Model A1243 Keyboard not working with M1 Mac Mini.

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Level 1

16 points

Model A1243 Keyboard not working with M1 Mac Mini.

Has anyone had any issues connecting an older Apple wired keyboard (A1243) with the new M1 Mac Mini? I connected it when I purchased my Mac mini and it was working perfectly fine until one day it stopped. I tried connecting it to all the USB ports, restarting the machine a bunch, and it would not work (no power to keyboard). I'm running Monterrey 12.1. I spoke to Apple support and they claimed that the keyboard wasn't compatible with the new Apple silicon based Macs because the firmware on the keyboard was too old, couldn't be updated, and the Mac mini would no longer recognize it. They said I should buy the new wireless keyboard. I obviously think this was a load of... untruths. Surprisingly, all of a sudden my A1243 keyboard is working again and I don't know why (I'm typing this message on the "incompatible" keyboard). Anyone have any insight?

Posted on Dec 25, 2021 9:21 PM

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Answer 1

den.thed

Level 10

90,682 points

Dec 26, 2021 7:33 AM in response to eelie123

Seems more like a bad USB connection, a bad keyboard cable or perhaps the keyboard is starting to fail internally.

FWIW I personally dislike the new flat wireless keyboards and prefer using either an old Apple USB full size or Logitech USB keyboard with my Mac Mini's.

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Answer 2

den.thed

Level 10

90,682 points

Dec 26, 2021 11:35 AM in response to eelie123

eelie123 wrote:

Surprisingly, all of a sudden my A1243 keyboard is working again and I don't know why (I'm typing this message on the "incompatible" keyboard). Anyone have any insight?

I based my response on the final statement of your original post..

Idk…. i plugged it into a PC laptop and the keyboard worked. Then plugged it into the mac and it was dead. Then back to the HP and it worked…

Have you tried a different USB-A port on the Mac Mini?

Or one of it's USB-C port using a USB-C to USB-A adapter?

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MJ1M2AM/A/usb-c-to-usb-adapter

https://www.target.com/p/philips-6-34-usb-c-to-usb-3-1-female-adapter-black/-/A-53245266#lnk=sametab

https://www.amazon.com/Syntech-Adapter-Thunderbolt-Compatible-MacBook/dp/B07CVX3516/ref=asc_df_B07CVX3516/?

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Answer 3

eelie123 Author

Level 1

16 points

Dec 26, 2021 12:14 PM in response to den.thed

Yes, I tried all the ports and the USB-C with an adapter. I just can’t accept that Apple’s solution is to buy a new keyboard because it’s “incompatible.” Such a simple device like a keyboard becoming obsolete because of a processor change? And if it was truly incompatible, why is it working again? Idk, it’s gotta be something else…or I’m in denial.

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