HT204621: Troubleshooting wireless mouse and keyboard issues

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kathyfromab

Q: I am usng a bluetooth keyboard with my Mac and some of the keys are not working.  They are the numbers 1 through  9.  I have gone through the troubleshooting for mouse and keyboard and everything looks good. How can I get them to work again?

Hi,  I am using a Mac computer that my husband set up.  I have worked on it recently with no problems.  Today, I am having problems with the bluetooth keyboard not  working properly.  The numbers 1 through 9 do not work.  I have gone through troubleshooting wireless mouse and keyboard issues and everything looks good.  Except, when I check the keys on the keyboard viewer, these keys still do not work.  The webpage guides me through and at this point I do not know what to do next, because the keyboard is still not working properly.  I sure hope there are some experienced people in the community to help me.  What should I do?

Posted on Aug 19, 2012 2:17 AM

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Q: I am usng a bluetooth keyboard with my Mac and some of the keys are not working.  They are the numbers 1 through  9.&nbs ... more

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  • by Barry Hemphill,

    Barry Hemphill Barry Hemphill Aug 19, 2012 4:21 AM in response to kathyfromab
    Level 8 (38,032 points)
    Peripherals
    Aug 19, 2012 4:21 AM in response to kathyfromab

    Hello:

     

    Try resetting the SMC and PRAM:

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379

     

    Barry

  • by kathyfromab,

    kathyfromab kathyfromab Aug 19, 2012 6:34 PM in response to Barry Hemphill
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 19, 2012 6:34 PM in response to Barry Hemphill

    Thank you Barry.  I reset the SMC & PRAM and the keyboard is still not working.  What is unusual is that since I have been having problems with the keyboard the voice over is on.  I don't know how to turn it off to see if this is what the problem is though.  Do you know?

  • by kathyfromab,

    kathyfromab kathyfromab Aug 19, 2012 6:39 PM in response to Barry Hemphill
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 19, 2012 6:39 PM in response to Barry Hemphill

    Hi Barry,  I figured out how to turn voice over off, command "F5".  So simple.  I still have the problem with my keyboard though.  I am going to try rebooting the Mac again.  Do you have any more suggestions?

  • by Barry Hemphill,

    Barry Hemphill Barry Hemphill Aug 19, 2012 7:02 PM in response to kathyfromab
    Level 8 (38,032 points)
    Peripherals
    Aug 19, 2012 7:02 PM in response to kathyfromab

    Hi again:

     

    The KB could have failed......

     

    However, you might try deleting the KB (in system preferences>bluetooth), restart, and then let the assistant "find" it again.

     

    Barry

  • by kathyfromab,Helpful

    kathyfromab kathyfromab Aug 19, 2012 7:55 PM in response to Barry Hemphill
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 19, 2012 7:55 PM in response to Barry Hemphill

    Hi Barry,  As you can probably already tell, I am a newby.  I went into system preferences and I disconnected the keyboard, but it reconnects immediately.  I tried highlighting the keyboard and then pressed the minus tab and nothing happened.  I went in to the advanced menu and I cannot figure out how to delete it.  Could you please tell me how?

  • by Barry Hemphill,Helpful

    Barry Hemphill Barry Hemphill Aug 20, 2012 2:16 AM in response to kathyfromab
    Level 8 (38,032 points)
    Peripherals
    Aug 20, 2012 2:16 AM in response to kathyfromab

    Hi again:

     

    We were all newbies once! 

     

    Try this:

     

    Turn the keyboard off.  Go to system preferences>bluetooth.  Highlight the keyboard and click on the minus sign (look to be sure that "discoverable" and "on" are checked).  Shut the computer down.  Turn the keyboard on.  Turn the computer on.  As it starts, the Bluetooth setup assistant should look for (and find) the keyboard.

     

    This is not a cure all, but it sometimes helps solve odd problems.

