Wireless Keyboard Problem

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Level 1

9 points

Wireless Keyboard Problem

I have an iMac running 10.14.6 and it stated having trouble with the keyboard recently.

What happens is that certain keys won't type sometimes (I am now using the on-screen keyboard fo the problems, quite slow) o they type a couple times and then stop. It is only a few keys. I have a second wireless keyboard and that has the same issue but with *different* keys. It appears that it doesn't communicate them at all as the on-screen keyboard doesn't register them when using either keyboard.

I have tried everything I can find suggested online. I have reset the PRAM/SMC. I have reset the bluetooth system numerous times. I have changed batteries (although the fact that it happens with both keyboards should be an indicator that is not an issue.) I have removed and reconnected the keyboards. It got to the point that I reinstalled MacOS. have booted into safe mode, I have cleaned out all unused garbage, logs, etc. I have been working on this for three weeks. I should have kept a list, I did all the plist removals recommended on posts. I have not moved to Catalina as too many things will break. The next step would be to reinstall MacOS from scratch but that will take days.

Oddly, it stopped happening for about a week but then came back.

I live in a county in which I can't find an English language wired keyboard. I have ordered one but it will take a while to show up, but that isn't a good long-term solution fo me as I need the small keyboard for some physical reasons. Thee are only third parties to fix Macs whee I live and because it's a 27", it's vey difficult to take anywhere.

Any help is gratefully appreciated.

I'm petty lost at this point. Th

Posted on Dec 29, 2019 12:56 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

118,322 points

Dec 29, 2019 4:37 AM in response to rockdaddy666

rockdaddy666 wrote. What happens is that certain keys won't type sometimes

Please provide info on the exact keys which are not working. If it is 789uiojkl, then you have Mouse Keys in Accessibility preferences accidentally getting turned on.

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Answer 2

rockdaddy666 Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 29, 2019 7:50 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

It's definitely not the mouse key issue, I've checked that. On one keyboard, it's the r key, sometimes the $, and sometimes, pressing f give FR. On the other keyboard, it has usually been the "e" key. Today, it decided to be the entire middle row but from past behavior, it's likely to change in a few days.

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Answer 3

rockdaddy666 Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 30, 2019 1:56 AM in response to Rudegar

Well that should have been obvious to me, they aren't woking with other devices. However, it may be a bluetooth interference problem in my apartment. I live in a dense urban area. Because both keyboards developed problems at the same time, and because the problem has moved from key to key on each keyboard, I'm suspicious that it may be external. Today, I will take phone and keyboard somewhere else and test it there. Thanks fo pointing this out.

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Answer 4

BDAqua

Level 10

245,189 points

Dec 29, 2019 8:34 AM in response to rockdaddy666

Does it do the same in Safe Mode?

Safe Boot from the HD, (holding Shift key down at startup), does the problem occur in Safe Mode?

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Answer 5

mikelis

Level 1

13 points

Dec 29, 2019 7:30 AM in response to rockdaddy666

I sometimes get something similar with my Anne Pro 2 in wired mode, usually replugging the keyboard works

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Answer 6

rockdaddy666 Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 29, 2019 7:51 AM in response to mikelis

Given that the computer has been booted at least 40 times since this started, that's unlikely. Also, each keyboard has been detached when changing batteries and resetting the bluetooth.

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