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TM100 Author

Level 1

32 points

Wireless keyboard won't connect

Apple wireless keyboard (2009)

Mac Pro 5,1

Lion 10.7.5

Apple wireless keyboard won't connect after changing batteries. It is listed as a paired device under Bluetooth preferences but using the 'Connect' option fails. The keyboard does not go to discovery mode.

I'm answering my own question because there seems to be a lot of voodoo around the problem. The following worked for me after trying a lot of different stuff.

Go to System Preferences -> Bluetooth. Delete the keyboard from the list of devices by pressing the '-' button.
Alternatively you can delete the plist file but it shouldn't be necessary if the keyboard is the only problem. Deleting this file means restarting all other bluetooth devices to force them to reconnect. The plist file is in /Library/Preferences and is called com.apple.Bluetooth.plist.
Take the batteries out of the keyboard and reinsert them - don't power on the keyboard yet. This puts the keyboard in discovery mode the next time it's switched on.
In Bluetooth Preferences press the '+' button to add a new device.
When the Bluetooth Setup Assistant is displayed hold down the power button on the keyboard and don't release it! The keyboard should now appear in the list of devices.
Press 'Continue' - remember to keep pressing the keyboard power button while hitting 'Continue'. You should get an 8 digit passcode from the setup assistant.
Now release the keyboard power button and enter the passcode.
Press return - the keyboard is now paired.
Go to back to Bluetooth preferences and select the keyboard in the device list.
Press the gear icon and select 'Update Services'. Without this last step you may have to reconnect the keyboard from the Bluetooth menu after every startup.

Hope that helps.

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5), Apple Wireless Keyboard (2009)

Posted on May 27, 2013 2:53 PM

Top-ranking reply

Treymona

Level 1

8 points

Posted on Oct 15, 2017 8:04 AM

This didn’t work for me cause I have a password, so when I restart my system it shows me the password space for me to type in my password.

Without the keyboard how do I do that?

Please I need help with this ASAP, anyone please.

Thank you.

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156 replies

des102

Level 1

0 points

Dec 5, 2013 12:10 PM in response to SweetMummy

Thank you for this.

I too wasnt getting the + to add device with Maverick.

This worked perfect after 2 days of tyring to get my keyboard working again.

Thanks so much.

Dec 21, 2013 3:36 AM in response to SweetMummy

Thanks @SweetMummy! Holding the power button worked for me as well. I'm using Mavericks by the way.

kfinn408

Level 1

5 points

Dec 23, 2013 3:32 PM in response to SweetMummy

SweetMummy: thanks for your detailed and patient explanation. The only thing that worked to get my wireless Apple keyboard recognized by, and talking to, Bluetooth. This with a mid-2010 aluminum keyboard connected only to an iMac, upgraded to Mavericks about 6 weeks ago. Still don't understand what the problem was, but after several days of futzing around, switching batteries, buying new batteries, trying the aluminum foil thing, multiple reboots, System and Bluetooth Preferences operations, and untold online forums...I'm back in business!

Hard to believe I had to hold in the power key the whole time, even while typing in the passcode, but there you go. Nobody ever said computers had to behave logically. Oh, wait...

jetnet99

Level 1

0 points

Dec 26, 2013 3:29 AM in response to TM100

.....and here's how I solved my problem. Tried removing the batteries many times, but the keyboard just would NOT enter pairing mode. Left batteries out for an hour - still would not go into the "flashing" setup mode.

Read every available article on the subject......then in desperation I took the keyboard outside my house and walked until there could be nothing within Bluetooth range (not even my mobile phone). I then pushed the ON button and held it for 5 secs. Bingo - it started to flash, so I ran back to my Macbook and I got the pairing code immediately.

Dec 27, 2013 7:11 AM in response to SweetMummy

Thank you. Your solution solved my keyboard problem.

Kizamii

Level 1

0 points

Dec 29, 2013 4:18 AM in response to TM100

Great! But how on earth do you get passed the login screen to do this??? :C

Kizamii

Level 1

0 points

Dec 29, 2013 8:12 AM in response to TM100

I am trying to delete the keyboard but the '-' symbol is unavailable and it's telling me the keyboard is still connected even without the batteries in it and it won't let me disconnect. Is this a glitch??

TM100 Author

Level 1

32 points

Dec 29, 2013 10:19 AM in response to Kizamii

Kizamii, I assume you got past the login screen with a wired keyboard, also that you have tried rebooting the machine. Just to be clear the '-' key is an option below the list of paired bluetooth devices, beside '+' and the gearwheel. If your wireless keyboard has no batteries it should appear on the list greyed out with the words 'Not Connected'.

Otherwise I can only guess what the problem is. For example:

- Your wireless keyboard is already paired with another device, say an iPad. If that device is switched on before your computer it will connect to the keyboard and prevent it connecting to anything else. (Sensible choice..) If that is the case, switch off the iPad.

- You have a separate wireless keyboard in your house which is also paired with your computer.

Kizamii

Level 1

0 points

Dec 29, 2013 1:43 PM in response to TM100

Yes I have a USB keyboard now and have restarted the machine but it still says the keyboard is connected. Il check my other devices to see if the keyboard is somehow connected to them by accident. Thanks anyway.

Dec 30, 2013 7:40 AM in response to TM100

THANK YOU! Worked like a charm for Mavericks and saved me another 30 mins frustration!

Jan 3, 2014 2:52 AM in response to TM100

Thanks for the post, worked also on Mavericks, although you have to keep pushing the power button until you see the screen to enter the the passcode, immediately release the power button and enter the passcode.

Jan 5, 2014 7:38 PM in response to TM100

The tip I needed was holding the power button down during discoverable mode. That is all I had to do, nothing else. This helped with pairing keyboard to other devices as well. Thanks.

ludviga5

Level 1

0 points

Jan 9, 2014 1:24 PM in response to Jay Pfeffer

I have just bought a solar powered Logitech keyboard- but I cannot get it paired with my MacBook.The funny! thing is that I managed yesterday but when I switched off my backup hard disc it was disconnected and I have not managed to pair and connect it again.

Did it work straight for you to pair the device?

I have tried to understand what they mean with press ing down the power button during the whole pairing process but on the Logitech there is no button to press down but three f-key from which I choose one for the keyboard bluetooth connection. So that have to keep blinking during the whole process. Am I right? If you have anything that could help me I am greatful.

Birgitta

kmc777

Level 1

0 points

Jan 12, 2014 10:24 AM in response to TM100

Thank you so much for the answer!! I thought my husband was not seeing things correctly when he told me this was happening. I was always at work when it did and he would just restart the computer. For some reason that always worked, too, but how annoying! I started to have the issue now, too, and just followed your steps and they worked great!! Thanks so much!! Thought I was going to have to purchase a new keyboard!!

Jan 17, 2014 9:15 AM in response to TM100

Thank you so much! I was ready to scream.

Wireless keyboard won't connect