Apple Wireless Keyboard will not become discoverable--solution

I use an Apple Wireless Keyboard and mouse with my MBP. Today when I arrived at work and set up everything, the laptop would not recognize the keyboard. I went through some troubleshooting steps as recommended by Apple, but to no avail. So I figured I would remove the keyboard from my bluetooth devices and go through the setup process again.

Not so good, because I soon realized that the keyboard wouldn't go into discoverable mode. Pressing the power button caused the light to glow for a few seconds--indicating the batteries were still charged--but it wouldn't blink. I tried removing the batteries, inserting new ones, all to no avail. Just kept pressing the button, getting the glow without blinks, and the keyboard wouldn't show up in the bluetooth setup list.

So I guessed that the keyboard still thought it was paired with the computer, even though the computer knew it wasn't. And then I read somewhere that the range for the keyboard was around 30 feet or so. So I walked out of our cubicle area and into a stairwell 50 feet away. Sure enough, after the initial glow, the light blinked! It was discoverable.

I ran back to my desk, hit "continue" in the bluetooth setup panel, and paired the keyboard again.

So, if your keyboard isn't paired with your computer, but still won't go into discoverable mode, maybe this trick will work for you.

MacBook Pro (early 2011); iMac (20-inch Mid 2007), Mac OS X (10.6.7), Wacom Intuos 3 tablet; HP Deskjet 6840; iPhone3GS

Posted on Mar 22, 2011 12:43 PM

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Posted on Nov 22, 2017 6:40 AM

I had the same problem, and then realized that my iPad and iPhone were near the keyboard. My keyboard had connected to my iPad via bluetooth. I turned off Bluetooth on my phone and iPad and it began working immediately on my mac. I hope this helps!

74 replies

Mar 31, 2012 12:09 PM in response to robfromemeryville

Thanks Rob, and all of you! I tried all the steps above and almost gave up reading. Then I saw your note about the iPad! Duh (to myself not you!!!). My iPad is right nearby paired to this keyboard. I had totally forgotten about that! All I had to do was tell my iPad to forget it, then those lovely blinking lights. and now a new marriage is made (keyboard to laptop).


My gratitude to all of you who take the time to help each other and report results. YAY!!! 🙂

Jan 2, 2013 9:39 AM in response to George Krompacky

George. I'd like to add my thanks for your post nearly two years ago! When BT keyboard stopped working suddenly I too struggled to find out what was up. After reading your post I twigged it wasn't discoverable – no blinking green light and I put two and two together – my keyboard had been paired with my son's iPad upstairs for three days! Kind regards, Stephen, London

Jan 3, 2013 10:37 PM in response to George Krompacky

Hi Folks,


Thanks very much. The BT KB can stay stuck in the paired mode even when the computer has

changed its mind.


In my case, I had to walk away 50 feet, pull out the batteries, put batteries back in, then power on BT KB. Finally went into discovery mode.


I wonder if one could just turn off BT on computer rather than walk away until out of range?


Best

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Apple Wireless Keyboard will not become discoverable--solution

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