Unable to pair Apple Remote with Mac mini

I had the exact same problem: I have Mac Mini, all the remotes work, but I need to pair the remote, because I have Apple TV next to it, and the remotes must not interfere each other.

The pairing didn't work. The disabling and enabling IR didn't work. (I did not try to configure Kodi to disable remote, and then do the reboots and system preferences), many different key combinations didn't work..

BUT!

I had a program called USB Overdrive installed, and I remembered that people have issues with Openemu and joysticks, because it takes some kind of control of HID and other(?) API's or something.

==> I uninstalled the USB Overdrive, and everything works. Didn't need to touch Kodi's preferences at all.

So If someone uses USB Overdrive, watch out: your joysticks and remotes might not work like you wanted.. 😉

I have a Mac Pro with 10.9.5, OpenPHT, white remote which stopped working suddenly.

Tried all of the solutions suggested here. This is what worked for me: logged out of my main user, logged in as an alternate user, went into Settings|Privacy|Advanced|Pair... and this time it paired successfully. When I logged back in to my main user, everything was back to normal.

***?

: )

That's also my problem. Pairing with a mini (Mid 2011) is well but not with the mini (Late 2012). Nobody with a solution?

Same problem here. Mac mini (Late 2012), OS X 10.8.2.

Thank you Cappy,

I haven't been able to get my remote to work for a long time. Plex was the culprit, as it turned out.

Works also with XBMC. Disable Apple Remote in Prefs -> Reboot -> Pair.

Enable in XBMC again.