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JasonBChen Author

Level 1

21 points

Wireless keyboard won't turn on after changing battery

This is what happened:

I got a message yesterday telling me that the battery for my wireless keyboard was low and I should replace them. This morning, before I switched on my Mac, I put in new battery for the wireless keyboard. Then I switched on my Mac. And I got a message on the screen saying that There's no keyboard connected and couldn't find any keyboards. I thought that maybe I need to turn on the keyboard to make it work. So I pressed the power button and noticed that the green light doesn't even come up..

What's going on? Is my wireless keyboard already dead??

Any advice would be appreciate it. Thanks.

G5, Mac OS X (10.5.2)

Posted on Jun 26, 2008 12:48 PM

Top-ranking reply

Marcobarlow

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Mar 22, 2017 6:19 PM

My wireless keyboard wouldn't turn on after I changed batteries. I tried the foil ball and other recommendations. Nothing worked. I thought something had failed or disconnected inside. I flipped it over to look for access to the back and noticed a faint graphic on the exterior of the battery tube.

I had put the batteries in 6 times and didn't pay attention to they way they came out. I reversed them and we're back in business. Green light is on.

I know my way around a spludger, I've changed hard drives, fans & memory in multiple MacBooks and missed the most obvious solution.

If you've given up on your wireless keyboard, give this a try.

View in context

337 replies

Jul 7, 2017 2:43 PM in response to JasonBChen

Same problem. computer told me I was low on batteries. Changed the batteries and it the bluetooth could not find the keyboard, the keyboard wouldn't turn on (no green light).

I tried the pea sized tin foil ball...It worked!! thanks!

Aug 12, 2017 9:40 PM in response to JasonBChen

Also had same issue. Tried several sets of batteries, none worked. Then I told a long narrow flat screwdriver and inserted it into the battery compartment. I lightly scraped the bottom of the compartment to remove and corrosion buildup. (Perhaps a long pencil with the erasure end would work better). Then I replaced the batteries and it worked fine.

eugene86

Level 1

9 points

Aug 19, 2017 9:01 AM in response to JasonBChen

Look down in the battery compartment - there is a gray circle plastic piece around the metal contact for the positive battery end. I had the same issue recently. Get something small and long enough to get the plastic piece out and the insert it correctly with the crowned in away from the positive end of the battery. The keyboard also works with this removed.

tdionne

Level 1

13 points

Sep 6, 2017 1:19 PM in response to tdionne

I just folded the staple in the middle, dropped it into the battery compartment, and shook the keyboard until I could see it lying flat over the terminal. Then I dropped the batteries in, and the keyboard powered up after that.

Mine5292

Level 1

4 points

Sep 8, 2017 9:37 PM in response to Moraesan

I had the same problem, and what you said worked for me also. But no pop ups or anything else.I just turned my IMAC off then back on again,it let me type in the password and that was it.The keyboard was working,Thanks for the advice,I never would have thought of it!!

Oct 8, 2017 10:06 PM in response to steffaniefromtoronto

Dino, I know this post is over eight years old.... but you nailed it brah... It worked perfectly... I love my wireless keyboard, and for the last 2 years, it stopped working, i about gave up on it, until this evening, I placed that pea size foil... badda bing badda boom,

Nov 22, 2017 6:16 AM in response to JasonBChen

I was with this kind of problem and have just solved. Once I put new batteries, the keyboard did not switch on any more. I took out the batteries, took a 1 square cm of aluminium paper, made a ball and put inside. Them I put again the bateries. All together. It worked.

Is as it was a contact problem.

coleface

Level 1

9 points

May 3, 2009 1:48 AM in response to ltattan

Aluminium worked for me too!

Rene_M

Level 1

0 points

Sep 13, 2014 8:59 PM in response to JasonBChen

I had the same problem. This solved it:

http://davemeehan.com/technology/how-to-reset-an-apple-wireless-bluetooth-keyboa rd-mouse-or-trackpad

Jun 26, 2008 12:51 PM in response to JasonBChen

Hi JasonBChen-

I know, stupid question, but are you sure the new batteries are both good and seated properly?

Luck-

-DP

JasonBChen Author

Level 1

21 points

Jun 26, 2008 12:54 PM in response to DaddyPaycheck

Hi DP,

The batteries are brand new and put in properly. I've already checked that..
Any other possible reason/problem??

Thanks.

gluzmand

Level 1

4 points

Jul 12, 2008 1:35 PM in response to rapt00r

I too am having exactly the same problem. 😟

Jul 13, 2008 1:56 PM in response to JasonBChen

Is the firmware on the Keyboard fully up-to-date?

JasonBChen Author

Level 1

21 points

Jul 28, 2008 7:19 AM in response to JasonBChen

The problem is that I cannot even switch on the keyboard anymore..
This is not a pairing issue..

Am I glad that I kept my old wired keyboard..

rapt00r

Level 1

9 points

Aug 4, 2008 6:09 AM in response to juicyp

I brought the keyboard into an Apple store and they told me they did not know what the problem was and could not fix it. They did replace it for me though.

Wireless keyboard won't turn on after changing battery