     

    Barry

     

    Edit:  Ooops, I should read more carefully at 4 AM!  You already tried to delete it.  Go to system preferences>bluetooth.  Highlight the keyboard.  Click on the little gear at the bottom of the sidebar and then disconnect.  Then try to delete it and follow the steps above.

     

    Message was edited by: Barry Hemphill

  • by kathyfromab,

    kathyfromab kathyfromab Aug 20, 2012 9:35 PM in response to Barry Hemphill
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 20, 2012 9:35 PM in response to Barry Hemphill

    Hi Barry,  Thanks for being so helpful.  I deleted the keyboard like you explained.  When I turned the computer on it searched and asked for me to type a number and return.  When I did this, it would not go any further.  It just kept searching.  So I shut down the computer and turned the keyboard off.  It looks like I'll have to buy a new one.  If I am right that I need to buy a new one, do you have any recommendations?  Thanks again for all your help!

  • by kathyfromab,

    kathyfromab kathyfromab Aug 20, 2012 9:44 PM in response to Barry Hemphill
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 20, 2012 9:44 PM in response to Barry Hemphill

    Hi Barry,  It's me again.  I had the webmail company try to set up an account on my iPad and it caused about 15 calanders of each of them in my iPad calander.  I have my iPad calander synced with my Google calander.  Can I erase the entire iPad calander and the next time it syncs with Google, will it get the calander information correctly?  I tried to delete each calander one at a time and it won't delete them.  Do you advise me to erase everything from my iPad?  If so, how do I erase my iPad calanders all at once?

  • by Barry Hemphill,

    Barry Hemphill Barry Hemphill Aug 21, 2012 2:59 AM in response to kathyfromab
    Level 8 (38,032 points)
    Peripherals
    Aug 21, 2012 2:59 AM in response to kathyfromab

    Hi:

     

    I wish my suggestion had gotten you further.

     

    I do suggest you try to connect the keyboard again.  The request for a number is a step in it trying to pair.  If it gets by the number, it sometimes takes a little while to get connected.  If you are unable to get it connected and want a new one, I have been using Apple Bluetooth keyboards for years - and I like them. The one I have (the newest model) only uses two batteries and is very thin. 

     

    Speaking of batteries, if you are not already doing so, you might consider rechargeables.  I have a drawer full of them and use a 15 minute charger.  I go tired of buying batteries and rechargeables are environmentally friendly to boot. At the moment, I use 2450 mAh Energizers and a 15 minute Energizer charger (all purchased new on eBay at a very reasonable price).

     

    I am far from an iPad "expert," although I have one.  If my suggestion below does not help, post your question in a separate thread in the iPad forum.

     

    I had a terrible time syncing my iCal on my Mac with my iPad iCal (confusing - hopefully it makes sense).  I quit using iCloud as that added to the confusion. There is a facility to one-time sync items.  When you connect your computer to your iPad, iTunes opens.  The system begins a process (automatic backup and so on). After it finishes, you can click on "info."  At the bottom of the screen, there is an advanced section.  You can select any of the items and then force it to sync. The iCal information from your computer would be deposited on the iPad. 

     

    After all that, I do not use a Google calendar so the information may be worthless to you.

     

    If you want to reset the iPad to factory settings, you can do that when it is connected to iTunes (one of the options).  Me being me, I try never to erase anything. 

     

    Barry

     

    Message was edited by: Barry Hemphill

  • by Ameen2015,

    Ameen2015 Ameen2015 Apr 24, 2015 1:46 AM in response to kathyfromab
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 24, 2015 1:46 AM in response to kathyfromab

    hi,

    I have the same problem with my bluetooth keyboard..1-9 pads are not working anymore..did u solve the problem?

    thanks!

  • by seventy one,

    seventy one seventy one Apr 24, 2015 1:52 AM in response to Ameen2015
    Level 6 (15,140 points)
    Peripherals
    Apr 24, 2015 1:52 AM in response to Ameen2015

    This is a very old thread.   Suggest you write a new question setting out the model number of the keyboard, whether it came with your Mac and how and when the problem started.