First Generation Bluetooth Keyboard and iPad?

HI Scott,

The keyboard Bluetooth technology may not be up to speed to "pair" with your iPad. If you can, try a newer keyboard to see if it makes a difference.

The iPad supports Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology









Carolyn 🙂

Message was edited by: Carolyn Samit

I purchased a new Bluetooth keyboard along with the iPad yesterday and it paired up and works like a charm.

I can't seem to get my 27" iMac bluetooth keyboard to pair. It's less than a year old. Is there a trick I'm missing?

David

Having a similar problem. I have a white extended keyboard. Works fine with all my most recent macs and powerbooks. I tried typing in a set of numbers (1111) and noticed that the iPad generated 2 error messages. Couldn't read the first one as it just flashed by. I took a video of the process and the first dialog gave a message with a 6 digit code. Did it again and got a different 6 digit code. Seems that the iPad is getting the signals from the keyboard but won't first display the pairing code.

I think we're stuck.

Same here. "New" aluminum keyboard pairs fine and works. My old A1016 keyboard pairs with a new mini but not the iPad. bummer. Got message, once, that iPad cannot pair with device. Mostly gear spins after iPad finds the keyboard, but trying to pair does not work.

Same here, I have the 3 battery keyboard and it pairs fine with my wife's alum MacBook and myiMac but will not pair with the iPad.

Just got off the phone with AppleCare. The A1016 Apple Wireless Keyboard does not work with iPads. Amazingly, it DOES work with my new Mini!
Bummer

Robert:

Did AC indicate why the A1016 won't work? Is it an older Bluetooth implementation or what?

TIA
Mark

No
I told them it works fine with my new Mini
I am going to demand a refund or a free keyboard

Hi Mark,

Here is more info. Look at page 22 of the iPad manual:

Bluetooth
You can use iPad with a Bluetooth keyboard for wireless typing, or Bluetooth headphones for wireless listening.
Pairing Bluetooth Devices
You must first pair the keyboard or headphones with iPad before you can use them.
Pair a Bluetooth device with iPad:
Follow the instructions that came with the keyboard or headphones to make it discoverable.
In Settings, choose General > Bluetooth, and turn Bluetooth on.
Select the keyboard or headphones and if prompted, enter the passkey or PIN number. See the instructions about the passkey or PIN that came with your keyboard or headphones.

AC said it has to be 2007 keyboard or later. That is NOT what the manual says. Further, I told AC that the keyboard pairs fine with my Mini which was purchased earlier this year.

Keep in mind that your credit card company is on your side. I have a Genius Bar appointment Tuesday, April 6. I will ask them to give me a wireless keyboard. If they will not, my next call will be to American Express.

Huh? My iPad tries to pair when I hit Enter, briefly flashing the sync code, then it gives me an error.

There is no good reason why these two devices won't sync other than flawed software on Apple's part, or a deliberate software block. I love how the Apple mantra is "It just works," yet one is required to purchase new hardware every two years for full compatibility. First my two year old 17" MacBook Pro won't charge the iPad, now this? It's nonsense. C'mon Apple, fix this.

I have the same problem and can only hope apple will address this issue in a software update.

I will report the results of my Genius Bar appointment.

So I noticed the same issue, however it seems to be a bug with the iPad software not the bluetooth keyboard.

What seems to be happening is the keyboard tries to pair, but the dialog that tells you what number to type in doesn't appear or come to the front.

If you hit return, you will see the dialog pop up for half a second, before it goes away and says "Cannot pair". My guess is if we could tell what number it was asking for and typed it in before hitting enter, all would be well.

I have no idea why the dialog would behave differently for this keyboard, but it seems too.

Any idea where to submit a bug report?