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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

ride it

Level 1

16 points

Jan 22, 2014 10:31 AM in response to TM100

I don't know if this will help you and the other postings but I was having trouble too, connecting my BT wireless keyboard to my AppleTV and my MacBook Air. Then I recalled that I had also paired it to my iPad. Once I turned off the BT on my iPad, everything paired just fine.

The learning is to MAKE certain that every BT device you have ever paired to your BT keyboard is either off, or well out of range.

Hope this helps everyone.

Jan 22, 2014 12:45 PM in response to TM100

What they said :-)

Jan 25, 2014 10:00 AM in response to ride it

I had the same problem and the same cause. Having the keyboard paired to another device is the only thing that I can think of that was not included on the orriginal post.

Jan 28, 2014 1:51 PM in response to TM100

It didn't help at all. My iMac is protected with a password and my keyboard isn't working. My keyboard already has new batteries and all but the problem is I don't know what the problem is It just won't connect I checked every Apple product I have and I checked the Bluetooth of my iPad,iPhone is disabled. Help?

Jan 28, 2014 1:51 PM in response to TM100

I am also typing on my iPhone....

Leti916

Level 1

0 points

Jan 29, 2014 5:29 PM in response to TM100

Im stuck on the login screen so what do i do???? Please help The keyboard keeps flashing. when i turn the computer off and back on it does not ask me or try to connect to the keyboard! Please help i do not have a wired keyboard available!

TM100 Author

Level 1

32 points

Jan 30, 2014 7:29 AM in response to Leti916

If you cannot borrow a USB keyboard try this:

- Take the batteries out of the wireless keyboard then put them back in

- Reboot the computer

- As it reboots press the keyboard power button

- Keep the power button pressed until you see a dialogue asking for an 8-digit passcode

- Now release the power button and enter the passcode

Otherwise the best option really is borrow a USB keyboard, just to enter the password.

Jan 30, 2014 7:43 PM in response to TM100

I'm running Mavericks; I finally got my keyboard to pair. But, I don't get step #9. There is no gear icon (in Mavericks), I can't figure out how to "update services" for the keyboard. HELP

8) Go to back to Bluetooth preferences and select the keyboard in the device list.

9) 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.

Thanks for the Help. You'd think Apple would have Bluetooth figured out by now. Geez Apple, really!?

GAdkb

Level 1

9 points

Feb 21, 2014 1:59 PM in response to SweetMummy

I'm gonna try this - after all my pair, repair, delete plist attempts have failed. I'll get it to work briefly, then nada. Thanks.

Feb 28, 2014 6:56 AM in response to SweetMummy

Yea. This worked for me also. Holding the power button throught did the trick. Thank you

admkate

Level 1

0 points

Mar 17, 2014 1:54 PM in response to TM100

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Worked even in Mavericks with the absense of a "+" button, by turning bluetooth off, then holding the KB power button while turning mac's bt back on.

GAdkb

Level 1

9 points

Mar 18, 2014 3:46 PM in response to Halfmoonh4

same problem. don't see the gear icon or 'update services' - right now I have to redo this every startup or sleep mode. very annoying.

Mar 20, 2014 11:32 AM in response to TM100

This was driving me nuts. Why is there nothing in the Apple documentation about holding down the power button??? Bless you…

h2vh

Level 1

12 points

Mar 23, 2014 4:10 AM in response to makloklin

"Why is there nothing in the Apple documentation about holding down the power button???"

- couldn't agree more!: Ran into same problem today (I have used the hardware for almost three years) and was about ready to discard the keyboard, when I got the idea to test it against my wife's iPad - no problems at all!

I 'googled' the problem and found this article:

http://davemeehan.com/technology/how-to-reset-an-apple-wireless-bluetooth-keyboa rd-mouse-or-trackpad

Worked instantly! 🙂

Mar 27, 2014 10:06 AM in response to TM100

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! 🙂

Wireless keyboard won't connect