Replacing keyboard on 2020 iMac

dialabrain wrote:

Not according to this…

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/448bb483-bb8f-4146-a022-1a9da5f7e63d

The OP is running macOS 15.1 or later. It is true that touch ID and other Silicone features will not work.

Servent of Cats wrote:

I believe that Apple offers another extended keyboard that does not have Touch ID and whose description does not say that it is for Apple Silicon Macs,

Good point! Instead of that Keyboard, the OP should go with the earlier none Silicone model.

Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad for Mac models - Apple

FWIW, this Apple Keyboard will certainly work.

Addendum: I bought and use the Matias Wireless Aluminum keyboardwith Backlight with my 2017 iMac and with my Silicon Mac Mini M4. And the price is better than the Apple keyboard: $139. It comes in black and aluminum.

The only downside to it is I have to pair it after every shutdown and reboot. But it's easy to do and only takes less than a minute.

I bought it because of an eye condition where it was difficult to see the letters on the Apple keyboard (yeh I know I've lost some of my touch-type skills). The backlit solved my problem. Battery life for the keyboard is 1 year. It has a separate battery for the backlight which can be controlled from 1 (off) to 0 (max).

Just some food for thought.

It also says "Mac with Apple silicon".

The shift key on my original wired magic keyboard broke so I had to find replacement, hated the newer magic keyboards as they have much less elevation, almost flat, and the back lies completely flat on the desk rather than elevated so it felt kinda heavy to move around desk etc. Returned that and instead had good experience so far with the Logitech MX Keys S for Mac - numeric keyboard, backlit, multiple BT connections, sensible elevation, currently about $105 from Amazon. Used this over BT on both 2015 iMac (intel) and 2024 Mac Mini.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BXX499PC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Have you installed and run any "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus or VPN apps on your Mac?

Give this a try: boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and test to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.

NOTE 1: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3 - 5 minutes as it's doing the following; 

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts 

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files

NOTE 2: if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect it with its charging cable before booting into Safe Mode. This makes it act as a wired keyboard as will insure a successful boot into Safe Mode.

Now that I've had a chance to compare the Compatibility list and the T2 Security Chip list, I see some differences.

• The 2017 iMac Pro has a T2 chip, but is not on the Compatibility list.
• The 2018 MacBook Pros have T2 chips, but are not on the Compatibility list.
• The 2019 iMac does not have a T2 chip, but is on the Compatibility list.

It appears that the cutoff is calendar-based:

• Intel-based Macs released in October 2018 or later are on the Compatibility list. Why they are on the list if this keyboard is "for Mac models with Apple silicon," or why the keyboard has that description if it is supported for use on some Intel-based Macs, is still unclear.
• Intel-based Macs released before 2018, or earlier in 2018, are not.

Yes your 2020 iMac in on the Compatibility list for that keyboard.

see "Compatibility" at > Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad for Mac models with Apple silicon (USB-C) - US English - Black Keys - Apple

Also beware that macOS Sequoia 15.2 was just recently released.

see > What's new in the updates for macOS Sequoia - Apple Support

I don’t know whether the presence of some Intel-based Macs on the Compatibility list is a mistake, or not.

I am guessing that Touch ID support takes advantage of the Neural Engine in Apple Silicon Macs, and that that feature definitely won’t work on Intel-based ones.

I believe that Apple offers another extended keyboard that does not have Touch ID and whose description does not say that it is for Apple Silicon Macs,

macfactsescapeme wrote:

From the day I started using it in late 2020, the keyboard has just not acted like any of the others from previous Macs. I'm a decent typist, but when I type quickly, the keyboard doesn't consistently pick up all of my keystrokes,

In case any of its failings might be caused by bad settings, see

When Keys Don't Behave Correctly - Apple Community

According to the site it requires macOS 15.1.

On second thought, the list of supported Intel-based Macs looks suspiciously like the list of Macs with T2 security chips.

if those lists are the same, and the keyboard now has such a high minimum macOS requirement, maybe Apple found a way to add support for Touch ID for Intel-based Macs with T2 security chips … and only for those Intel-based Macs.

Servant of Cats wrote:

if those lists are the same, and the keyboard now has such a high minimum macOS requirement, maybe Apple found a way to add support for Touch ID for Intel-based Macs with T2 security chips … and only for those Intel-based Macs.

That's speculation.

The fact that some Intel-based Macs are shown in the compatibility list for a keyboard for “Macs with Apple Silicon” is not speculation.

Which means that the product description is either incorrect or incomplete in some respect that is unnecessarily confusing. There are no other possibilities.

Servant of Cats wrote:

The fact that some Intel-based Macs are shown in the compatibility list for a keyboard for “Macs with Apple Silicon” is not speculation.

No it isn't. Your statement which I quoted which stated "maybe", was speculation.