Q: How to UNpair keyboard without original computer

Big ups, Dave/Jett. You (and Google) solved this for me in about two minutes.

Thanks for the help! You rock.

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MBP 2011 15", 8GB, 500 GB Maxtor XT Hybrid drive, 28" additional monitor, magic touchpad & bluetooth keyboard

I had a problem that my bluetooth keyboard wasn't connecting after ~1 year of good behaviour.

I found this thread to force the keyboard into pairing mode but it still failed to connect after deleting the original entry from my MBP bluetooth devices list.

Turned out that I had to change the passcode phrase option so that instead of the MBP sending 0000 I set it to generate a code automatically which I had to type [and press enter] on the keyboard, then it connected.

just thought I'd add this in case it helps others.

Best regards

Lee

I had similar problms.  I suspect the keyboard noticed the mac it was previously paired with, so refused to go into pairing mode.  Steps to fix:

1. Remove keyboard batteries.

2. Turn off bluetooth on your mac.

3. Replace the batteries and turn on the keyboard.

4. This made the keyboard go into pairing mode.

5. Turn on bluetooth on the mac.

6. Follow your nose.

Thank you Colin and avbell, the combined instructions finally worked for me using a 2009 aluminum wireless keyboard.  What a pain though.  Hopefully Apple engineering will put a recessed reset button underneath the keyboard to make it easier when moving between systems.

I've tried the method posted here several times.  But it's not working.  It would seem my only hope is if there's a way to force the keyboard into pairing mode.  Or a key combination that will reset it to factory defaults.  Has anyone come across any other way to get the keyboard to go into pairing mode?

After I originally made progress by using the steps we've gone over here, I did have a case where nothing would solve the problem, but I found out about the solution discussed here:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2804890?start=0&tstart=0

That seems to work predictably.

One thing to watch out for, that has caught me out a couple of times, if you have used the keyboard with any other devices that happen to be nearby, the keyboard may have paired with that device already, and nothing will make it pair with the one you're trying to get it to go on. For me I had it pairing with either my old MacBook Pro, or even with an Android tablet.

Wow, talk about ironic.  No sooner had I made my previous post and I found how to resolve the issue.

I switched off all Bluetooth devices in my house.  Including: iPhone, iPad, PC Computer, MacBook and Bluetooth headset.

Then switched on Apple Bluetooth keyboard, then bluetooth on MacBook Pro.  Bingo!  My MacBook Pro found the keyboard and is working well.

But may I just say to the Apple gurus who might be listening, please add a reset button.  It would save mucho minutos!

Grats

Here is something people can try: My keyboard wasn't going into pairing mode, because it was pairing with my iPad 30 feet away in the next room! As soon as I turned of bluetooth on every Apple device anywhere nearby, it went into pairing mode (blinking green light). I had forgotten that a year ago, I had paired it with the iPad. (Still not sure why my desktop "forgot" its keyboard in the first place...) Anyway, try turning off bluetooth on nearby devices.

Thanks so much for this post!! Your "intuitive" solution fixed my ipad/ keyboard pairing problem in minutes.

I read in another thread that the white keyboards will not pair with iOS devices.  They are an older technology and the firmware cannot be updated.

You guys rocks!!! This also solved my problem, although I mostly have both my ipad and macbook with me. But in case I forget to unpair with it and take another away. This tip is reaaaaly useful

Like many others, I've been searching for a way to hard reset a wireless keyboard seemingly stuck paired to another computer. I tried the main solution offered here, holding down the power button to put keyboard in pairing or discoverable mode, but it did not work for me. However, a clue offered here:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1809#2

under Pairing your Apple Wireless Keyboard with another Mac - "First unpair the keyboard If the unpaired Mac is within 33 feet (10 meters) of the computer your keyboard is currently paired with" gave me an inspiration.

I grabbed the keyboard, went outside (without my phone in my pocket) and walked about 20 meters away from the building. Then I pushed and held the On/Off button, and it went into pairing mode. It was blinking! So I ran back in the building and right to the computer that I was trying to pair it with - it was immediately discovered, entered the digits, and it WORKED! It only took me half a day to figure that out ...

Long story short, to reset a wireless apple keyboard, the trick might be to get away from any bluetooth signals, and then hold the power button down until it goes into discoverable mode.

Thnaks to all for ideas. For me the solution was take the iPad and silver wireless keyboard well away from the MBP. Then it paired no sweat. I was pairing my iPad 1 with a silver/white Apple wireless keyboard. All up to took about 90 mins to get it thanks to the many ideas all summed up and trial and error method used.

Abu K

Thank you - having been trying to figure this out for an hour and felt frustrated it wasn't included in the troubleshooting support document.

I followed these suggestions though I had tried similar things and they helped.  Finally what worked was holding it down, but also toggling the passcode options first and setting the passcode.  Don't know if that was it, or the time it worked I also let the power button go and started tapping it.  It is crazy that it just did not want to pair, even though I was holding down the pairing button on startup and tried pushing the only button a few different ways.

I was hoping it wasn't broken and am glad, but surprised it was that finnicky.  Thanks for the tips!