Wireless keyboard won't turn on after changing battery

Hi, I noticed the link didn't work once I sent it. It wasn't a typical copy and paste. The link does work otherwise. Try just typing it in verbatim. If that doesn't work, send me an e-mail and I will forward you the link> dhanrahanjr@aol.com

Arthurc your suggestion worked perfectly!!!!!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Ingenious. If you're having this issue with no solution, TRY THIS ONE!

Re: Wireless keyboard won't turn on after changing battery

Feb 2, 2009 5:50 AM (in response to JasonBChen)

Same thing today. Low battery warning on the wireless keyboard (model A1255). Replacing them resulted in a keyboard that would not power on (no green light on power button press). One of the posts indicated it was a bad battery contact on the + terminal (thanks for the clue!). Looking down the tube, there is indeed a plastic ring that the battery rests on. I took a paper clip and created a small spiral of metal and snipped off the remainder. I dropped it down the tube and rattled it around to fall into the hole. Dropped in the fresh batteries and voila... it works. YMMV.

In general Apple stuff is pretty well built. I'm surprised that something so trivial is happening.

MBP, Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Hi. I was having the same problem and called Apple Support.

I was certain I'd put the batteries in correctly - I had not. They go in POSITIVE end first.

Then turn on the keyboard. Nothing happened at first. Then the tiny green light in the upper right hand corner started flashing (a way to also test if the keyboard is on is to press CAPS LOCK).

Still, the keyboard did not work. I'd type and nothing appeared on my screen.

Then the support person suggested I click on the Bluetooth icon at the top of my computer screen - the one that looks sort of like a "B". Then click on "Set up wireless devices"

My wireless keyboard was in the list and when I clicked on it, I got a message that said, this device already paired.

So I tried the keyboard again. Just a bunch of letters - that didn't appear on the screen - at first.

Then they did.

Tried again.

Still stodgy.

Finally, it started working ok - and the support person said probably it would help after 1. inserting the batteries 2. turning on the keyboard 3. clicking on the Bluetooth icon on the computer 4. clicking on the name in the list - to just RESTART the computer to get things moving again.

Hope this helps someone - it may not be the only way, but it did solve my problem. (And my caps lock button, when I press it, comes on solid green).

Good luck!

Yes I had this problem today. After looking all over the Internet via my iPhone I found this forum. The tinfoil works. Don't know yet for how long but yay it works & I don't have to buy a new keyboard.

My apple keyboard starting acting up with low battery signals and other weird behaviour. I changed the batteries and then it would not turn on. I fixed the problem by scrapping the positive contact with a metal rod. It worked fine after that. There was some build up on the contact that prevented the battery from making a firm connection.

Took the rechargeable batteries out of the keyboard and put them on to charge before I went to bed last night. Everything fine. Got up this morning, put charged batteries (it's an old 3 battery version and drinks them like there is no tomorrow!) in. NOTHING.

Read about the aluminium foil trick. I just folded a little piece small enough to go down the 'tube' rather than rolling into a ball. Everything fine. Thank you.

(Someone mentioned that it could be slight differences in battery size - obviously not the problem here as the batteries are always the same.)

Been having problem with aluminium wireless keyboard for a couple of days following battery replacement (low battery warnings given for preceeding couple of days). Keyboard would not turn on again. Tried several sets of new batteries from local shop and even tried batteries from TV remotes (which I knew were working), without success. Thought I'd check the forum for the first time and, MAGIC, aluminium foil suggestion did the trick !!

I've never registered on these forums before and just wanted to say, THANK YOU.

The aluminium foil trick works perfectly, after frustrating months of changing batteries etc, and sometimes working, sometimes not. Mac should offer an exchange for any bluetooth keyboard and fix the problem as soon as possible.

Had this problem last night for the first time with my wireless keyboard. Found this thread this morning and pleased to say dropping a small ball of aluminium foil onto the + terminal worked for me too! BIG THANKS.

Rob.

Put a slightly larger ball of foil in and press the right hand side of the top of the keyboard to get the green light on. Keep it pressed until the keyboard connects, then it doesn't seem to matter if the light goes off when you stop pressing. Good luck!

I had to really press down the piece that I put in to make the batteries fit so I don't think that I could fit a bigger piece in. According to the Apple bluetooth support the green light on the keyboard should flash on and off as this means it can be connected via bluetooth. My keyboard is doing this but is not showing up on the bluetooth list. Also I must add that I only got my keyboard two months ago so I don't know if this trick would work on my model?

This solved my problem...Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

arthurc wrote:

Same thing today. Low battery warning on the wireless keyboard (model A1255). Replacing them resulted in a keyboard that would not power on (no green light on power button press). One of the posts indicated it was a bad battery contact on the + terminal (thanks for the clue!). Looking down the tube, there is indeed a plastic ring that the battery rests on. I took a paper clip and created a small spiral of metal and snipped off the remainder. I dropped it down the tube and rattled it around to fall into the hole. Dropped in the fresh batteries and voila... it works. YMMV.

In general Apple stuff is pretty well built. I'm surprised that something so trivial is happening.

Message was edited by: lindaleelou

If the light is blinking try re-paring it using Set up Bluetooth Keyboard. I put a metal earring backing in mine and was a tight squeeze to close the battery compartment. Worked like a dream! Thanks again arthurc!

NSNO1878 wrote:

I had to really press down the piece that I put in to make the batteries fit so I don't think that I could fit a bigger piece in. According to the Apple bluetooth support the green light on the keyboard should flash on and off as this means it can be connected via bluetooth. My keyboard is doing this but is not showing up on the bluetooth list. Also I must add that I only got my keyboard two months ago so I don't know if this trick would work on my model?

To fix it, I took a 2 cm x 2 cm piece of tin foil from the kitchen, folded it into a little ball and dropped it into the battery compartment. I then made sure the tin foil ball was resting on the metal contact at the bottom of the compartment and dropped in the batteries. After putting in the cap, the keyboard turned on.