Apple Wireless Keyboard Eating Batteries

Ok, first caveat is that I have not read all 26 pages of responses on this thread.

Having found my A1255 not pairing today, with five green flashes on poweron only once, I reinserted the batteries.

This allowed another five green flashes on poweron, but nothing else. Ok, batteries dead.

Swapped one battery with another holding 1.5V, as new. Now pairing works.

Measured three original batteries. All at about 1.05V.

You could conclude that the keyboard won't operate at less than 3V potential. If so, that is something to consider when we are terming batteries in a BT keyboard as "dead". You might be able to use those batteries someplace else.

I'm in the same boat here. The only difference is that the first month or so I had the magic mouse I had no problems at all . Now,in the last 3 weeks my keyboard is eating batteries like mad.I'm replacing batteries every other day. Has anyone found a solution here yet? Has anyone brought their wireless keyboard to Apple and gotten a new one or any answers? I don't know what to do at this point , I'm going broke buying batteries. This is crazy

I have solved the problem of batteries being eaten by the magic mouse. The magic mouse exhausts the keyboard and wears out the batteries. This may sound ridiculous, but it is true. The only way round this is to abandon the magic mouse and use and ordinary USB plug in mouse. I have now used my old Microsoft plug in mouse for the past 6 months and the battery level in my keyboard is still 100%, and I use my keyboard for many hours every day. Just get rid of the magic mouse, because like you, it was just eating up the batteries. Hope this helps.

Adding myself to the list.

The batteries in my Apple wireless keyboard are lasting about 3 days.

Keyboard Info:

Type: Keyboard

Firmware Version: 321

Services: Apple Wireless Keyboard

Paired: Yes

Favorite: No

Connected: Yes

Manufacturer: Broadcom ($3, $32c)

I do not own a magic mouse. I am using a wireless Kensington Turbo Mouse. I've been running this system for about 3 years now and the keyboard battery issue just started about 2 weeks ago. I don't think it is a hardware issue.

I hate to go back to the wired keyboard, but I can't keep wasting these batteries. I've read in multiple forums that the wireless keyboard issue has been known for over a year now.

I downloaded the firmware update 1.1 but the installer reported that my keyboard already had the updated function.

I'll add myself to this list.

My wireless keyboard doesn't die extremely quickly (using Eneloop batteries) but it does have an issue reporting the correct battery level. The only way, it seems, to get an accurate reading is to turn the keyboard off and on again. For instance tonight it had been stuck on 67% for 4 days, so I turned it off and on–now it reports 55%. 5 days ago, it was at 16%–did the same thing–and it jumped to 72%!! I was about to change the batteries.

Not the biggest deal, but it would be nice to have an accurate read in the bluetooth prefs.

UPDATE AND FIX...

Open bluetooth preferences and delete the keyboard completely. Turn off the keyboard and restart the computer. I zapped the PRAM (hold down the Option, Command, "P", and "R" keys while booting until the computer chimes four times). Once booted, turn the keyboard on and reregister it with the computer.

A new set of batteries was installed on Dec. 1st and the keyboard is still showing 93%.

Hope this helps anyone experiencing a similar problem.

Thanks Michael–will try this when I swap out the batteries and report back.

Ill give it a shot. I got rid of my magic mouse , boough a new older style wireless mouse and STILL NO GOOD. Getting keyboard not connected messages all the time now too. I've had this set up for 2 years with zero problems. NOW , out of the blue I'm buying batteries every week.

Any other solutions would be welcomed

Michael DeLuca's 12/17/2011 suggestion is working for me.

I was using a wireless keyboard & mouse with my 27" iMac. The keyboard was going through "normal" AA batteries every couple weeks. The ones in the mouse would last several months. I tried Apple's rechargable batteries, but those needed recharging several nights each week.

So far, in the week since I tried this suggestion, my keyboard battery power is at 93%, using the rechargables.

Thanks!

I have a similar issue. Running the "short" Apple wireless keyboard with my MacBook Pro. Using 2 AA batteries, which have lasted a good amount of time. In fact, the Bluetooth status indicator tells you remaining battery charge. Each time I've checked it always says 100% charged, but this morning the keyboard was dead. Restarting and taking out and reloading batteries did nothing. It only worked after replacing batteries.

Any insights, suggestions are appreciated -- thanks.

The only real solution is to take it back and get a new one. From what I can tell, about half of them have this problem and the other half don't. Keep taking them back until you get one that works. And don't feel bad about it - it's Apple's fault for releasing a very sub-par product. And don't let them tell you it's a software issue, it's not. I got a good one on my third try. First two ate batteries in about a week. This one has lasted months and I'm at 81%.

And don't even think about calling AppleDon'tCare. They are worthless and quite possibly the most ignorant people I have ever spoken to in a customer service capacity.

Thanks, Jon. Yeah, this is a weird one. I've had the keyboard for several months. First batteries lasted for quite a while. And the meter does monitor the battery charge percentage, so it's easy to see when to change 'em out. Second set of batteries have shown 100% charge since installed around a month ago. Then today, caplooee. Nada. Nothing. Zip.

Really surprised to hear about your AppleCare experience. I've had plenty of horrible customer service (phone) experiences, but have found Apple to be one of the best. I'm guessing your hard time with them was an aberration.

is anyone else having success with Michael DeLuca's 12/17/2011 fix?

Add me to the list. Changed my batteries 3 times in a week. I thought maybe the keyboard was faulty, but it seems this is not an uncommon occurence. Does Apple even read this forum? I hate having to call Apple and dig through the levels of support only to be told "oh! we are unaware of this issue." If they read this forum they would know. I would switch to wired, but the cables is short. I also noticed my Magic Mouse keeps dropping connection. Chaulk up another annoyance. I got rid of all my WIndow's hardware just to get away from stupid crap like this.

Have any of you since Michael DeLuca suggested a fix even tried his suggestion (excluding those who did, or acknowledged his suggestion). I get the impression that you read the title of the thread and then just posted a "me too" without at least trying his suggestion. Be helpful and tell us whether you did or didn't, and whether it worked or didn't, please. This thread is now 448 replies long, so try what is suggested and lets fix this.

By the way, I tried it and it worked. This problem started for me about a month ago, and has been a frustration. After replacing the batteries, I would throw the used ones in my shaver and continue to use them for a week. My intuition told me that this was a battery calibration issue, not an actual voltage-deficiency issue. Since zapping the PRAM and re-registering the keyboard and trackpad, the components have lasted twice as long as before, and are still going. If anything changes, I'll post back.