartment and VOILA! You all rock, thanks. I bring you this reply via my newly paired bluetoothed keyboard
  • by sigrid.vandenweghe,

    sigrid.vandenweghe sigrid.vandenweghe Oct 29, 2010 12:56 AM in response to JRT59
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 29, 2010 12:56 AM in response to JRT59
    Hello

    I haven't used my keyboard for quite a while and now want to use it again but 2 batteries are completely stuck in the keyboard and I found no way to get them out

    Anybody had that problem? Already tried shaking, forcing, using a small chinese fork and other creative stuff but nothing helps

    Thank you very much

    From Belgium,

    Sigrid
  • by Jason KP,

    Jason KP Jason KP Nov 7, 2010 7:47 AM in response to chadhouck
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 7, 2010 7:47 AM in response to chadhouck
    Thank you so much for your MacGyver-like-workaround. Works just fine and saved me some money. Seems to me, like this is some kind of weak construction concerning the material used at the + in the tube since I didn't experienced this kind of corrosion with other –far cheaper– battery-driven devices before.
  • by acona003,

    acona003 acona003 Nov 29, 2010 3:48 PM in response to JRT59
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 29, 2010 3:48 PM in response to JRT59
    I just tried the aluminum foil method and it now works! THanks!
  • by VOGuy,

    VOGuy VOGuy Dec 2, 2010 1:45 PM in response to JRT59
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Dec 2, 2010 1:45 PM in response to JRT59
    I hardly ever post, but this tip warrants some kudos. You all deserve some additional praise for posting the "aluminum for the aluminum" trick. For sure, after weeks of no power thought my keyboard was dead and was almost ready to purchase a new one. I searched the forums and VOILA! your tip worked and saved me some holiday money! Thanks again for the tip!
  • by jixiong,

    jixiong jixiong Dec 5, 2010 5:27 PM in response to JRT59
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 5, 2010 5:27 PM in response to JRT59
    Amazing after reading the discussion lists and trying the other logical things the aluminum disc thing worked. Is it just corroded terminals and the Al makes a better contact?
  • by Todd Curry,

    Todd Curry Todd Curry Dec 6, 2010 6:07 PM in response to larrydai
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 6, 2010 6:07 PM in response to larrydai
    Aluminum foil worked like a charm -- thanks!

    Now will a resident chemist assure us that galvanic corrosion isn't a concern with this solution?
  • by archi67tect,

    archi67tect archi67tect Jan 1, 2011 11:45 AM in response to JRT59
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jan 1, 2011 11:45 AM in response to JRT59
    Another successful fix of problematic keyboard using aluminum foil, reminds me of the Millenium Falcon.
  • by big_andy,

    big_andy big_andy Jan 1, 2011 7:31 PM in response to archi67tect
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 1, 2011 7:31 PM in response to archi67tect
    Typing again. All thanks to the aluminium foil solution.

    Many thanks
  • by tulasif,

    tulasif tulasif Jan 19, 2011 1:06 PM in response to JRT59
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 19, 2011 1:06 PM in response to JRT59
    thanks for the tip of rolling a tin foil ball, it worked for me!
  • by dratcl,

    dratcl dratcl Jan 24, 2011 3:28 PM in response to Kerni1976
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 24, 2011 3:28 PM in response to Kerni1976
    Brilliant idea, this fixed my keyboard not working problem too!
  • by macfinch132,

    macfinch132 macfinch132 Jan 24, 2011 9:42 PM in response to dratcl
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Jan 24, 2011 9:42 PM in response to dratcl
    One thing that nobody seems to have mentioned on this post is the little button at the right hand end of the KB - that's the other end from the battery access cover. This button seems to be a switch - it moves in and out under pressure and turns the power on and off for my KB. I believe it needs to be pressed after inserting new batteries or reinserting older ones. My KB is a model A1314.
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