Apple Wireless Keyboard won't power up

It worked! So glad I checked here before buying a new keyboard. Foil was great, just kept folding up a small piece until the right size, crammed it on the positive nub of the 1st battery and inserted them all in.

More thanks. Had the same problem. Wireless keyboard wouldn't fire up. Am now another happy customer of aluminum foil. Not so happy with Apple. I shouldn't have to be sticking aluminum foil in my wireless keyboard to get it to work. Since it has happened to at least a few people It strongly suggests a manufacturing defect.

Thanks!!!, My keyboard work fine!!!, The Aluminum foil is a good solution!!!. Thanks!!!

Worked for me too - scary quality control from Apple - makes you wonder how many people have missed this tip and coughed up for another keyboard . . . .

Can you tell me where the on-off switch is? My keyboard suddenly stopped working, changed batteries but still is not connected....

Exactly same problem. Replacing batteries and small plastic moulding falls out. Replaced the moulding but the wrong way round. Now the batteries can't make contact and I cannot get the plastic ring out of the battery compartment.

davidjay, did you or anyone else find a solution?

Arrrgh!

Thanks to everyone who found the solution with the contact point. I tried the tin foil solution and it worked like a dream.

Can't believe Apple are so lax when it comes to quality control of their over priced accessories.

Tin foil worked for me too. Thanks for the info.

Here's how I got the gray plastic ring out:

Tool:

I used a piece of 1/4" diameter AllThread, which is a 1/4" rod that is threaded along it's entire length (like a very long bolt).

It comes in various lengths but the shortest is probably three feet. (Most hardware stores carry it.) Of course it only has to be the length of the batteries plus another 6" to hold on to. Note that 5/16" all thread might have worked even better because it wouldn't flex at all.

Technique:

First let me describe the gray plastic ring that I extracted.

It could be described as two shapes molded into one part.

1. a flat disc with a hole in the center. 2. a very short tube (no more than 1/8" long).

Note that the hole in the center was not used to get ahold of the plastic ring at all.

The inside face of the short tube is what I grabbed, (using the threads on the tip of the AllThread).

I tipped the keyboard so that the battery compartment opening was down. I placed the AllThread up into the battery compartment so the the tip of the AllThread was resting on the inside face of the plastic ring's short tubular surface. I then used the AllThread to press the plastic tube against the side of the battery compartment so that the threads of the tip of the rod were pressing very firmly against the inside face of the plastic tube. (To Clarify: I applied lateral pressure only.) At that point I slowly pulled the AllThread (while maintaining sideways pressure) and the ring slowly came out.

Once It was out, I set the ring on top of the positive end of a battery with the flat disc part of the ring against the battery, so I could see down into the open tube of the plastic ring as it rested on the end of the battery. With the keyboard still positioned with the opening down, I slid the battery (with plastic ring on it) up into the compartment followed carefully by two more batteries (my keyboard takes three, though some only take two). Then I just put on the battery cap and the keyboard fired right up.

No problem.

I hope this helps.

First time I've ever replied on one of these, just wanted to thank everyone for the air gun pellet size of aluminium foil trick! Saved me buying new key board, well happy. Thanks all.

Hi -

Same thing... after numerous tries and new batteries my wireless keyboard would not work. I finally tried the piece of steel wool suggestion. Put a small amount of steel wool inside first,.... then add the three AA batteries and it will work.

Hope this helps.

🙂

Thank you so much! Same problem, used your aluminum foil solution, and it worked perfectly--what a tremendous relief!☺

I've been having problems with my keyboard on and off for over a year now,...

after changing the batteries my keyboard would not work.

I've discovered,.... that my apple keyboard does not like DURACELL batteries

and the keyboard will only work if the first battery in has a proud tip.

Its the brand and shape of the battery that's the problem...

I don't reconmend putting steel wool or any other deposits down inside your keyboard.