Apple Wireless Keyboard won't power up

I got the same model wireless keyboard and the same problem and many be I could explian why the "alu foil" solution works.
Actually what's under the + contact is a some kind of pallet(with a whole in the center), I guess it is for avoid short circuit. dont know how, it's been flip over....(mine is maybe because of the transportation from one city to another)， then the + contact can not get through the whole, that's why you insert a "steel foil" could help current to find it's way.

I found a hardware engineer who disassembled the keyboard and fixed it. hope this could help some one, maybe I didn't explain it clear, if you are confused, feel free to send me an email: springrider at applancer.com. I'm happy to help people out of this annoying problem, really annoying....

I have been messing around with my keyboard all morning trying to figure out how to fix it. Called Apple Care and while sitting on hold, I pulled up this discussion thread. Hung up with Apple before a rep came on, pulled out the foil, wadded it into a ball, made my little disk, stuck it in the battery compartment, put in fresh batteries for extra measure and VOILA! It was fixed. Unbelievable! Thanks to whoever figured this out!

Hello to all. I had the similar problem with the second hand "APPLE A1016 WIRELESS KEYBOARD". When my batteries ran out, I replaced them with brand new ones. As I followed the instructions, the keyboard didn't blink the small green light. There is probably a connection problem of the first battery with + part. It does not connect and it seemed to me that the metal part of the keyboard which connects to the battery had a kind of damage or rust. Then I simply found a very thin conductor to place in between. It should be very thin, otherwise it won't be possible to place the battery. So what I did is that I found a simple Tealight candle and cut a thiny piece but a bit long like a stripe. Around 1.5 cm long. The width of the stripe mustn't exceed the diameter of the keyboard's metal part. They must be kissing each other. 😀
In order to place the cut metal stripe in the keyboard's nest in the corner, fold down the piece in L shape. Then place the battery. If it does not work again, you can throw the keyboard in garbage. We pay a few more money for the company, and when it comes to a simple battery replacement, we go through such primitive solutions.
I hope this helps to solve the connection problems. Have nice days...

Steel wool worked like a charm. Thanks Kerni1976.

A tiny bit of aluminum foil works too.
Thanks guys 🙂

I also used the foil tip & saved $70 on a new keyboard. Thanks guys!

Thanks All,

the foil thing really works!

Josh

Haha!! This is hilarious, had exactly the same problem, keyboard dead and searched Google for an hour to see if there was any solution, found this thread, stuck the foil in and it worked straight away!! Thank goodness for message boards like this!

Same problem. Aluminum foil worked perfectly. I note that Apple has subsequently redesigned the power mechanism (among other things, it now needs only two batteries.)

Apparently the old design is simply flawed; every time you change the batteries, you risk the contact getting out of alignment. What a poor design!

Now I have to decide how much time I want to waste talking to Apple support to get a fix. Until then, I'm left contemplating the risks of this "fix."

wowww...
that was the 1st troubleshooting issue solved for me in my entire life with apple, in this discussion forum.
Thank you so much :))

Hi Davidjay
Your message was so long ago, but I was wondering how you solved your problem because the same exact thing happened to me today. (plastic ring and all).
Thanks!
Ana Karina

Me tooo!!!!
Did you find a solution????
tks!

Using a small screwdriver, I scraped where the positive ends of the batteries connect on both sides of the middle area. Maybe I got lucky but it fixed the problem.

Excellent troubleshooting Kerni1976!
Was about to disfigure the KB until I read your solution. Did use household cleaning steel wool (RVS) and it worked instantly. thanks.

Aluminum foil worked a charm for me. This keyboard is a "bad apple" - I'm shocked they could mess up something as simple as a standard battery compartment !