Old Apple Keyboard Not Pairing and Still Showing as Mine
my old apple keyboard doesn't shoe as paired on any of my devices. i gave it to my daughter but it says its mine and she cant use it
Question marked as
This usually happens with older Apple Bluetooth keyboards when they’re still linked to the original Apple Account (aka, Apple ID) or stuck in a previous Bluetooth pairing state. The good news is it’s almost always fixable with a full reset and clean re-pair.
It would help if you can tell us the model of this "Old Apple Keyboard". Is it a wired or wireless keyboard?
In the meantime ...
You don’t need access to your old devices if you follow the steps carefully.
Step 1: Completely reset the keyboard
Start by turning the keyboard off. If it uses AA batteries, remove them for at least 30–60 seconds. If it’s a Lightning-based Magic Keyboard, leave it powered off for a minute. This clears the stored Bluetooth identity that still marks it as “yours.”
Step 2: Remove it from your Apple Account (important)
On any device signed into your Apple Account (iPhone, iPad, or Mac):
- Go to Settings → your name → Find My → Devices
- Look for the keyboard (or any “Accessory”)
- Select it and choose **Remove from account**
This step is critical. Until it’s removed, Apple’s security system may block pairing for your daughter.
Step 3: Put the keyboard in pairing mode
Turn the keyboard back on. The green LED should start blinking, which means it’s discoverable. If it doesn’t blink, turn it off and on again until it does.
Step 4: Pair it to your daughter’s device
On her Mac, iPad, or iPhone:
- Open Bluetooth settings
- Select the keyboard when it appears
- If prompted, type the pairing code on the keyboard and press Return
Once paired, it will now belong to her device and Apple Account, and the “this keyboard is yours” message should disappear permanently.