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 Blairsy,

    Blairsy Blairsy Feb 16, 2011 6:28 AM in response to JRT59
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 16, 2011 6:28 AM in response to JRT59
    Hi,

    I had the same problem as a lot of the people submitting to this forum (where my bluetooth keyboard would NOT turn on...no green LED light, and no recognition from my mac)....I thought I might have damaged it by putting in replacement batteries incorrectly, and was about to throw it out, but then!!!....I launched the Keyboard Preferences from the bluetooth menu, where my keyboard was NOT connected....then I selected "Set Up Bluetooth Keyboard" button, and voila, the green light appeared briefly....and my keyboard sprang to life!

    I obviously don't want to put myself through this again, but if these instructions help anyone, then at least there will be one less keyboard being thrown away, needlessly.

    Good luck to everyone, James
  • by andrewdwright,

    andrewdwright andrewdwright Mar 6, 2011 9:06 AM in response to JRT59
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 6, 2011 9:06 AM in response to JRT59
    foil worked for me too.

    thanks!
  • by lurae,

    lurae lurae Apr 23, 2011 10:37 AM in response to JRT59
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 23, 2011 10:37 AM in response to JRT59

    It worked!  So glad I checked here before buying a new keyboard.  Foil was great, just kept folding up a small piece until the right size, crammed it on the positive nub of the 1st battery and inserted them all in. 

  • by arthuralex77,

    arthuralex77 arthuralex77 May 1, 2011 4:44 PM in response to lurae
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 1, 2011 4:44 PM in response to lurae

    More thanks.  Had the same problem.  Wireless keyboard wouldn't fire up.  Am now another happy customer of aluminum foil.  Not so happy with Apple.  I shouldn't have to be sticking aluminum foil in my wireless keyboard to get it to work.  Since it has happened to at least a few people It strongly suggests a manufacturing defect.

  • by Vlima,

    Vlima Vlima May 3, 2011 4:30 PM in response to JRT59
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 3, 2011 4:30 PM in response to JRT59

    Thanks!!!, My keyboard work fine!!!, The Aluminum foil is a good solution!!!. Thanks!!!

  • by Solomann,

    Solomann Solomann Jun 8, 2011 2:02 PM in response to JRT59
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 8, 2011 2:02 PM in response to JRT59

    Worked for me too - scary quality control from Apple - makes you wonder how many people have missed this tip and coughed up for another keyboard . . . .

  • by rogerlo,

    rogerlo rogerlo Jun 11, 2011 10:34 AM in response to JRT59
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 11, 2011 10:34 AM in response to JRT59

    Can you tell me where the on-off switch is? My keyboard suddenly stopped working, changed batteries but still is not connected....

  • by Braganza,

    Braganza Braganza Jun 25, 2011 4:31 AM in response to davidjay
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 25, 2011 4:31 AM in response to davidjay

    Exactly same problem.  Replacing batteries and small plastic moulding falls out.  Replaced the moulding but the wrong way round.  Now the batteries can't make contact and I cannot get the plastic ring out of the battery compartment. 

    davidjay, did you or anyone else find a solution? 

     

    Arrrgh!

  • by Andy Woodhouse,

    Andy Woodhouse Andy Woodhouse Jun 28, 2011 10:48 AM in response to JRT59
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 28, 2011 10:48 AM in response to JRT59

    Thanks to everyone who found the solution with the contact point. I tried the tin foil solution and it worked like a dream.

     

    Can't believe Apple are so lax when it comes to quality control of their over priced accessories.

  • by Pace B,

    Pace B Pace B Jul 3, 2011 8:02 AM in response to JRT59
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 3, 2011 8:02 AM in response to JRT59

    Tin foil worked for me too.  Thanks for the info.

  • by gjet,

    gjet gjet Jul 29, 2011 9:34 PM in response to Braganza
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 29, 2011 9:34 PM in response to Braganza

    Here's how I got the gray plastic ring out:

     

    Tool:

    I used a piece of 1/4" diameter AllThread, which is a 1/4" rod that is threaded along it's entire length (like a very long bolt).

    It comes in various lengths but the shortest is probably three feet. (Most hardware stores carry it.) Of course it only has to be the length of the batteries plus another 6" to hold on to. Note that 5/16" all thread might have worked even better because it wouldn't flex at all.

     

    Technique:

    First let me describe the gray plastic ring that I extracted.

    It could be described as two shapes molded into one part.

    1. a flat disc with a hole in the center.  2. a very short tube (no more than 1/8" long).

     

    Note that the hole in the center was not used to get ahold of the plastic ring at all.

    The inside face of the short tube is what I grabbed, (using the threads on the tip of the AllThread).

     

    I tipped the keyboard so that the battery compartment opening was down. I placed the AllThread up into the battery compartment so the the tip of the AllThread was resting on the inside face of the plastic ring's short tubular surface. I then used the AllThread to press the plastic tube against the side of the battery compartment so that the threads of the tip of the rod were pressing very firmly against the inside face of the plastic tube. (To Clarify: I applied lateral pressure only.) At that point I slowly pulled the AllThread (while maintaining sideways pressure) and the ring slowly came out.

     

    Once It was out, I set the ring on top of the positive end of a battery with the flat disc part of the ring against the battery, so I could see down into the open tube of the plastic ring as it rested on the end of the battery. With the keyboard still positioned with the opening down, I slid the battery (with plastic ring on it) up into the compartment followed carefully by two more batteries (my keyboard takes three, though some only take two). Then I just put on the battery cap and the keyboard fired right up.

    No problem.

     

    I hope this helps.

  • by Paul Allen4,

    Paul Allen4 Paul Allen4 Sep 19, 2011 12:33 AM in response to JRT59
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Sep 19, 2011 12:33 AM in response to JRT59

    First time I've ever replied on one of these, just wanted to thank everyone for the air gun pellet size of aluminium foil trick! Saved me buying new key board, well happy. Thanks all.

  • by mary2121,

    mary2121 mary2121 Nov 26, 2011 5:23 PM in response to JRT59
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 26, 2011 5:23 PM in response to JRT59

    Hi -

     

    Same thing... after numerous tries and new batteries my wireless keyboard would not work.  I finally tried the piece of steel wool suggestion.  Put a small amount of steel wool inside first,.... then add the three AA batteries and it will work.

    Hope this helps.

     

     

  • by reneefromlos altos,

    reneefromlos altos reneefromlos altos Dec 18, 2011 7:44 PM in response to JRT59
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 18, 2011 7:44 PM in response to JRT59

    Thank you so much!  Same problem, used your aluminum foil solution, and it worked perfectly--what a tremendous relief!☺

  • by johnfj,

    johnfj johnfj Jan 24, 2012 12:56 PM in response to reneefromlos altos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 24, 2012 12:56 PM in response to reneefromlos altos

    I've been having problems with my keyboard on and off for over a year now,...

    after changing the batteries my keyboard would not work.

    I've discovered,.... that my apple keyboard does not like DURACELL batteries

    and the keyboard will only work if the first battery in has a proud tip.

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