Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Level 1

20 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

Best reply

jimhougan

Level 1

4 points

Posted on May 1, 2015 11:47 AM

I had the same problem: the Apple wireless keyboard stopped working after replacing the batteries. After a couple of days of playing around (and, yes, buying a new keyboard - which I will now return), I discovered the problem. It was not with the keyboard or the batteries. It's that, when people change the batteries, they often (and uknowingly) turn off the keyboard's power-button. They do this - I did this - while attempting to remove the batteries from their compartment. I didn't know - it's not obvious - that the keyboard has a power button. It is activated (On and Off) by depressing it (slightly). The button is on the side of the keyboard. It's the round thingie at one end of the compartment that contains the batteries.

I hadn't intended to turn it off - and didn't know that I had - when I replaced the batteries.

To "fix" the keyboard: I pressed the power-button on the seemingly defunct wireless keyboard. Green light flashed. The keyboard probably worked at that point, but I didn't check to see that it did. What I did, instead, was to shut down the computer and unplug the recently purchased (and, happily, now superfluous) USB keyboard. Then I restarted the computer. The wireless keyboard worked fine.

View in context

337 replies

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.

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

20 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.

JeffWh

Level 1

4 points

Jun 29, 2008 12:30 PM in response to JasonBChen

I have this exact same problem with my aluminum wireless keyboard. I, too, have tried multiple sets of brand new batteries and have confirmed that they're in and seated OK. The keyboard is just stone dead.

rapt00r

Level 1

9 points

Jun 29, 2008 5:46 PM in response to JeffWh

I too am having this exact problem. My keyboard is only about three months old and I received a message about replacing my batteries yesterday. I replaced them this morning and the power button on the keyboard isn't working at all.

Anybody find a solution to this problem yet or is the keyboard already dead?

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?

Jul 17, 2008 7:29 AM in response to JasonBChen

Possible fix to non pairing blue tooth devices.....

I have a BTMMouse- quite new. The original lithium batteries died and I replaced them with alkaline. It would connect but refused to pair. Went on the MM discussion board which had over 300 similar problems with both MM and BT keyboards, with absolutely no solutions from Apple or anyone!

I have an Apple Care plan, so I called and was told to shut down. Then remove the power cord from the back of my iMac, wait one minute, plug it back in. Fire up, and then attempt to set up a new device in BT. It worked on the first try. Then to double check, I shut down and restarted and the mouse stayed connect and paired!

JasonBChen Author

Level 1

20 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..

Jul 28, 2008 12:47 PM in response to JasonBChen

I didn't even change the batteries and this happened.

The keyboard was left switched off whilst I was away for three weeks. Upon my return, I switched the keyboard on and found that the power light no longer illuminates and the computer can't see the keyboard. Putting in brand new batteries correctly didn't solve the problem.

Has anyone worked out a solution other than replacement of 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