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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.

View in context

156 replies

Jun 10, 2015 6:49 AM in response to TM100

Thank you so much!

Lgoggi

Level 1

0 points

Jun 20, 2015 2:53 PM in response to TM100

i can't do this because i am stuck at the log in page and when ever i change the batteries, it says 1 found but after 5 seconds it just goes back to attempting to find keyboard.

i do have another apple keyboard but the "8ik," don't work and my password starts with an "I"

please help this problem

Jun 23, 2015 7:45 PM in response to TM100

THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH for the help!!! I was going crazy trying to pair the keyboard to my iMac. Thanks to you I was able to 🙂

Jul 1, 2015 8:32 AM in response to TM100

Sometimes there may be an even simpler solution:

Locate the Power Button on your computer (it may be on the back of the machine).

Depress the Power Button for at least 10 seconds until the machine is off.

Wait 30 seconds.

Depress the Power Button again for about two seconds, until the machine turns back on.

Make sure your keyboard is turned on.

Wait for the Apple icon on the screen to appear and pass. The screen may display a message that says that the Keyboard is not recognized or not found.

Wait for directions to appear on the screen that guide you to an easy setup, simply by having you type in a displayed code and hitting the return button.

Voila! You're back in business.

-danaverse

Jul 20, 2015 1:33 PM in response to TM100

If anyone is still reading this, I had the same problem. Keyboard refused to connect to macbook no matter how many times I took out batteries, restarted, cried, begged, pleaded. Turns out, the keyboard was pairing to my ipad in the other room. Turned off the ipad bluetooth, no more issues.

Cåts

Level 5

4,566 points

Aug 28, 2015 11:08 AM in response to TM100

You're awesome for posting this.

I was having problems pairing my keyboard with my iPad.

My keyboard (apple) would not go into discovery mode, the green light would not blink on and off. It would go on and then turn off.

Pressing and HOLDING that right side button on the Keyboard did the trick to enable my iPad to "see" (discover) it.

I'd give you the points if I could. Here's a thumbs up instead!

gunn88

Level 1

6 points

Sep 4, 2015 7:23 AM in response to TM100

Worked really well even with some changes on the OS.

Thanks a lot, TM100!

Sep 8, 2015 2:23 AM in response to TM100

But how do you get past the login screen to get to your preferences? The keyboard isn't paired so you can't enter your password and login.

gunn88

Level 1

6 points

Sep 8, 2015 7:56 AM in response to Jim C Glass

In my case, I was on a MacBook. So I just used the MacBook keyboard.

If you are on an iMac or similar, just plug in a wired keyboard.

Nov 16, 2015 4:51 PM in response to TM100

Fantastic! MANY Thanks

Clear, thoughtful and reassuring all through the process. This is the way God intended instructions to be written.

You gave me the gift of three extra hours of sleep tonight. (Yes, I would have stayed with the problem well past midnight.)

Thanks again.

--GG

psolutin

Level 1

0 points

Nov 16, 2015 11:44 PM in response to TM100

Thanks TM100. This really helped.

Dec 5, 2015 10:37 PM in response to Tulsatheta

Thanks - that was my problem. iPad with bluetooth on (and previously paired) too close.

kiteley

Level 1

0 points

Feb 3, 2016 3:32 PM in response to TM100

This procedure works fine with my iPad Air, except for the final step. I'm running iOS 9.2.1. In the final step of the pairing procedure given, I am unable to find "Update Services." Consequently I've had to go through this otherwise flawless procedure many times. Surely there is a workaround that will keep the pairing of the wireless keyboard. Thanks for any help someone may provide.

kbastian

Level 1

29 points

Mar 9, 2016 11:39 AM in response to TM100

thats all fine and dandy IF you can get it, Ive been stuck on log in screen for a WEEK because my stupid keyboard wont pair - so i cant enter password. it worked fine before changing batteries amd Ive gone through countless batteries.

it says "make sure it is in discovery mode" how the heck do you do that? it is on, ive tried holding down power pbutton for 5, 10, 30 seconds.... green light is ON - but apparently i have to go BUY a usb keyboard to fix this??

Mar 9, 2016 1:56 PM in response to kbastian

Pairing is when the wireless keyboard blinks... and that only takes 5 seconds or so... do you have any bluetooth items paired in your Mac at all ? What OS is it ?

Wireless keyboard won't connect