External keyboard not recognized by my Macbook Air

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Level 1

71 points

External keyboard not recognized by my Macbook Air

Hi all

I just today went out and bought a onn keyboard from Walmart. I got it cheap on there clearance shelf in the electronics area. The keyboard was not recognized by my Macbook Air when I plugged it into the USB jack. I had to tell let the Macbook Air know it was a USA layout on a prompt that came up. Does anyone know why this is and why this keyboard does not do all the same functions as my laptops keyboard. Thanks

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

MacBook Air

Posted on Sep 2, 2019 9:47 PM

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Answer 1

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

123,154 points

Sep 4, 2019 2:49 AM in response to James Panza

James Panza wrote:

The Windows sign key does nothing and I have not tired alt or the ctrl key yet.

The Windows key should do the same things your Command key does on you Mac. Alt should do what your Option does on your Mac. Ctrl should do what your Control key does on your Mac.

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Answer 2

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

123,154 points

Sep 3, 2019 2:38 PM in response to James Panza

James Panza wrote:

why this keyboard does not do all the same functions as my laptops keyboard.

Impossible to know what you are talking about or to help without specific info about what functions you think it does not do.

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Answer 3

James Panza Author

Level 1

71 points

Sep 3, 2019 9:45 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

I bought this keyboard made by onn that is sold at Walmart. It has the Windows logo on it and not all the Mac logos. So some of the F1-F9 keys don't do anything. The Windows sign key does nothing and I have not tired alt or the ctrl key yet. Num lock does nothing and scroll lock does nothing either. I am guessing this has to do to the fact that this is a Windows based keyboard ment for the PC. Any thoughts on this. I really hope that sheds more light on the situation.

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Answer 4

James Panza Author

Level 1

71 points

Sep 4, 2019 3:43 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

It really does not matter whether the other keys work or not. I have the laptop keyboard right in front of me so I can use that. I just do not like typing on a laptop keyboard that is why I bought the external keyboard. This keyboard was so cheap that if I find an old Apple computer keyboard at a yardsale or something like that I will get that and hold on to this one as a backuo. Thanks for all the help though all.

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Answer 5

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

123,154 points

Sep 4, 2019 5:56 PM in response to James Panza

James Panza wrote:

It really does not matter whether the other keys work or not.

Do these really not work for you?

Windows key plus q to quit an app?

Alt key plus s to produce ß?

Cntrl plus Windows plus f to make an app full screen?

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Answer 6

babowa

Level 9

78,656 points

Sep 2, 2019 10:25 PM in response to James Panza

Any time you plug in a new third party keyboard, it will need to be recognized by the computer. As for its functions, it depends on what features it has. It will not have Mac specific key functions. What exactly is not working?

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External keyboard not recognized by my Macbook Air

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